Samantha Birch - The High-Street Bride’s Guide - How to Plan Your Perfect Wedding On A Budget

First, the length. It’s a general trend you’ll notice that shorter gowns tend to be cheaper. Whether it’s just because they use less fabric or because longer wedding dresses are more popular by tradition, if you can get away with a shorter dress – maybe at a low-key registry office wedding, on a summer day, or if a Fifties theme is your cup of tea – you’ll often end up with a totally gorgeous gown for a much more purse-friendly price.

Second, the simplicity. Keeping your dream dress simple opens up more options for how to get hold of it, as you’ll see in the rest of the chapter. But you’ll also find that a clean-cut satin dress that’s not all ruffles, lace and embellishment is often less expensive than something more full-on, even straight off the hanger – and you can understand it: more materials and more labour are needed to get a glitzier gown spot-on, and that’s reflected in the cost.

Third, the colour. White, cream or ivory are of course the most popular swatches for your average I-doer. And yes, there is a difference between the three, as you’ll be told over and over during your dress-shopping escapades. But blush shades have been creeping onto bridal catwalks for years – often light pinks, peaches and lilacs. Wedding maven Vera Wang has even sent dresses in deep reds, browns and black down her catwalk. Going for a shade less travelled is a fantastic way to open up all kinds of doors to a tinier bridalwear budget, as you’ll see below. The question is: do you dare?

If you’re finding there’s nothing within your budget in any of the bridal shops, trust me: it’s them, not you. There are a lot of boutiques that stock dresses within a particular price range – £1,500 to £2,500 isn’t uncommon – but there are great designers who pride themselves on creating beautiful bridal gowns at affordable prices.

The trick is to do three things: ask your boutique on the phone what their price range is before you even book the appointment; ask them to only show you dresses within your budget on the day; and know your designers, so you can spot the names that don’t mean uninviting your groom’s whole side of the family.

Prices will vary by individual dress, so it’s still worth asking your boutique to limit what you try on to your preferred numbers, but in general, the below labels create a whole lot of chic styles for around £500 or less.

Most of Alfred Angelo’s gowns are classic or princess. They’re even behind the Disney Fairy Tale Brides Collection – all dresses styled to suit Ariels, Belles, Cinderellas and co. They’re also the place to go if you want to give your white gown a twist: they pride themselves on their Dream in Colour range, where bodices, trains and hemlines come in 50 different shades to tie in with your colour scheme.

David’s have been tearing it up on the other side of the Atlantic for yonks – which is why I’m so psyched they’ve finally touched down over here. You’ll hear a lot of talk about these guys – names like Vera Wang and Zac Posen get bandied about since they’ve worked on ‘affordable’ collections with David’s – but keep in mind that what’s a bargain to your average platinum-card-waving follower of designer fashion doesn’t always fit into that bracket for the rest of us.

I’ll level with you: I’ve seen Vera Wang dresses here from £675 – no doubt more-than-nice workmanship if you can get it, and yes, a total steal if you’re used to the £4,000 to £18,000 she’s been known to charge. Last time I looked there were a few Wang gowns here under the £1,000-mark, but they also went up as high as £1,650, so you had to be careful not to have your bank balance stolen as well as your heart.

Mostly for £500-minus you’re better off with the less name-droppy brands. Galina, for one: think elegant full-length gowns in modern-romantic styles; mostly strapless, often lace, always gorgeous. Then there’s the signature David’s Bridal Collection: trad-with-a-touch-of-something looks; the simpler the dress, the more likely to fall under our price range. DB Studio are modern and daring – often going for the short or sophis markets – and I’ve seen prices start as low as £80. Last but not least, David’s Bridal Woman is worth a look for sizes 18 – 30; expect plenty of flattering trad styles and occasional seriously cute retro-chic.

Ellis have been going for more than 100 years, so there’s no doubt they’re doing something right. Again, you can expect a lot of classic cuts – A-line and fuller skirts, lace and sweethearts – but I’ve also seen them put out one or two quirkier styles, including a blush peach look and a Fifties rock ‘n’ roll hemline.

Quite a lot of classics here, but some simpler styles thrown into the pot, and a healthy dose of spectacle in black lace and inky blue numbers – plus, there’s even a collection made especially for larger ladies. A real mixed bag, Eternity is likely to be a Marmite experience: some of their dresses will be the opposite of what you’re after, and some you’ll totally love – but it only takes one to get it right.

Fans of the ruffle, rejoice! Impression Bridal has them in all cuts, shapes and sizes. There are some slimmer gowns – think sheath with a sexy side split – but for the most part brides who aren’t fans of froth need not apply.

Magazine editors are constantly in awe of the price of these super-cute retro- and vintage-style gowns. The capsule collection of Fifties tea dresses and full-length lacy Twenties looks is too gorgeous to betray the price tag – which is generally around £250 and up.

Not only are Minna dresses a boho bride’s dream come true – think swingy, loose, relaxed styles with lace and tiers, often long-sleeved or off-the-shoulder – they’re by an award-winning designer who’s often splashed across the pages of Elle and Vogue , and they’re all ethical and sustainable. Not that you’d ever guess it to look at them – why aren’t all dresses this heart-warming?

Are you ready for this? Gowns on the site have been known to go for as unbelievably little as… £155!

There’s a real range of prices here, but as a baseline Pronovias bridal gowns tend to start around the £1,000 mark. For a showstopper that’s closer to our £500 ideal, opt for their cocktail dresses in shades such as ivory, blush pink, peach and dusky purple. Expect a variety of styles and shapes that all ooze class and true glamour – think delicate sequin and beadwork, simple satin belts and even striking modern ruffles, mostly in slim or swishy styles.

Pure’s small selection covers most of the essential shapes and styles – skirts full and slender, hems above and below the knee, strapless, one-shoulder and halter – and yes, it does it simply and effectively. They even throw in a few wildcards with unusual colouring and appliqués, just for good measure.

Tobi Hannah’s standard collection is seriously retro cool – think knee-length Sixties shifts and Fifties tea dresses with a modern twist. But it’s also that rare thing: a higher hemline at a bigger price – expect to pay about £1,200 to £1,800 a pop. Don’t despair, though – the limited Alive! collection is talking our language: the short and tea length dresses are real one-offs, vary in size from 8 to 20 and are priced around just £600 to £800.