Our local thrift shop has a little section were they usually have 3-4 wedding gowns priced between $25-$100. Some of them are damaged, and will be purchased to be dismantled and used for other crafts and some are just out dated and out of style. I have often looked through these gowns and thought, “A thrifty bride could save a lot of money purchasing on of these and hiring a seamstress to update it for her!” You can also save a lot of money going a similar route with Clearance dresses or used gowns off auction sites like Ebay or Bridal-Auctions!

Here are a few examples from my own clearance section to help you get thinking:

This first one is pure silk for $99!! But it features a very very conservative look, which is not very popular right now, unless it is a second wedding. The solution? By removing the sleeves and upper part of the bodice, you could convert this gown into a stunning strapless style! This gown would then be perfect for any informal, garden or beach wedding. Unless you are an expert tailor yourself, you will need to hire a seamstress to make the alterations. But you will have a pure silk, stylish gown for less then $250!

Lace overlay is very popular this season and this gown features a German lace overlay with Swarovski accents on silk satin for $99. Again, the sleeves are not a popular choice this season, but a thrify bride could have the sleeves and upper bodice removed for a sexy, strapless sweetheart neckline! Another perfect garden or beach wedding gown for less then $250 when all is said and done!
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Well, I hope that got you brainstorming a little! A creative bride can look like they spent a fortune without going into debt in the process! When looking for dresses to alter, here are a few things to watch out for:

1. Stains and ripes that are not on the seam - these can be hard or impossible to fix. A ripe on the seam may be fixable, and may be okay ifyou like the style enough.

2. Seam Allowance. If the dress does not fit perfectly, then you need to be sure it can be altered to your size. If taking it in, keep in mind how this will effect the beading/embriodery. If letting it out, you will need to have enough seam allowance to do so.

Enjoy your shopping:)

Bride's Attire | No Comments »

Chances are, you have dreamed about your wedding dress since before you even knew your fiance! And now you will spend hours searching for it. SOme brides are fortune enough to find the perfect dress but most will either settle for one that is almost perfect, or find the perfect one and realize it is way out of their budget! The solution:

Have It Custom Made!!!!

YES!!! You can have your dream dress custom made without spending a fortune!! Chrys Cross Bridal is just one of the many professional designers out there offering affordable options for those brides who know what they want and aren’t willing to settle for less!!! Think you can’t afford it? Our custom design gowns start as low as $300!!!!

We can make gowns based on your pictures or drawings, and we can also make replicas of designer gowns or make a dress combining elements of two or more other dresses!!! What ever you want, it can be done!!! Visit http://chryscrossbridal.com for more information!

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Simple Answer: When you know it’s a replica. Don’t stop reading yet, I do have a point here. Now, if you purchased a $3000 Designer Gown on sale for $2000 and when it arrived, you discovered it was a replica - you have been riped off! You could probably have gotten that same replica from an honest seller for 1/3 of that price! But is you purchased a replica of that $3000 gown for $600, that is a smart bride making a smart choice!

There is a common belief today, that designer gowns cost more because they are better materials, better quality and better workmanship. As a designer myself, I can vouch for the fact that this is not necessarily true. For example, there is a well known designer in the US who uses the same manufacturer as I. Her dresses are made from the same materials, by the same seamstresses as mine. Her gowns retail for $3000 - $5000 across North America. Yet I can sell the sell similar styles made by the same manufacturer, for under $1000 and still make a nice profit! Starting to wonder what all the extra money pays for? It’s not the quality or the material obviously. It’s the label - or to be precise - the name on the label!

With wedding budgets that can get so quickly out of hand, many brides are already starting to recognize the benefit of a designer inspired or replica gown. Some designers are adding designer inspired gowns to their own collections!

Have another design in mind? Of perhaps you want a combination of 2 or more styles? When picking someone to make your custom gown, here are a few things to look for:

- past experience with replicas, including pictures of replicas they have done

- experience with wedding gowns in general

- some sort of satisfaction policy - for example, at Chrys Cross Bridal, pictures are provided prior to shipping in case adjustments need to be made.

Benefits of a replica

- customize it to suit, if it isn’t perfect, have adjustments made

- get a plus size designer style (most designers only make to size 16 or 18)

- save a great deal of money and use it somehwere else

There is no reason why your budget needs to determine your dress style! If you have a designer style in mind, but don’t have the budget, then a replica is the perfect solution. Even if you did have the budget - think of all the other things that money could do! After all, you are the only one who needs to know what the label says. Well, you and hubby, but I doubt he’ll be looking at the label:)

Bride's Attire, Designer Style Replicas | No Comments »