Swap the fabric. Fallen in love with a silk gown but can't afford the silk price? You still might be able to afford that gown -- just ask it if the manufacturer offers the same style in a less expensive fabric. For example, designer Carmi Couture (for a dealer near you, call 212-921-7658) offers a white Duchess satin sheath confection with jewel illusion neckline and Guipure lace bodice. The price? $1,400. If that's too much, you can request the same style in a less-expensive Italian satin for $1,100. That's a $300 savings for a simple fabric swap.
Check the next state over.A reader in Los Angeles emailed us this tip. She found the same, brand-new Diamond gown cost $2,200 to special order in L.A., but just $1,300 in a Portland. Another bonus: Oregon has no sales tax, saving the bride another seven percent ($150). Why the major price difference? It's hard to say, but expensive overhead in big cities like L.A. or New York City sometimes leads to bigger markups. Hence, it may pay to check out prices in a nearby state (call the gown's designer to find the names of other dealers). Remember, if you order a gown in another state and have it shipped home across state lines, you may not have to pay any sales tax. Yes, you have to arrange for alterations on your own, but that typically isn't that much of a challenge. Another possible bargain source: Canada. Brides tell us the deals on dresses are fantastic in the Great White North, thanks to a favorable exchange rate. An example: A New York bride told us she found a $1,250 Paloma Blanca dress for just $1,098 Canadian in Toronto. That works out to $770 U.S., a 40 percent savings (given the prevailing exchange rate). And thanks to NAFTA, the bride didn't have to pay any duty or taxes at the border.