Most brides have been dreaming of their wedding since they were a little girl. And finding the perfect wedding dress is an important part of planning the perfect wedding. But you don't have to break the bank to have the perfect wedding dress. Finding an affordable wedding gown is easier than you might think.

Wedding Dress Sample Sales

One of the best places to find an affordable wedding gown is at a sample sale. Many retailers have huge sample sales once or twice a year, where they sell the designer gowns that have been tried on at deep discount prices. A sample sale is worth the time and effort, especially if you wear a standard size (many samples are a size 10 or 12, which can easily be altered to a size six or eight). Wedding gowns are very affordable at these sales â€" most designers price dresses at a sample sale around 50%-75% off. You have probably seen some of the bigger sample sales on television, with brides lining up hours in advance for the first chance at dresses by the hottest designers like Vera Wang, Oleg Cassini, and Jessica McClintock.

Buying an Affordable Wedding Gown on eBay

Another great place to find affordable wedding gowns is on eBay. With the popularity of this online retailer, many brides are choosing to sell their gown after their wedding, and you can benefit. There are hundreds of designer wedding gowns available at affordable prices. Selections vary day to day, but you can often find designer wedding dresses for less than $200. Some of these dresses have been worn once; others are samples from bridal shops. Even if you need to have the dress cleaned or altered, your gown is significantly cheaper than if you had purchased it at a bridal shop.

Finding an Affordable Wedding Gown Locally

If you don't want to shop online, there are local options for finding affordable wedding gowns as well. One option for finding an affordable wedding gown is at your local thrift store or consignment shop. Like with eBay, many of the dresses have only been worn once, and you have the advantage of being able to try the dress on before you buy it. You can also contact local bridal shops to see if they have any samples that are being discontinued. If you have the time to wait, you may be able to buy the sample when the dress is no longer available to order (often wedding gowns are only available for a short period of time).