By: Catalina Walsh
One of the coolest parts of planning your quinceaneara is finding that perfect dress. You know you have been thinking about it for months if not the last couple of years!! But, when it comes time to finally buy that dress of our suenos, we all have to face the fact that the most exclusive designs tend to be the most expensive ones {and well out of our budget}. So, what can you do to ensure you have the perfect quince dress without breaking the bank or your parent’s budget.
Girls celebrating their quincearea in the United States spend an average of fifteen hundred dollars or more on their gown. And if you want it made of silk, with handmade embroidery and especially designed for you, you might end up spending up to five grand. During these times not all of us can afford to spend that kind of cash on a dress, which is why we’ve gathered some ideas to help you find the ideal dress {at the right price} without sacrificing one bit of style.
Buy your gown on sale
Do what ever bride does – what for sales! If you are looking for the traditional quinceanera dress, every bridal store has a yearly or twice yearly sale. All you have to do is call and ask when it is. Find out when your favorite boutique has its sale and prepare yourself.
The day of the event be sure to arrive very early since there will be many other brides to be waiting in line hours before the store opens. Many brides and even girls celebrating their quince show up wearing a bathing suit under their clothing so they can try on the dresses outside the fitting rooms. However, we highly recommend that you go to the boutique a few days before the big sale so you can find and try on your favorite dresses ahead of time.
Go Vintage
The celebrities all go vintage, so why shouldn’t you! Start asking your mom or your older sister’s friends about the good vintage stores in your town. Better yet, head online to ebay or etsy to find a dress that could work for your quince. With vintage gowns, prices can vary dramatically. The best one’s tend to be expensive so don’t let that word vintage let you think the dresses are all deals. Some of the dresses are in mint condition. However, if you find the right stores, you can sometimes find a designer dress from the eighties (retro anyone?) or nineties that is amazing.
If you choose to go vintage be sure to try on the gown before purchasing sizes can vary. You may have to make some minor repairs as well since the older the fabric is, the more delicate it can become.
Consider Renting your Dress
For years men have rented their tux while we end up spending fortunes on our gown. Nowadays there are places that specialize on wedding gown rentals from top designers for anywhere between a hundred and a thousand dollars. The only disadvantage is that you can’t keep it, but if that’s not important to you this may be a very good option.
Design your gown
Another great way to obtain the ideal dress for less is to head to a local dress designer and design it yourself. You don’t have to be an expert in fashion design. Start by looking around at fashion blogs and websites for inspiration. Then start collecting the various dresses that inspire you. Then print those pages out and take them to a local designer who can work with you to create a unified look. {You can even get creative and use the sleeves of one with the train of another}. Remember, by saving on the making of the dress, you can afford to splurge on some pretty sweet fabrics.
So what are you waiting for? Its time to find that dress girls!
