Research proves brides-to-be are overspending on this ONE THING ahead of their big days
It's an essential wedding item, but apparently the average price is marked up by a massive 4%... and bridesmaids don't come cheap either
EVERYONE knows weddings don’t come cheap, but there is one item that brides-to-be are massively over-spending on.
Unfortunately, it’s an essential item – the wedding dress.
, although most of us realise the white frock is expensive – we don’t quite grasp how big the mark-up is.
Shockingly, retailers charge nearly four times more for a white bridal dress than a similar garment which is less likely to be worn on a bride’s big day.
And the higher price tag does not necessarily indicate a better quality of dress, although experts argue there is more craftsmanship involved.
Designer Anne Barge told NPR radio station: “It’s not just a white dress. It’s the fabric, and it’s the workmanship, and it’s the lining, and it’s the fit.”
But, given that women tend to only wear them once, are the gowns really worth the expense?
“It’s the dress of your life, and if there is ever one picture your (descendants) have of you it’s the one in your wedding dress,” Anne added.
So although some bridezillas may think it’s worth the higher price, they may be less willing to fork out on their female friends.
Apparently, frocks labelled as being for bridesmaids also have a 1.8 per cent mark-up.
Apparently, the social media age could be to blame – with Pinterest perfect and Instagram worthy weddings pushing up the price of the big day.
Senior retail analyst at Edited Katie Smith said: “More and more, today’s couples are influenced by what they see passing for the norm on social media.
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“They see Solange Knowles at a wedding in a white jumpsuit and realise, ‘Hold on, I can bring the trends and culture I like to the altar too.’
“And the mass market is perfectly positioned to cater to this new customer.”
However, women can also look online to cut costs – Business Insider argues – with the internet shopping bridal dress industry now being worth £385,000-a-year.
It’s also thought that the wedding dress craze could help save some struggling independent retailers, with these items being found to sell out faster than standard dresses.