Most of the clothing we look to purchase can easily be acquired in US based stores. This includes shirts, dresses, sweaters, pants, and most any other garments. But how about specialized dresses for your wedding bridesmaids – what if what you really want is located in the UK?

Finding affordable bridesmaid dresses in UK shops is next to impossible. The markups in bridal salons are massive and the prices are inflated.

For some tips and tricks, along with alternatives places to buy, and on how to find dresses for cheap in the UK, keep reading.

eBay

Instead of buying designer bridesmaid dresses in UK shops, why not try eBay? A number of Chinese dress manufacturers have started making and selling their dresses online – often designing close to perfect replicas of the dresses for a fraction of the price. In fact, many of these factories are the same ones where the designer originals are made.

Of course, like anything you buy on eBay, you need to be careful about what you purchase. Typically, a dressmaker with a long history of positive feedback is usually a safe bet. And remember to give yourself leeway in case your 20 GBP bridesmaid dress turns out to be a dud.

Buy Direct

When you go into a bridal salon, you’re also paying for their profit margins and your alterations after you order the dress. Buying direct from a UK dress maker is actually significantly cheaper than ordering a factory dress that’s shipped from overseas.

You can try contacting manufacturers directly or go through a company like Bridesmaid Direct (+44 (0) 1935 413656). They’ll connect you with UK dressmakers who will create a dress or dresses exactly to your specifications and measurements – meaning no need for alterations or long waits for factory-made dresses. In addition, you’ll save on shipping costs and customs.

Have it Tailor Made

Like going directly to a manufacturer, having a dress custom made by a tailor can be a great and even affordable option. It may seem expensive, but it’s actually cheaper than you might have been led to believe and often costs considerably less than a factory made dress. For example, a basic Dessy dress will usually cost each bridesmaid approximately 140 GBP for the dress and roughly 70 GBP for the alterations.

Alternatively, you can purchase the fabric you want (3 to 10 GBP per yard and approximately three yards per dress) and have the dresses made, exactly to their measurements, for about 50 to 70 GBP per dress. That’s a significant savings, and your maids will walk away with a custom-made and custom-fitted dress.

Hit the High Street

Who says that you have to buy your bridesmaid dresses at a bridal salon or from a bridesmaid dress manufacturer? More and more wedding parties are opting to purchase their bridesmaid dresses in UK high street shops.

In a single day of shopping, all your bridesmaids can be dressed for the wedding with an off-the-rack dress that looks great.