Bridalwear On A Budget: 10 Beautiful Wedding Dresses

The average cost of a wedding in the UK continues to rise, even in the face of a cost of living crisis, and it now sits at a cool £20,000 – or, in other words, a healthy deposit for a first home in some areas of the UK. But for those who want to keep things simple, it is still entirely possible to do so, and one way of achieving this (amongst other choices, of course) is to plump for a more affordable wedding dress. The average bride spends £1,300 on the frock of a lifetime, and yet there are many excellent high street wedding dresses out there, as well as those from indie brands, whose price tags are somewhat more palatable for the budget-conscious. After all, the thing that matters is to pledge your lifelong devotion in the company of your beloved and friends and family – and, with the high street being so nimble on its feet and so capable at creating dupes, there should be no pressure to blow the budget. These are the more affordable wedding dresses we love – and might even actually get to wear again.

Ghost

Delphine Satin Maxi Dress, £146.25


Ghost is a high street stalwart when it comes to affordable bridal styles. We love the Delphine Satin Maxi Dress which, we think, works well either as a wedding dress or as a bridesmaid dress. It comes in white too, but we always adore a pale pink wedding dress. Explore more.

Doen

Katherina Dress, £398


Santa Barbara-born sisters, Margaret and Katherine Kleveland along with a collective of five other women, are the creative force behind Doen, a brand whose dreamy aesthetic is all about nostalgia for the coastal California of days past. If, then, you’re looking for a shot of sunshine in your wedding dress (who isn’t?), Doen’s ankle-grazing Katherina in cotton poplin could be the one. Explore more.

Me + Em

Square-Neck Stretch-Cotton Maxi Dress, £195


‘I don’t believe that modern women should have to choose between quality and cost; between contemporary trends and clothes they can actually function and look great in.’ That was Me + Em’s founder and CEO Clare Hornby’s mission when she launched the brand in 2009. The onus on great cuts and quality makes the brand a brilliant choice for brides who favour simplicity – the Square-Neck Stretch-Cotton Maxi Dress is a case in point, its classic shape perfect in its total eschewal of fuss. Explore more.

Paloma Wool

Globo Strapless Dress, £350


Strapless dresses are always a popular choice for brides, and we love this crisp cotton example from Paloma Wool over at Liberty London via Spain. With its balloon hem, it has a sensational silhouette and is very easy to wear; in fact, we’d resurrect it every summer post getting hitched for parties. Explore more.

Ralph Lauren

Crepe Off-the-Shoulder Gown, £279


The words ‘Ralph Lauren’ and ‘affordable’ and not typically breathed in the same sentence. And yet this elegant dress from the brand’s Lauren diffusion line is every bit as New Hamptons chic as one could hope for – and at a fraction of the price of similar styles. Explore more.

Rixo

Coco Sequinned Midi Dress, £475


Shimmery, simple, sublime: we adore this knock-out dress from Rixo, whose understated cut, sweetly pinched shoulders and long sleeves are lent va-va-voom by all the sequins. Joy. Explore more.

Whistles

Mia Square Neck Wedding Dress, £499


We love the simple silhouette, the cinched-in waist and the low back of this Whistles wedding dress, which hangs beautifully and exudes chic. Explore more.

Needle & Thread

Libby Lace Gown, £475


Working to a budget doesn’t mean you have to forego bells and whistles. Needle & Thread has all the gathered tulle frills any bride-to-be might wish for from a couture piece – and a price tag that comes in at under £500. No, it’s not cheap, but it’s still less than half the average that a UK bride pays for a gown. And if you want something that is less ‘bridal’ but still every bit as showstopping yet rewearable for parties, opt for the floral take on this frock. Explore more.

Monsoon

Camilla Embroidered Bridal Dress, £550


Monsoon does a strong bridalwear game and of its SS24 collection, the Camilla Embroidered Bridal Dress is our favourite. Well-cut and beautifully drapey, its V-neck at both front and back is chic, while the wide sleeves give 1970s vibes in all the right ways. A classic and highly glamorous gown. Explore more.

Coast

Bow Back Square Neck Twill Wedding Dress, £111.20


Sometimes what you want on your wedding day is a great big bow. Coast – which has long been a high street staple for occasion-wear – comes up with the goods in the form of this elegant dress, whose back bow detail adds drama to an otherwise scrupulously simple square-necked affair. Explore more.