Budget alternatives to designer wedding dresses

With the average wedding in the UK costing around £17,000, it might seem that designer wedding dresses are well and truly out of reach for most brides. However, that doesn't mean you can't still look fabulous on your big day.

Firstly, you can still buy beautiful dresses at a fraction of the cost of designer wedding dresses. Look on the Internet. You can buy affordable designer-esque wedding dresses from reputable dress retailers, giving you more money to spend on the rest of your wedding.

Many online dress shops have discount wedding dresses and discounts on all year round. So, guests will still think you're wearing something by a top designer.

So once you've bought your dress that's a dead-ringer for a designer wedding dress, you'll want to save money on accessories too. Fear not, many online dress retailers will also stock cheap wedding accessories, so you can get everything in the one place.

Cheap wedding accessories don't necessarily mean poorer quality. Jewellery, shoes, tiaras and hair pins can all be bought online for less.

So, by foregoing a designer wedding dress for an affordable (but just as attractive) alternative, and opting for cheaper wedding accessories, you can still have a gorgeous wedding on a budget.