For any bride-to-be, her wedding gown is something that can never be sacrificed when planning a wedding. Most grooms don’t understand this sentiment – for them, it’s terrible to spend so much for something that will only be used once.

Admittedly, this is one of the misunderstandings that couples soon to be married may face. For a girl, a wedding is something she’s dreamed of all her life, and if there’s anything that the guests would remember about any wedding, it’s how the bride looks. Really – who bothers to look at the groom, anyway?

It is for this reason that brides-to-be spend months looking for that perfect wedding gown. If you feel guilty about spending a fortune on a designer gown, do the next best thing – designed your own trousseau! You’ll be able to wear something that you’d feel comfortable in, and you can spend the money saved on other things, such as an extended island honeymoon.

Another good idea for brides wanting something extraordinary is a vintage wedding dress. Wearing one will add a touch of elegance to your wedding and will definitely be talked about many months after your wedding. It can be used both for a simple wedding with close friends and family, or an extravagant one where the entire wedding motif revolves around the vintage theme.

You can ask a grandma or a grandaunt who’s still keeping her wedding dress in a trunk somewhere in the attic if she’ll lend you the dress. Some will only be too thrilled that the dress will be put to use after so many years and will gladly give you a free hand with updating the design.

For those not fortunate enough to have one tucked away in a grandmother’s attic, what’s the best place to find a vintage wedding dress? First, there are several thrift shops or consignment stores that may have some on display.

They would be relatively cheaper than off-the-rack contemporary wedding dresses, and would have been intricately sewn by hand, with details that are difficult to reproduce. Before buying a number, make sure you’d be able to find replacement fabric, beads, or lace for parts that have been worn out or damaged.

Second, online auction sites such as eBay are likewise good sources of vintage wedding dresses, although you won’t have the benefit of being able to thoroughly inspect the item’s condition before purchasing it. The photos posted on the auction site also won’t show what stains it may have, and for dresses that have been around a long time, it will be rather tricky to remove even a small stain.

Don’t easily fall into the trap of falling in love with a vintage wedding dress even before trying it on. Our body structures are now different than those of women years ago, and some styles may not be appropriate for certain physiques. If you’re out searching for a vintage wedding dress, take someone with you – preferably a fashion designer – so he will be able to determine if the dress can be repaired to fit your “look” and personality.

Lastly, if you’ve successfully found your dream vintage wedding dress and got raves for it on your wedding day, make sure that it is thoroughly cleaned at the dry cleaner’s before it is stored. You can never tell if in the future, a member of your family takes a fancy to it and decides to wear it on her own wedding day.