I know from my own experience that planning a wedding can take months. You spend endless hours deciding what your guests are going to eat, what booze they’re going to drink and even which napkins they’ll wipe their mouths on. While this is all important stuff, it doesn’t really compare to deciding on which outfit you’re going to wear.
The high-street is full of beautiful wedding dresses at the moment.
Of course, the last couple of years had different plans for those who had their weddings coming up, and plenty of nuptials had to be cancelled as a result of the pandemic. But there’s one silver lining I hope I can provide for you. If you’re planning on getting married at some point, then you have more time to decide what you’re going to wear. And if budgets are smaller than you had previously hoped for, then I have good news: High-street wedding dresses look as good as designer ones.
With a rise in the market for well-priced bridal gowns and jumpsuits, there’s zero shame attached to spending less on your gown. In fact, affordable can be incredibly chic. Brands like Reformation, Rixo and Ghost offer chic but inexpensive bridalwear, and the Who What Wear team includes huge fans of their interesting and fun takes.
There are other brands that also stock affordable dresses. Whistles‘ wedding dress collection continues to be one of my favourites, with all pieces under £700, and one of my affordable red carpet go-to’s, Self-Portrait, also offers a drop-dead-gorgeous wedding range. If you still want to invest in something a bit more high-end, Net-A-Porter has a tempting selection of white and ivory gowns and dresses that are in the hundreds, rather than thousands, with a wide mix of styles to suit a city town hall wedding or a dramatic countryside event.
If you want some inspiration for shopping affordable wedding outfits, just take a look at my pick of the expensive-looking options that will cost you a fraction of the price of a traditional frock. I’ve picked out a selection of dresses from some of our favourite stores that can totally be worn for your big day. While what one person deems as “affordable” can differ greatly for another, considering many wedding dresses cost in the thousands, I’ve kept my edit below the £1,000 threshold. If that still seems expensive to you (it is a considerable amount of money, after all), rest assured there are plenty of dresses that come in way under this. Keep scrolling to shop the specialised wedding dress collections from Reformation, Whistles and so many more.
Shop the best high-street wedding dresses:
WHISTLES
Eileen Silk Wedding Dress
£649
The contours of this dress make it look so much more expensive.
ASOS DESIGN
Winnona Bandeau Maxi Wedding Dress
£180
Look at that gorgeous textured floral jacquard.
RIXO
Crisi Ivory Dress
£495
RIXO dresses have such a cool vintage vibe.
MANGO
Satin Dress with Crossed Straps
£230
This would be perfect for an evening wedding—add a faux fur coat for a cold weather affair.
DE LA VALI
Idaira Strapless Satin-Twill Mini Dress
£590
I’m obsessed with the lace trim detailing around the off-the-shoulder neckline.
SAFIYAA
Strapless Crepe Gown
£895
The strapless gown look is a dream wedding outfit for sleek minimalists.
SELF-PORTRAIT
Belted Cloqué and Pleated Chiffon Midi Dress
£380
This is such a gorgeous dress, especially for a town hall wedding, and would suit brides of any age.
H&M
Silk Slip Dress
£190
This slightly silver slip dress is gorgeous if you don’t want to wear bright, brilliant white.
RIXO
Lorella – Ivory
£425
If you’re looking to swap out of your gown into a dancefloor ready dress, this is a great option.
WHISTLES
Lina Satin Wedding Dress
£499
I can’t believe this dramatic gown is a high street find.
REFORMATION
Ronda Silk Dress
£748
The draping on this dress really elevates the look.
WHISTLES
Mia Square Neck Wedding Dress
£499
I’m a big fan of a square neckline—it just looks so elegant.
GALVAN
Pandora Satin Halterneck Midi Dress
£895
Galvan dresses are the perfect balance between classic and contemporary.
RIXO
Rubia Backless Maxi Dress
£825
Sparkle lovers, rejoice.
MONSOON
Enrique Mini Wedding Dress
£300
I love the bow detail on this mini.
REFORMATION
Adwen Silk Dress
£898
This exudes old Hollywood glamour.
RIXO
Eve Open-Back Silk Gown
£975
This silky number boasts a twisted halterneck, a statement open-back and a gorgeous train.
NOBODY’S CHILD
Satin Lace Trim Nessy Bridesmaid Midaxi Dress
£110
A lovely long-sleeved bridal dress if you’re looking for something a bit more modest.
GHOST
Delphine Satin Maxi Dress
£195
Ghost dresses are just reliably good, whether for bridesmaids or brides.
NEEDLE & THREAD
Lana Off-The-Shoulder Ruffled Tulle Gown
£500
A dramatic, tulle gown for a fraction of the price you’d expect.
REFORMATION
Winifred Satin Dress
£598
Such a cool silhouette.
REFORMATION
Jeany Silk Dress
£348
I’d style the dress exactly like this.
NORMA KAMALI
Maria Draped Satin Gown
£355
I’m such a fan of Norma Kamali’s dresses—the draping is always so good.
MONSOON
Kate Pearl Trim Wedding Dress
£375
Going for a high street dress doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a train.
SOLACE LONDON
Neva Strapless Satin Mini Dress
£590
I love the structure of this strapless number, perfect for the modern bride.
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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