Mom rented her gown in the 50’s. And don’t forget many families pass the gown along similar to christening gowns. I had one custom made for $275 and it killed me to spend that much. Prior to and through the 1800’s it was common to wear one’s best dress for the wedding and not get a new one. If one did get a new one it was generally not a white dress as it became one’s new best dress. The concept of a dress just for one occasion is from the 1900’s and a gigantic waste of money. I did not want a wedding (as opposed to just getting married) but was talked into it by our parents and my husband. The wedding cost around $5,000 (1970’s) and was a huge waste of money as there were/are much better uses of money than a party.
Mom rented her gown in the 50’s. And don’t forget many families pass the gown along similar to christening gowns. I had one custom made for $275 and it killed me to spend that much. Prior to and through the 1800’s it was common to wear one’s best dress for the wedding and not get a new one. If one did get a new one it was generally not a white dress as it became one’s new best dress. The concept of a dress just for one occasion is from the 1900’s and a gigantic waste of money. I did not want a wedding (as opposed to just getting married) but was talked into it by our parents and my husband. The wedding cost around $5,000 (1970’s) and was a huge waste of money as there were/are much better uses of money than a party.