Trevor Price

Spotting Discounts on Bridesmaid Apparel in the UK

Hunting down attractive and affordable bridesmaid dresses in UK bridal salons is hard. Why? Because the bridal salons in the UK hike up the prices for major profit margins simply because they can.

Finding affordable bridesmaid dresses in UK shops is next to impossible. The markups in bridal salons are massive and the prices are inflated. For some tips and tricks, along with alternatives places to buy, and on how to find dresses for cheap in the UK, keep reading.

eBay

When a bridesmaid dress is ordered, the order is sent to Asia, made to specification and then the dress is shipped to the UK. In the meantime, you've paid overhead and profit costs to the bridal salon, the shipper and the manufacturer. Many Chinese dress factories have smartened up and started selling their own dresses or dress replicas through eBay for a fraction of the cost.

Before you buy, though, be sure to check the seller's reviews. A bargain isn't a bargain if you wind up getting a poorly made dress that can't be worn. Also, leave extra time in case your $19.99 knockoff arrives looking less than acceptable.

Buy Direct

Buying a bridesmaid dress from a bridal salon means you and other customers have to pay for their overhead costs and profit margins. Instead, why not purchase your dresses directly from UK manufacturers and skip the middle man all together?

You can try contacting manufacturers directly or go through a company like Bridesmaid Direct (+44 (0) 1935 413656). They'll connect you with UK dressmakers who will create a dress or dresses exactly to your specifications and measurements - meaning no need for alterations or long waits for factory-made dresses. In addition, you'll save on shipping costs and customs.

Go to a Tailor

Like going directly to a manufacturer, having a dress custom made by a tailor can be a great and even affordable option. It may seem expensive, but it's actually cheaper than you might have been led to believe and often costs considerably less than a factory made dress. For example, a basic Dessy dress will usually cost each bridesmaid approximately 140 GBP for the dress and roughly 70 GBP for the alterations.

When you use a tailor, you can expect to pay anywhere from 9 to 30 GBP for the fabric that you choose and then an average of 50 to 70 GBP to have the dresses actually created. Not only is it cheaper, but you'll also get a dress that's made to your design and created just for you.

Shop on the High Street

There's no rule that says you have to buy bridesmaid dresses from a bridal shop. In fact, buying bridesmaid dresses in UK high street shops is catching on as a great way to save money and avoid having to wait for lengthy delivery times.

One day of shopping, hitting the major shops, and you'll likely find an off-the-rack dress that's available in a range of sizes and for a fraction of the price. Happy hunting.

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