Monica Razak, a small business owner from Hoboken, made her own wedding dress to save money after falling in love with an expensive gown at Kleinfeld in NYC. She spent around $700 on her handmade dress and tied the knot with her husband in May before enjoying a honeymoon in Italy with the money they saved. She expressed the confidence she felt wearing a dress she made herself that money can’t buy.
With the rising costs of weddings, many couples are finding creative ways to save money. Some are turning to artificial intelligence tools instead of human wedding planners, while others are selling tickets to their vows swap to cover expenses. Hand-crafty couples like Razak and Tymesha Triggs, who crocheted her wedding dress, are also finding ways to save money. One UK bride saved $5,000 by sewing her dream wedding dress despite having no prior experience.
Seline Meisler, a former designer, took on the challenge of creating her first wedding gown and saved $5,000 from her original dress budget by DIY-ing it with the help of a pattern maker and atelier. After eight months of construction, she managed to create an elaborate design using high-quality materials, which helped launch her demi-couture bridal line. Rachel Amoako also saved over $2,700 by making her own mermaid-style wedding dress just two months before her wedding.
Despite the challenges that come with making a wedding dress with no prior experience, brides like Meisler and Amoako found the process to be fulfilling and rewarding. Amoako, who had to rely on prayers and determination to complete her dress, felt empowered by the end result and expressed that she would do it all over again for the unique story behind her gown. The trend of DIY wedding dresses is gaining popularity among frugal couples looking to save on wedding expenses and add a personal touch to their special day.
