The dress I fell in love with and wore for my wedding was not the dress of my dreams.
I had always imagined I’d wear something more true to my general style- simple, minimal, and chic with a touch of femininity. Instead, I chose drama.
Don’t get me wrong- I loved my voluminous sleeves and the half-Renaissance, half-Bridgerton look. Because when else do you get to be that?
My dress was lovely, but it took up a lot of space and I wanted another dress to move around more freely. There was also a part of me that wanted a dress that felt more me. And more Brooklyn (which is where I got married).
So needless to say, I went hunting for the perfect second dress! I searched high and low, although I ultimately was looking for wedding dresses under $500.
In my search, I found so many gorgeous dresses from both higher and lower ends. Of course, the designer dresses were gorgeous. But I also realized there’s a way to achieve the same look at a fraction of the price. Especially when you’re just wearing it for a few hours in a dimmed room only carried by candlelight!
Usually, these dresses are simpler in silhouette and fabric without lace, beads, and delicate fabrics that are harder to replicate.
But even without much, these dresses are elegant and make it much easier to be a chic bride on a budget!
The Dress Round-Up
Whether it’s for your main wedding dress for your dream venue or a courthouse, or you just want something different for your reception, I got you!
Here are five affordable yet just as chic and modern dresses for the bride who wants both.
1. Revolve Square-Neck Gown ($287)
Photo: Revolve
Revolve Kanna Gown by Michael Costello
So I may be biased with this one because I wore this dress for my wedding reception.
But this dress was perfect. At less than $300 from Revolve, it got delivered so fast (within 2 days), it was so comfortable and perfectly chic. It was the dress I had imagined I’d wear for my Brooklyn restaurant wedding.
Its fitted yet thick fabric holds your body in all the right places. Even though it’s form-fitting, it was surprisingly comfortable to move in. I actually felt that this dress was more forgiving than many other pieces I’ve tried on!
As you can see in the photo, I wore this for eating and all throughout the cocktail hour, the reception, and the after-party. After spending hours on my feet and socializing, I can attest that this dress served me well.
2. Etsy Long Sleeve Wedding Dress ($436)
Photo: Etsy- DelizaBridal
DelizaBridal Long Sleeve Open Back Wedding Dress
When I think of a modern city wedding, I instantly think of a sleek long-sleeve dress in crisp white.
So I got one for you here at just under $500. Maybe Etsy isn’t the go-to place for brides looking for in-person appointments, but it can be a great place to find unique, quality pieces.
Because Etsy is a DIY marketplace, many of its businesses boast great craftsmanship, just without the heavy price tag that comes with well-known clothing stores.
This dress is no exception- at an affordable price point, the dress accomplishes a stunningly simplistic yet elegant look and can be dressed up or down depending on how the bride styles it.
3. Jenny Yoo One-Shoulder Dress ($375)
Photo: Jenny Yoo
Jenny Yoo Sasha One-Shoulder Dress
I adore Jenny Yoo dresses. She knows what looks good on a woman. This may be another biased option because my ceremony dress was from Jenny Yoo, but I had also tried her other dresses.
Her dresses, including this one, are simple yet flattering, stylish, and great quality for the price point.
The one-shoulder look is timeless and classic, but the cutout on the side gives the dress a bit more unique edge. I can imagine this dress on a fun and chic bride in a city hall or an urban venue.
4. Revolve Emelie Strapless Gown ($329)
Photo: Revolve
I love this one. Pieces that have no fancy additions but stand out with the simplest of silhouettes always draw my attention.
This dress is a prime example of that. The boned bodice and its slight ruching give a unique edge to this otherwise simple and minimal dress.
What I also love about this is you can have fun with how you want to accessorize this. I think that bridal styling is just as important, if not more, than the dress itself. The Emelie strapless gown can create many different looks depending on the earrings, necklaces, hair pieces, and bags you wear.
I sense it’s a ceremony-to-reception dress.
5. Revolve Off-Shoulder Midi Dress ($212)
Photo: Revolve
Now if you are a bride that does not care about how long the dress should be, you have way more options. Super cute options too.
The Revole Samara Dress is one that hits just below the knees, capitalizing the “M” in “Modern.” But what I really love about this dress is the drama it brings with big ruffles at the top which are juxtaposed to the straight, chic, corporate-suit-like bottom.
The ruffles are so feminine and voluminous, but not obnoxious. They make me think of perfect white clouds or a pot of white flowers.
This dress seems like the perfect option for a courthouse wedding or an elegant reception. I already know it’ll be photographed well too.
Final Thoughts
Wedding dress shopping is fun and exciting but can get stressful when the dress you love is out of your budget. My two cents is you shouldn’t spend a fortune on a dress (if you can afford it then sure, by all means) because there are so many beautiful and affordable wedding dresses.
Especially if you consider yourself to be minimal, simple, and chic, the world of wedding gowns will be your oyster.
As you saw, three of the five dresses I’ve linked are from Revolve. Clearly, I have a thing for them.
It’s because are their options not only so chic, but they get delivered fast and are good with returns. So it’s perfect for a last-minute bride too.
But even besides Revolve, there are many other budget-friendly options. Some great places to start are those I’ve already listed (Revolve, Etsy, Jenny Yoo) as well as Asos, Anthropologie, David’s Bridal, and Park & Fifth).
If you want more, I’ve linked some similar alternatives to the dresses above here:
If you are planning for a wedding and are on the hunt for the perfect dress, be sure to check these budget-friendly options out!
Oh, and congratulations!
