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Cheap Wedding Dresses: Steal This Dress!

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Wondering how to find such a great deal on a "cheap" wedding dress that you'll feel like you've stolen it? And by "cheap," we don't mean cheesy. Here's a look at how to find top of the line designer wedding dresses on the cheap.

Brand new Jasmine Silk Bustled Gown, recently "stolen" for $231.50. Retail value: $1,400.

First, you have to know yourself well to make the right decision about this. You can find cheap designer wedding dresses that are brand new with tags - or, even cheaper, used by a bride on her wedding day.

Will it matter to you if your dress was worn before? Cleaning and alterations will still make it yours, and you can walk down the aisle in a $2,000 dress for a fraction of the price if that doesn't bother you - but know thyself and have no regrets! Don't go for that bargain if it will bother you every step of they way down the aisle.

Even if you know you want to be the only bride to have ever worn your dress, you can still find incredible bargains on designer wedding dresses that have never been worn. One source is bridal shops that have closed or are closing, and looking to unload their inventory at any reasonable price. How do you find dresses like that? In one word: E-bay.

If you're new to the world of E-bay, here are some tips you should keep in mind:

• You should be prepared to have the garment cleaned, even if it's "new with tags". It may be pretty wrinkled, or may have an odor about it that cleaning will take care of.
• You will still probably require alterations, so add the cost of that to your budget.
• Look at the ratings of the seller before bidding on her item, and read the feedback other buyers have left about the seller. Look for a seller with high rankings - an experienced seller, with good feedback.
• Accept that a return may not be easy to accomplish if you don't like what you get. Again, look at the seller's feedback for any clues about how they've handled this in the past.
• Set a budget before you start bidding, and don't lose sight of it by getting caught up in the excitement of the auction! A "bidding war" may break out over highly desirable items - you won't get a deal if you don't set a budget and know what the dress is worth before you begin.
• Do a search on closed auctions for similar dresses to get an idea of what final prices usually look like.
• Take shipping charges into account when bidding.
• Be very aware of what the same or equivalent dress would cost you elsewhere, so you know when you see a deal.
• Check out e-bay's trading tips before diving in!

HOT LINKS TO CHEAP WEDDING DRESSES YOU STILL MIGHT BE ABLE TO "STEAL"!

CHEAP WEDDING DRESSES: THE BOTTOM LINE

The fact is, cheap wedding dresses - beautiful, designer wedding dresses for a fraction of their retail prices - are there for the finding, as you can see by these examples on e-bay. If you are willing to research the seller's feedback, be realistic about how much you are willing to pay, plan in advance, and be patient if you lose a bid, you too can snag a "cheap" wedding dress, and no one but you need ever know what you "stole" it for!