Dress Hunting - Tips & Strategies

Once I decided on a red dress, I set about looking for options, and in so doing embarked deep into the wedding kingdom – a frothy, creamy white but unexpectedly rigid world.

I was looking for something between $200-500 that was red with black highlights - something elegant and sensuous that reflected me. I wouldn’t have anticipated it being so difficult to find a red wedding dress. I’m not even talking about period costume wedding or gothic wedding – just anything outside of cream and eggshell. Several sites pretending to be for red wedding dresses are just ad sites – So I am committed to filling this egregious information gap for all of the unordinary women out there.

Finding your red wedding dress
(or other interesting colors!)

Look at Prom, Bridesmaid, and Evening Dresses!

• The secret to finding a red wedding dress is to not look for a wedding dress. Looking for a prom dress, evening gown, or bridesmaids dress offers a huge range of more interesting and affordable options. Many prom dresses even include a bit of a train. Though many prom dress designers have nothing to offer the unconventional bride, an increasing number of designers are offering classy, sexy, and elegant options. These dress prices range from $150 - $800 and average about $350.

• My Picks: Unwedding dress designers
  (see full list in sidebar)
  Jovani, Alyce Designs, Alvina Valenta, Dave & Johnny, Faviana, Night Moves by Allure, Tony Bowls

Anyone find any other good designers I should add?

Custom Made Corsets & Dresses

• Go for Baroque: One can find custom gown makers who specialize in artful design for faerie-folk and period weddings. Some of these dresses are truly breathtaking but the price tag and timeline can be prohibitive. If you have a lot of time and a budget of $1000-$3000 this may be an interesting option. A custom corset, however, can be paired with a luscious skirt and cost much less. There are a surprising number of custom corset shops with reasonable prices, listed in the sidebar.
• Custom Online: This option is a mixed bag. You can find custom gowns on Etsy and online and from suppliers in your state or overseas. Some custom gowns are truly works of art and cost as much, ranging from $3,000-$5,000. However, there are increasingly more options on Etsy and other incredible seamstress magic-makers with dresses for $200-$600.
• Overseas Online: My experience with overseas online custom/designer copy gowns has been mixed. Prices and quality can vary extensively. And of course you save a lot of money, but they're possibly made by children....
  
• Go Local. Finding someone local can be a great success. My sister-in-law had an ivory dress with red empire waistband done by a local seamstress for $500. If you know what you want, this might be a good option for you. Look on Yelp for good seamstress and alteration reviews.
• (more specific ideas coming soon...)
  

Vintage

• Check out evening gowns and costume shops. You may find something interesting, but vintage is best for ladies seeking at the white end of the spectrum.
  
• www.preownedweddingdresses.com is an interesting site and sometimes has an occasional red stripe in the mix...
  

Bridal Boutiques

• Unconventional brides are seldom served by mainstream boutiques. The San Francisco Bridal Galleria has zero red dresses. The first obstacle is that any woman looking for a touch of color will find almost nothing in bridal salons and boutiques. If you want a traditional dress shape, you may have luck with a few mainstream designers.