Wedding dresses are often among the most expensive items in a bride’s wedding budget.
But why do brides spend so much on a wedding dress?
Brides spend so much on a wedding dress because of the emotional connection, perfect fit and quality, and the historical meaning of the wedding dress. Celebrity culture and the competitive wedding industry also motivate higher spending on wedding dresses.
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about why brides spend so much on their wedding dresses.
The Emotional Connection
The emotional connection between a bride and her wedding dress is a powerful one.
On the most special day of her life, the dress she wears symbolizes her joy, pride, and beauty. The bride-to-be will often spend months searching and trying on different gowns in hopes of finding the perfect one for her.
The time, effort, and money that she puts into finding her dress are all part of creating this emotional connection.
Although a wedding dress is an investment, it is not simply a financial one.
It is an emotional one too, which is why so much time is devoted to finding the perfect dress. For the bride, her wedding dress is a reflection of herself and her unique style, personality, and spirit.
It is a way for her to express her individuality and for her to stand out on her wedding day. It is also a reminder of the importance of this special day and the significance of the vows she is making that day.
All these emotions come together to form an emotional connection to the dress that will last a lifetime.
Perfect Fit and Quality
When it comes to wedding dresses, the perfect fit and quality are essential.
Brides spend so much on their dresses because they want their gowns to look and feel amazing. From the fabric to the fit, brides take great care in selecting the perfect dress that will look stunning on their special day.
The perfect fit is key to making this happen.
Brides often invest in multiple fittings to ensure that the dress fits like a glove. Not only does this require an experienced tailor, but it also requires the right materials and a lot of attention to detail.
Quality is also a factor.
Brides want their dresses to be perfect, so they often opt for high-quality fabrics and intricate details like beading and embroidery.
They also want to make sure that it lasts.
With top-quality materials and expert craftsmanship, brides can be sure that their dresses will look beautiful for years to come.
The Competitive Wedding Industry
The wedding industry is highly competitive, with brides striving to have the best and most unique dress.
In the world of custom-tailored bridalwear, the demand for unique and exquisite designs is high, and brides will often seek out a designer whose style matches their own.
This can lead to a hefty price tag for a dress, as brides are often willing to pay a premium for a dress that is truly one of a kind.
In addition to the demand for unique, custom-tailored wedding dresses, the cost of fabrics, labor, and materials has also increased.
Designers will carefully select the fabrics and materials that will be used in the dress, ensuring that they are of the highest quality, and this can add to the overall cost of the garment.
On top of that, the cost of skilled labor to create the gown is also a factor to consider.
With the high cost of labor (and a shortage of laborers), brides may find that the dress of their dreams is exceedingly expensive.
For example, here’s a video that perfectly showcases how much brides are willing to spend on custom dresses:
The Historical Meaning of the Dress
The wedding dress is a symbol of a bride’s commitment and love on her special day.
As such, brides have historically seen the dress they wear on their special day as a physical representation of their love and devotion.
This is another reason why many brides spend so much on their wedding dresses.
The wedding dress has also held great religious and cultural significance throughout history.
In some cultures, the wedding dress is an extension of the bride’s family’s heritage and traditions, with many brides choosing to wear the same style of dress their mothers and grandmothers wore on their wedding day.
In other cultures, a bride’s wedding dress is a symbol of purity, with white being the traditional color of choice for a bride-to-be.
This is why many brides take the time to find the perfect dress and spend a considerable amount of money to make sure it is perfect.
The Impact of Celebrity Culture
Celebrity culture has had a profound impact on how brides approach their wedding dress shopping.
From the moment a bride begins to plan her wedding, she is bombarded with images of perfect wedding gowns and the celebrities who have worn them in movies, magazines, and on the red carpet.
This creates a very real pressure for the bride to find a dress that will make her look glamorous and special on the day of the wedding.
In the past, brides shopped for a wedding dress with an eye only on quality and craftsmanship.
Today, brides often want a dress that will make them look just as glamorous and beautiful as the celebrities they see in the media.
This means that they are willing to spend more money on a designer dress that will make them stand out, rather than settling for a cheaper, less fashionable option.
This is not to say that all brides are driven by celebrity culture when shopping for a wedding dress.
But it is undeniable that celebrity culture has had a large impact on how brides view and approach the process, and how much money they are willing to spend on the dress of their dreams.
The Value of Celebrating a Special Moment
Weddings come with a lot of one-time expenses, but few are as memorable or expensive as the wedding dress.
Though it can definitely affect the budget, a bride knows that her wedding dress is worth every penny – it’ll be frozen in time and remembered decades down the road when she pulls out her photo album to reminisce on such an important chapter in her life.
In other words, brides happily make sure their dream dress isn’t the one that got away.
She Wants To Blow Away The Groom
Many brides invest in their wedding dresses to get the best response from their grooms. They want the biggest and most emotional reaction possible.
At a wedding I went to recently, the bride had spared no expense when it came to her dress.
It was a stunning floor-length number that fit her like a glove and really showcased her beauty. She evidently wanted to blow away not just her groom, but the entire 500-strong guest list.
Judging by the gasp of amazement and then thunderous applause as she made her entrance – mission accomplished.
Picture Perfect Memories
Every bride knows that her wedding dress will cast the defining light on her picture-perfect memories.
It’s all about the details, and with all eyes on the blushing bride, it’s no wonder why they anticipate spending a lot to get their princess moment.
After all, they only have one chance at perfection, so what’s not to spend every last penny for?
Whether it’s for Instagram or a future niece or nephew, making sure the memories are timelessly beautiful is worth every dollar—no matter how much you have to splurge.
How Much Should You Spend On a Wedding Dress?
When it comes to wedding dresses, you don’t need to break the bank to look like a million bucks.
Prices can range between $1,000 and $4,000, which gives you plenty of room to find a dress that won’t drain your bank account (or max out your credit cards).
You can even find gorgeous dresses for less than $500.
If money is no object, go ahead and spend your heart away. But if you’re worried about the costs of your big day adding up too quickly, consider limiting yourself.
You might find that limiting the budget pops open a door for something even more glamorous – like an exotic honeymoon or that downpayment for a new house.
So, take some time and really think about how much you want to commit to a dress you might wear once for a few hours.
Also, keep in mind that published research suggests that spending less on your wedding increases the likelihood that your marriage will last.
Final Thoughts: Why Do Brides Spend So Much On a Wedding Dress?
As someone who has attended quite a few weddings, it never ceases to amaze me how much effort (read: money) goes into the bride’s ensemble for the special day.
Now you know all the best reasons why.
If you like reading about weddings (or relationships), we have a lot of articles on this site that you might like. Check out a few before you go.
Read This Next:
- Why Do Wedding Dresses Not Have Prices? (Explained)
- Can a Groom See the Wedding Dress? (Solved & Explained)
- How Old Is Too Old for a Bridesmaid? (Wedding Expert)
Sources
Social Science Research Network (Research on wedding expenses and divorce)