For parents of the bride, wedding dresses can cost more than their mortgage payments. They want their daughter to look her best on one of the most important days of her life, but often find it hard to justify spending so much money on a dress that will only be worn once.

The situation can also be hard for the bride. There are hundreds of styles of gowns to choose from, and it's hard to find one that fits perfectly. Finally, once a perfect dress is found, it often is not within the budget.

Here are some tips to help with this often-frustrating process:

One of the most important ways to save money is to start shopping for the dress as soon as possible. Sometimes dresses can take up to three months to get into the stores when ordered, and alterations add even more time to the process. Extra time ensures it arrives on time for any last minute complications. A rush delivery or alteration often costs more money.

It is good for brides to allow at least three to four months for wedding dress shopping, said Angel Thomas, assistant manager of Allyse's Bridal.

"It gives them enough time to feel like they're not stressed about their dress," she said.

The next way to save money is to look for ways to improve upon simple dresses. The characteristic that affects the price of gowns the most is the amount of beading and embellishments. Simple gowns cost much less.

"The gowns that are more expensive are ones that have the really ornate beading that is hand done," said Heather Harris, assistant manager of LatterDayBride.

She said that many brides are saving money by purchasing a dress and adding onto it.

"If you know what you're looking for, you can buy a dress that's a simple, plain dress for a lesser amount of money, and then add your own embellishments to it later," she said.

Another tip to save money is for brides to be open to all types of styles when shopping. Sometimes a less expensive dress, that doesn't look as impressive in pictures, can look as good on a bride as the others. One good idea is to listen to the salespeople at the wedding dress stores. They know which type of dress looks good on each body type, and listening to them will save money and time.

"These girls are put through tons of training," said Lynda Hallman, manager of Walker's Eternity Bridal. "Trust your consultant."

Also, brides need to be open to all types of fabrics when shopping. Often dresses are available in different fabrics, which could have a large impact on the price. Choosing polyester satin instead of other fabrics can save hundreds of dollars.

Silk tends to be the most expensive of the fabrics, followed by the softer satins.

"Silk is almost four times as much," said Jaime Mecham, assistant manager of Abella Bridal.

The advantage of these fabrics is how smooth they look and how easily they drape. These fabrics tend to snag easier, though.

Polyester satin is not as expensive, but is stiffer. If the stiffness of the fabric does not matter, it is often good to get the dress in these polyester satins to save money.

Finally, brides should look for packaged deals and sale prices. Many stores have discounts for accessories and invitations. Also, stores clear out their inventory to make room for their new lines. If enough time is allowed, it is possible to shop around and look for those sales.

In the end, it is important not to forget to buy the perfect dress. It is good to save as much money as possible, but a wedding dress is not something that should be settled for.

"If you're going to go for what you want, you can't really put a price range on it," Mecham said.

Copyright Brigham Young University 19 May 2006