It’s finally time: you’re going to find the wedding dress of your dreams! For many, this is one of the most enjoyable parts of the planning process—and perhaps even the bit you were looking forward to most.
Though that’s not to say it’s totally stress-free: how can you find the perfect dress, that sits and drapes exactly how you want it to, while staying within your budget?
We’ve got you. While the cost of a wedding dress varies wildly, it’s helpful to get a ballpark idea of what you might pay. Here, we’ve broken down some average costs for wedding dresses in the UK.
Contents
What’s the average cost of a wedding dress in the UK?
How much do designer wedding dresses cost?
What influences the cost of a wedding dress?
More affordable wedding dress options
How expensive are wedding dress appointments?
How much does it cost to alter a wedding dress?
How much does it cost to rent a wedding dress?
What’s the average cost of a wedding dress in the UK?
Before we get into the figure, you should know that wedding dress costs vary hugely. You might pay £50 or £100 for a treasure you found in a charity shop, around £500 for a gorgeous number from the high street, or upwards of £5,000 for a made-to-order designer gown.
So, the average cost overall doesn’t necessarily reflect what most people would pay.
And now, without further ado: according to Bridebook, the average spend on a wedding dress in the UK is around £1,500.
How much do designer wedding dresses cost?
What if you’re looking at designer dresses? Like any brand, designers will have some range in their pricing. But that range will definitely be higher than what you could expect on the high street.
For example, a Vivienne Westwood piece could cost you between £4,000 to around £12,000. Whereas Vera Wang numbers might start at around £2,500.
What influences the cost of a wedding dress?
Great question. A lot of things factor into the price of a wedding dress, including:
The designer or brand
As with any type of garment, the brand or designer who make it play a big role in its price. Case in point: gowns from well-known fashion houses will come at a premium.
There’s a few reasons for this. One is, of course, the desirability of the brand. But premium labels also come with exclusivity (fewer people will have designer clothes than those from the high street), craftsmanship and creativity, and a better quality of materials used.
Fabric
Unsurprisingly, fabrics that are better quality will be dearer. At the high end of that scale, you might have fabrics like natural silks, which have a luxurious feel and drape really beautifully.
And on the other hand, there’s options like tulle. It’s lightweight and has a lovely romantic feel, and is often used in combination with other fabrics. Rayon is another option: it’s soft and breathable, and drapes nicely.
The design
The silhouette of the dress determines which fabrics are used and how much labour is needed to create it—both of which factor into the price tag.
For example, if you’re wearing a simple, flowing number, a lightweight fabric would be appropriate. But if you’ve got lots of bunching and draping, you’ll need more fabric—and to use fabric that can hold the shape you want it to. This might cost more.
Made to order
Did you buy a dress that was already made or have you put in a custom order? Dresses in the former category are cheaper to make (they require much less labour and no bespoke designing), which means that they’re easier on the wallet.
That’s not to say that a custom gown isn’t worth it, though. Your wedding day is special: you’re making memories that will last a lifetime. If you want to wear something that’s one-of-a-kind, today is the day to do it.
Detailing
Beading, crystals, lace detail, embroidery, sequins, decorative bows…all of these features are beautiful, but come with an added cost. That’s because often, they come with higher materials costs and require stitching by hand.
Boutique location
Yep, even this can factor into the final cost. Boutiques in more expensive areas, such as central London, will have higher overheads: think rent, staff, etc. So, it makes sense that this will be wrapped into the cost of the garment.
Import fees
If your dress—or any of the materials being used to make it—needs to be imported from another country, there may be customs fees and tariffs that the boutique will pass on to you.
More affordable wedding dress options
Don’t worry if some of the numbers we shared above made you nervous. There are so many options when it comes to wedding dresses—there really is something for any budget.
The high street
For simpler (but no less gorgeous) gowns, high street shops may have just what you’re looking for. Though the range of what you can get is huge.
To give you an idea: for £100-400, you could probably get a simple dress made with a more affordable fabric, such as polyester or satin. It might have fewer embellishments.
But from around £400-1,000, you might be able to find more creative silhouettes and gowns made with more expensive fabric. You could be looking at lace detailing or even some sequins. This price range could include off-the-rack options within bridal boutiques as well as popular high street brands.
Bear in mind as well that some bridal designers may sell their older styles at a discount.
Charity shops
As traditions around weddings relax, more brides are turning to charity shops to find their wedding dress.
After all, a lot of people donate their old wedding dresses to charity. The idea is that you only wear it once, right? For instance, the charities Oxfam, Sue Ryder, and British Red Cross have an entire section of their website dedicated to bridal wear. Here, dresses can cost as little as £20 and will rarely be more expensive than £200.
If sustainability is important to you, a charity shop could be a great shout.
There’s also a platform called Bridal Reloved that offers sample and pre-loved designer gowns. You can search by designer, style, cost and more. It’s a bit more expensive than your standard charity shop—but much, much kinder on your wallet than buying a new designer outfit.
Not a dress
And then there’s the option to forgo a wedding dress altogether. Many modern bridges decide to go for suits or jumpsuits, or anything else they feel fabulous in.
Again, these options will vary in price depending on the quality and make. Yet often, they can be lower in cost than a wedding dress.
How expensive are wedding dress appointments?
Some boutiques and stores offer wedding dress appointments, where you come in and try on different styles to see what clicks.
These generally aren’t too expensive. You might pay between £40-60, though some boutiques may charge more. This information should be available on their website.
How much does it cost to alter a wedding dress?
It’s pretty common to add alterations to a wedding gown. Some typical options are:
- Adjusting the length, for example altering the length of the train
- Taking in or letting out seams
- Adjusting sleeves, straps, and the back of the dress
- Repositioning lace or appliqué
- Extra lining
But these of course come at an additional fee. The cost will depend on how involved the alteration is, but you might pay something like £200-800.
Some boutiques offer alteration packages, which are effectively a bundle of tailoring services. Others have a fixed price list for certain alterations on particular fabrics. For instance, you might pay more to take up a lace beaded hem compared to just a lace hem.
We’d recommend adding a buffer for alterations (just in case!) when setting your wedding dress budget.
How much does it cost to rent a wedding dress?
You’ve also got the option to rent a beautiful wedding dress for the day. Costs vary depending on the dress, but renting is significantly cheaper than buying. You might pay up to 40% of the dress’ retail price, for instance.
So, if you were renting a designer gown that retails at £2,000, you might pay £800 to have it for the day.
You’ll usually be required to pay a deposit up front that’s refunded when you bring the dress back, provided it doesn’t have any damage.
Can I alter a rented wedding dress?
This is usually possible if the alterations are reversible, for example hemming or adjusting a strap. Each shop will have their own guidelines for this so do ask what their policy is.
Your wedding day
Now imagine how your dress will look on the day, in your gorgeous wedding venue.
The venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll make about the day. You want it to be the ideal backdrop for the celebrations: somewhere comfortable and inviting, and that elevates the day’s magic.
At Kindred, a much-loved West London wedding venue, our interiors are warm and sophisticated; the perfect marriage of modern and heritage styles. With space for parties of all sizes—from intimate weddings to a late-night knees-up—we would be delighted to bring your dream wedding to life.
You’ll have access to top-of-the-range AV capabilities, a well-stocked private bar, and a chef-crafted menu prepared by Cellar, our on-site Hammersmith restaurant.
To learn more, have a look at our wedding brochure or take a virtual tour of our building. You are also most welcome to come and visit us to see the space for yourself—simply get in touch with our team to arrange it.
