Wearing a wedding dress is a once-in-a-lifetime moment so if the search for your dream gown has been dominating your headspace, we think that's fair! There's no denying wedding dresses can be seriously expensive and the sky is the limit on how much you can spend. Realistically, most brides can't afford to splurge a small fortune on the dress alone (there are so many other things to pay for) so if you're operating on a budget, the good news is that you can still nab that dream gown - and for a fraction of the price! All it takes is a little perseverance and some savvy insider know-how. We've teamed up with AIB to break down all the options so you can look and feel incredible on your wedding day without breaking the bank...

Choose a Simple Style

If you're trying to bring down the cost of your wedding dress, it may help to reassess the style you want to wear on your big day. Often, a simpler design will cost less, purely because it takes fewer hours to produce. Intricate beading, lace and appliqué work, although breathtaking, can take hundreds of hours to complete, drastically raising the cost of the gown. Opt for simple designs with minimal adornments, instead. You can still add interest, drama and detail to your look by choosing clever accessories. A delicate jewel-encrusted veil, for example, or a pearl-encrusted belt can often achieve the same results at a fraction of the price!

Shop Sample Sales

If you've got your heart set on a specific designer, a great way to nab a dress from their collection is to shop end-of-season sample sales. The prices of these dresses are often marked down by up to 50 per cent so it's a great chance to save big. Bridal boutiques and designers hold sample sales about twice a year. It's their chance to get rid of old stock and make room for new styles, so check their website regularly and sign up to newsletters so you don't miss the moment. If you have a favourite boutique, speak to the staff to find out when their sample sale is taking place, put a reminder in your calendar and when the time comes... happy shopping!

Buy Off the Rack

We all know wedding dresses take time to order (up to a year!) but did you know that if you buy off the rack, you can take your dress home that same day? It saves you a fair penny in doing so, too. Most bridal boutiques have a number of off-the-rack dresses they can sell and while they may have been tried on by other brides, the cost of fixing a zip or a dry clean is much more appealing than the price of having a dress made to measure. Shop around the boutiques to nab the best deal.

Mix-and-Match Your Look

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to bridal shopping and styling. One way to incorporate pieces you truly love into your look, while sticking to a budget, is to mix and match those special designer separates with more affordable pieces. Team a designer skirt with a high street top or pair a cool corset with a chic slip skirt from the high street. As long as you feel beautiful and comfortable, it doesn't matter where you've bought your pieces or how much you've splashed out on them. You could also consider wearing a more affordable dress and splashing out on your shoes - you're more likely to wear them again!

Rent Your Dream Dress

Bridal trends are forever changing and these days it's super easy to rent luxury wedding dresses - not a bad way to save a fair penny and tick off that 'something borrowed' on your list! Taking into consideration that you'll only wear your wedding dress once, it makes perfect sense to save money by borrowing your gown instead of buying it outright. Typically, a wedding dress can cost anywhere from €1,000 to €5,000; renting, meanwhile, will set you back a couple of hundred euro. Another big plus is that the rental company usually takes care of the dry cleaning which means one less thing for you to worry about. If you're curious, Huur, Bride's First Choice, By Rotation, Happy Days, The Designer Room, Something Borrowed are great places to browse - they have fab day two options, too.

Wear a Family Heirloom

We've taken care of the 'something borrowed' but how about that 'something old?' We're not suggesting you whip out your grandmother's dress from the thirties and just turn up at the altar (although you totally could!) - we're thinking more along the lines of injecting a new lease of life into a loved one's wedding gown a la Princess Beatrice who borrowed a vintage dress from the Queen's wardrobe for her own wedding day. Apart from it being a really sustainable, money-saving option, there's something so special about wearing your mum or grandmother's dress on your own big day, in fact, we can't think of a greater way to honour your family! Even if you plan to add some contemporary touches, it will still be much more affordable than buying a new dress...

Check the Charity Shops

Charity shops are a fantastic place to find your dream wedding dress and most often, you'll find never-worn pieces on the rails that have been passed down from bridal boutiques. Even better, some of the shops specialising in bridal - like the Barnardos Bridal Rooms in Dun Laogaire and Wexford, have private bridal spaces where you can feel special trying on the dresses. Oxfam Bridal on Georges Street in Dublin City and in Bangor, Co. Down is another great bridal charity shop. There's also St Vincent de Paul at 97 Terenure Rd North, Dublin. Prices start from €100 and the stock changes all the time. Don't forget to book an appointment before you pop down...

Shop the High Street

It's your big day which means you get to make the rules - and that includes what you do and don't wear. If you're a bride who isn't fussed about a specific designer or you are leaning towards a more laid-back look, the high street has lots of beautiful and affordable options for your special day. Online retailers like ASOS, Reformation, Net-a-Porter and Needle and Thread, have gorgeous, stylish bridal options at more budget-friendly prices. Whistles, Reiss, Ghost and Ted Baker also have beautiful, classic designs.

Consider Buying Pre-Loved

If you have your heart set on purchasing a dress you can keep forever, a great way to nab your dream gown at a fraction of the cost (up to 60 and 70 per cent off!) is to purchase it pre-loved. There are lots of boutiques and online retailers that specialise in selling pre-loved bridal and they stock every designer you can think of, from Vera Wang to Justin Alexander, Atelier Pronovias and Alice Temperley. These sites allow you to filter your search down to specifics like designer, cost and condition (you'll find lots of never-worn dresses too) and there will be plenty of photos of real brides so you can see how the dresses look on the body. One downside to buying from a re-sale site is that you're taking a gamble so a good rule is to check out the individual website's return and exchange policy and size up if you must - material can always be taken off but not added in! ReBride, StillWhite, Sell My Wedding Dress and Discount Designer are great starting points.

Sell Your Gown

If you're sold on one dress and one dress only, there is the option of making a purchase knowing you can sell the dress after the wedding - but be prepared to lose a chunk of money. The nature of re-sell sites means you'll likely sell your gown at a discount price but if you're happy to make some money back, it's a great compromise. How much you sell for will depend on the condition of your dress. Check out ReBride, StillWhite, Sell My Wedding Dress, Discount Designer but be sure to read the terms and conditions as each site is unique in how it operates.

Ask For Help

If you're feeling overwhelmed by your wedding budget, don't worry, we understand. There are a lot of things to factor in when planning such a big day and the number-crunching can be a stressful affair. It's important to remember though, that if you need assistance, help is at hand. Whether it's for your dress, honeymoon or beyond, AIB have personal loans from €1,000 - €30,000; you can apply online and in app. You can use AIB's online loan calculator to see how much you could borrow and even set your own repayment schedule - weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. If you're getting married and need some support, this could be the way to make your dreams become a reality. For more information, check out AIB online here to calculate how much you could borrow.

You can apply for an AIB personal loan today and make your dreams become a reality. Head to the AIB App or check out the online loan calculator on the AIB website for more details.

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