My Picks from the J. Crew Wedding Collection

I've long been an admirer of J. Crew's bridal collection. I almost wore a J. Crew gown to my own outdoor summer wedding (the "Rebecca" dress), but ended up going with a tiered BCBG gown instead. Still, I love to check out the bridal section of the J. Crew site. Here are a few of my top picks from their latest collection.

The Cecelia Gown

This gown has been around for a while, and I can see why. The silk tricotine fabric is light, flowy, and oh so comfortable. The clean lines and flattering v-neckline make it a great choice for a wide range of body types. This one was a runner-up for my own wedding dress.

The Miranda Flower Gown

This one gets my vote for being simple yet stunning. The fitted bodice and full skirt give it a classic shape. This dress would work great for a wedding in almost any setting, be it a formal affair or a simple, backyard gala.

The Corrina Gown

Looking for some vintage, glamorous, Hollywood flair? The Corrina gown evokes 1920s glamor yet manages to remain thoroughly modern.

Do you have a favorite J. Crew wedding gown?

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Where to Find a Discount Wedding Dress

According to expert estimates, the average wedding costs more than $25,000. In today’s tight economy, many brides are looking for the best way to have their dream wedding without spending a lot of cash. Finding a discount wedding dress is one way to reduce your overall costs without sacrificing the things you truly want for your wedding.

Consider Your Plans Before You Look for a Discount Wedding Dress

In order to find a discount wedding dress, it pays to spend a little time researching your options and deciding what you want. Start by thinking about the overall style of dress that you are looking for. Do you want a casual dress, or are you looking for something a bit more formal? Have you always dreamed of walking down the aisle in a vintage wedding dress?

While it is a good idea to get a general idea of the type of wedding dress you want, try to be open to different options. If you have your mind set on a very specific dress by a certain designer, it will probably be much more difficult to find a good discount on your wedding dress.

Create a List of Possible Discount Wedding Dress Sellers

Now that you have decided on a basic style, start compiling a list of sellers who might offer discount wedding dress. In addition to online retailers, consider some of the options available in your local community. Some possible places to look for bargains on dress include:

• Ebay: The online auction site always has a great selection of wedding dresses, ranging from the latest designer styles to lovely vintage options. Utilize the search tools that allow you to narrow your search by dress size, color and seller location. Add possible dresses to your watch list, and then wait until you find a dress that meets your criteria for style and price.
• Used Wedding Dresses Online: There are a number of different websites that allow women to resell their previously worn wedding dresses. Most of these gowns are in great, if not mint, condition and are offered at a huge discount off of the original purchase price.
• Local Consignment Stores: Be sure to scope out any consignment stores in your community to find great deals on wedding dresses.
• Department Stores: If you are going for a more casual look at your wedding, don’t forget to check out some of the major department stores. You can find lovely dress options at a wide range of price points.
  

Give Yourself Plenty of Time to Shop for a Discount Wedding Dress

One of the keys to getting a great wedding dress at a discount is to allow plenty of time to shop around. Don’t buy the first dress you find unless it is actually the dress of your dreams. New dress options pop up frequently online, so try to allow at least two months of searching for a wedding gown.

While it may take a bit of time and effort, there are plenty of great discounts to be found on wedding dresses. Before you rush out to the local dress shop and spend most of your wedding budget on a dress, think about what you truly want and look around for bargains. By saving a little money on your dress, you’ll have more cash available to spend on other aspects of your wedding.

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Lovely Lace Wedding Dress

During my extensive search for my own wedding dress, I became absolutely smitten with a few high-end designer dresses from the likes of Jim Hjelm and Monique Lhuillier. The particular dresses that I lusted after showcased a sleek silhouette, gorgeous lace details and and open back framed in lace.

Unfortunately, these dresses were far out of my budget, originally priced between $3,000 and $5,000. Even after spending months shopping for previously worn dresses on eBay and other dress websites, I still couldn't manage to find a lace wedding dress like this in my modest price range.

Today, I spotted this lovely lovely lace wedding dress from David's Bridal.



The dress is priced at a very reasonable $599, making it possible for women looking for a dress with couture style to get the look without spending a fortune.

David's Bridal describes the dress as, "Lace cap-sleeve trumpet gown with keyhole back and heavily beaded sash. Chapel train. Available in Ivory or White. Petite sizes 0P-16P as Style 7VW9768 (Special Order Only)." You can learn more about the dress (Style VW9768) and read real reviews from other women who have tried on the dress at DavidsBridal.com.

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J. Crew Wedding Dresses

J. Crew has become a top choice for many brides looking for wedding dresses that are simple, elegant and stunning. I actually purchased a J. Crew dress (the oh-so-pretty "Rebecca" dress) originally planning to wear it to what I thought would be a very simple garden wedding....my husband-to-be, however, had much grander plans.

