I've Found Them—The Best High-Street Wedding Dresses That Look More Expensive Than They Are

I know from my own experience that planning a wedding can take months, so why not alleviate stress and look to chic and affordable high street options for your wedding dress?

A lot of pressure is applied to the wedding dress you’ll wear when tying the knot, with the demands to look and feel your best on your big day all resting on whatever you adorn yourself with. It’s the reason why the bridal wear market was estimated to be valued at USD$65.6 billion (that's £49.3 billion pounds).

But you don’t need to spend an exuberant amount of money to buy the wedding dress of your dreams. Sure, there are endless bridal brands creating breathtaking pieces, and a beautiful Danielle Frankel or Prea James Bridal gown is divine. Then again, if these brands are out of your means, finding a well-priced alternative wedding dress along the high street isn’t as much of a mission as you may think.

The high street is full of beautiful wedding dresses at the moment.

In fact, affordable designs are still incredibly beautiful, and there's zero shame attached to spending less on your gown. Brands like Reformation and Rixo 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-tos, 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 and SSENSE have 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.

Consider the number of gorgeous brides like supermodel Vittoria Ceretti who have worn off-the-rack Jacquemus or Simone Rocha for their weddings. You might find these stores peppered along the more salubrious Bond Street, but along Regent Street and King’s Road, there are endless options that will pique your interest, too.

If you want some inspiration for shopping for 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.

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 £1,000 pounds. 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 Realisation Par, Christopher Esber and so many more.

The 46 Best High-Street and Affordable Wedding Dresses of 2025

What Is A Good Budget For A Wedding Dress?

There are so many factors that contribute to the budget you set aside for your wedding dress. Generally, most brides spend roughly $1500. Of course, there are so many accessible designs that begin at £200 if you're buying a high-street affordable wedding dress, so spending a fortune isn’t a prerequisite for walking down the aisle.

Of course, many people do like to splurge on their wedding dress, considering that it could be a future heirloom for you to keep forever. This idea is slightly becoming outdated, however, as many brides either alter, dye or rework their gowns to make them more suitable for everyday wear and not just an item of clothing you wear once.

Is It Ok To Buy A Cheap Wedding Dress?

It is more than okay to buy and wear a cheap wedding dress for your wedding. Ultimately, a wedding is the formality reserved to toast your marriage, with the day something that should be reflective of your relationship and personality. If this entails purchasing something off the rack or online, as so many modern brides do, then you should feel assured that you’re doing the most authentic thing in styling an high-street affordable wedding dress.

How Many Months Before The Wedding Should You Buy A Wedding Dress?

This is really dependent on how far along you are in your wedding planning. Traditionally, brides should allow 12 months in advance of the wedding to purchase their dress. Not only does this allow for alterations to be made, but it also relieves the stress of finding something last minute or requiring small changes down the line.

Many wedding dresses that aren’t purchased off the high street are made to order. If this is the route you’re pursuing, then I’d recommend allowing ample time for the dress to arrive. Imagine postal delays ruining your big day because the dress never came on time! If you're looking to buy a high-street affordable wedding dress, you can purchase this as early as 6 months in advance. Just be cautious of stock levels and the risk that popular styles can sell out in stores and online.