You can say, “Yes!” to the dress online! As boutique NJ wedding photographers, we’d love to help you find your match with the perfect wedding dress. Here’s what you need to know, plus 8 places to find affordable wedding dresses.
What to know before buying an affordable wedding dress online:
- Check materials, brush up on your textiles, & get a feel for the fabrics before purchasing. Do your best to know what you’re buying and how it will feel on. Think about weight, wrinkle resistance, breathability, structure, movement, and weave. Here’s a handy wedding dress material guide by BRIDES.
- Take accurate measurements with a tailor’s/seamstress’s tap measure ahead of time. Learn how to take your own measurements (with photos) here.
- Check exchange, return, and refund policies on the specific dress you’re purchasing (the refund policy usually excludes dresses that have been altered—i.e., you can’t return/exchange them once they’ve been altered, washed, worn, or tags removed.
- Expect possible alteration needs. Keep a little wiggle room in your budget for additional alterations.
Boutique NJ Wedding Photographers: Guide to Online Wedding Dress Shopping
1. Anthropologie
Anthropologie is known for its one-of-a-kind styles and quality. While their everyday clothing and home décor tends to run on the higher end, they feature affordable dresses from the BHLDN line. Anthropologie dresses cost a little more than some on this list, but they provide stunning, custom-look styles at a more reasonable price than premier bridal boutiques, specialty salons, and top-tier designers. With Anthropologie, you get the designer look with a smaller price tag.
Shop Anthropologie wedding dresses for:
- Seasonal Wedding Dresses
- BHLDN Bridal Line
- Little White Dresses
- Bridal Separates & Jumpsuits
- City Hall Styles
- Modern Bridal Styles
- Bohemian Gowns
- Curvy Styles
You might also check out their formal dress line as many of those styles work well for modern brides, too. Anthropologie also has bridal party, mother of the bride/groom dresses, accessories, shoes, and bridal lingerie. Need more guidance? Ask our team of helpful NJ wedding photographers.
2. Azazie
Azazie offers bridal options for a wide range of styles and sizes. You can refine your search to find just what you’re looking for.
Shop the Azazie bridal line for:
- Best Sellers
- Timeless Styles
- New Arrivals
- Plus & Curvy Styles
- Vintage Dresses
- Beach/Destination Dresses
- Boho Gowns
- Modern & Trendy Styles
- Satin Stretch Styles
- Elopement Styles
- Bridal Sale/Ready-to-Ship 70% off
And more! You can also find party/rehearsal dresses, bridal party dresses, mother of the bride/groom styles, flower girl dresses, jewelry, veils, and other accessories.
3. Baltic Born
Most of Baltic Born’s comfortable dresses pack and travel well and flatter any lovely shape. They’re great for destination, outdoor, at-home/garden, and casual weddings. Baltic Born dresses are also the perfect option for rehearsal and reception dresses if you want to keep with the bridal look but slip into something a little more comfortable. Make room on the dancefloor—this bride’s got moves!
4. BHLDN
If you’re a New Jersey bride, you have to check out BHLDN. As Anthropologie’s wedding line (see above), this line feature eclectic and unique styles for the modern bride. You can find everything from floral gowns and dimensional lace appliques to textured bridal jumpsuits and beaded two-piece sets. If you’re looking for an affordable ‘wow factor’ and one-of-a-kind style, this is your shop! (They have elegant, timeless styles too, like this gorgeous Milano Gown.)
5. East Meets Dress
I can personally say that East Meets Dress is a phenomenal Asian-American bridal shop to work with. Like our boutique wedding photography studio, the co-founders of East Meets Dress opened their shop to provide a better bridal shopping experience for today’s Asian-American brides. Their photos are accurate–gowns featured on real brides–and their styles are gorgeous and flattering. With East Meets Dress, you don’t have to sacrifice style or quality in order to honor and celebrate your culture.
East Meets Dress Asian wedding dress collections include:
- Bespoke Cheongsam Collection
- Traditional Chinese Wedding Dresses
- Vietnamese Wedding Dresses
- Modern Cheongsams
- Modern Jumpsuit /Dress
- Tea Ceremony Dresses
- Chinese Tang Suits & Vietnamese Ao Dai for Men
Plus, you can support an amazing Asian-American business when you shop with them.
6. June Bridals
June Bridals is unique in that it has EXTRA refining search options. First, you can choose a collections (boho, western, luxury, seasonal, destination, beach, etc.) From there, you can easily search through hundreds of dresses and narrow your search down by:
- Price
- Silhouette
- Hemline/Train
- Neckline
- Fabric
- Sleeve Length
- Back Style
- Waist
Our team of NJ wedding photographers especially love the exceptional customized search options and great selection that June Bridals provides.
7. LulusWEDDINGS
You may already be familiar with Lulus selections of dresses and apparel for all occasions. We already loved them because their thorough reviews with photos are helpful, and their sizing tends to be more accurate for real women than other brands. However, did you know that Lulus also has its own wedding line? Check out LulusWEDDINGS for affordable, stylish, and comfortable bridal gowns and wedding dress alternatives.
Find outfits for your bridal shower, bachelorette party, wedding reception, and honeymoon, too! Plus, you can coordinate with your wedding party for extra savings with their “Give $20, Get $20” deal—a win-win for everyone! And, they have a helpful Bridal Concierge to make your online wedding dress shopping experience feel more customized.
8. Saldana Vintage
Shop this unique line of wedding dresses featuring fun fringe, elegant lace, and beautiful bell sleeves! These dresses are best for twirling and stunning bridal portraits! Take a peek at this layered Dakota dress. This hidden gem of a bridal shop features Los Angeles custom-made dresses from vintage lace (and new lace!) at ridiculously good prices. They offer additional customization options for some dresses for a tailored bridal gown experience.
Once you have your wedding dress…
Book Your Wedding with Sasha Chou Photography, Boutique NJ Wedding Photographers
Sasha Chou is a boutique NYC wedding, engagement, and maternity photographer serving NY, NJ, Boston, and beyond. She specializes in timeless, photojournalistic images. Discover her style by visiting her portfolio here. Learn more about the dedicated Sasha Chou Photography team here. To book video or photography services or learn more about wedding packages, click here.
As boutique NJ wedding photographers, we’re here to make your day as magical and photogenic as possible so you can relive these happy moments for years to come. Let us know how we can help!
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @sashachouphotography and Facebook @SashaChouPhotographyStudio to see what we’re up to!