Many of the J. Crew wedding dresses showcase simple, stylish lines paired with glamorous details, such as jeweled necklines or feathering at the shoulder. One of the things that I enjoy most about these dresses are the quality and attention to detail. Even the most affordable dresses in the collection are made out of high-quality fabrics that feel luxurious, expensive and very touchable.

The following are some of the top picks from J. Crew's 2009 offerings:

J. Crew "Avery" Wedding Dress: $425

"A beautiful sight to see (and feel) in pure midweight silk tricotine with a refined drape and elegant cross-back straps. Full A-line skirt. Back zip. Fully lined. Falls to floor with a dramatic train. Import. Dry clean. Catalog/jcrew.com only."


J. Crew "Penelope" Wedding Dress: $695

"Romantic and refined—we've fallen in love with this silk gown. Our designers detailed the high, pleated neckline with a fabric flower and the fitted bodice with pleating down the center front. The slight A-line skirt features two sets of pleats in front. Halter silhouette. Pleated waistband. Keyhole at back neck with hook-and-eye closure. Grosgrain-covered buttons at back. Fully lined. Falls to floor with a slight train. Import. Dry clean. Specially packaged in a custom-made box to ensure your gown is always as beautiful as the first day you wore it. Catalog/jcrew.com only."


J. Crew "Cecelia" Wedding Dress: $395

"With smart, clean, classic lines and an ultra-flattering crossover V-neck, this dress embodies elegant minimalism. We sweetened it up with cap sleeves and used dreamily soft silk so the bias-cut skirt gracefully floats and falls. Midweight silk. Straight skirt. Side zip. Fully lined. Falls to floor. Import. Dry clean. Catalog/jcrew.com only."


J. Crew "Lisette" Wedding Dress: $1,500

"Ethereal in sheer silk organdy with gently swaying, embroidered-cotton flowers—our designers love the way they ring the neckline like a Hawaiiian lei. The fabric was custom-made for us at the Japanese house that makes our very best eyelet laces. Fitted bodice, full A-line skirt. V-neckline. Empire waist. Back zip. Fully lined. Falls to floor; 44" from natural waist. Part of the J.Crew Collection. Import. Dry clean. Specially packaged in a custom-made box to ensure your gown is always as beautiful as the first day you wore it. Catalog/jcrew.com only."

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Inspiration Board: A Glam Garden Wedding

Today's inspiration board is all about high-low mixing. A glamorous yet simple wedding dress, a gorgeous garden scene and chic details combine to create an elegant event.

The dress seems fairly simple, but it packs a lot of drama with its daring back and luxurious fabric. Check out Nicole Miller Style #DA0039 for a similar dress. Keep the details simple and skip the long veil in favor of a sexy birdcage or glittering hair clip.

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Splurge, Save and Steal: Augusta Jones Tia Dress

In today's edition of Splurge, Save and Steal, we will take a look at three dresses from three different designers. Each dress shares a common style, but at various price points. Today, we'll focus on the "Tia" wedding dress from Augusta Jones.

Splurge: The Augusta Jones "Tia"

This gorgeous dress from UK designer emphasizes clean lines. The off-the-shoulder neckline draws attention to the shoulders and neck, while the asymmetric drape around the waist creates a sleek and slim silhouette. The dress can be found at retailer or online in used condition for between $1500 to $3,000.

Save: Alfred Angelo Style #1148


Alfred Angelo offer a fantastic mid-price range version of the Augusta Jones "Tia" wedding dress. The dress can be found at retailer locations who carry Alfred Angelo for between $500 to $600. Learn more at AlfredAngelo.com

Steal: David's Bridal Style #BR1035


Wedding dress retailer David's Bridal offers a nicely done version of this style of dress for the rock-bottom price of just $179. As part of their online collection, this particular style is not available in stores and can only be order online. While one online reviewer notes that the fabric is somewhat shiny and not as nice as she expected, this dress option would work well for brides on a tight budget. Plus, it could be easily accessorized with great shoes and jewelry. Available online at David'sBridal.com

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Gorgeous Vintage-Style Dress at Dillards.com

For many women, purchasing a wedding dress uses up a fairly large portion of the wedding day budget. Even some of the more affordable wedding dresses still cost upwards of $1,000 - a hefty price for a so-called "cheap" wedding dress.

But who says you can't get an amazing wedding dress for under $200? I spotted this fantastic find at Dillards.com shortly after purchasing my own wedding dress, and immediately had a bit of dress envy. With its vintage vibe and nice details, this would be the perfect dress for a romantic 40's-style wedding.

Best of all, it has an extremely low price tag - just $180. If you are on a super-tight wedding budget, this would be a great option. After saving so much money on the dress, you could easily allocate more of your budget into decor, food, favors, accessories or other wedding day essentials.

This vintage-style wedding dress is only available online, so be sure to check it out at Dillards.com.

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