GONE are the days when buying a wedding dress means spending hours and hours in stuffy boutiques, a six-month wait for the gown to arrive and a minimum four-figure price tag.
More and more high street retailers are entering the bridalwear game, offering beautiful gowns in the sub-£500 (and even sub-£100) bracket. With most collections available online too, the dress of your dreams could be just a few clicks away.
Here's our pick of the high street bridalwear top five...
TOPSHOP
Style: The first ever Topshop Bride collection, which has just launched, comprises five limited-edition dresses in classic silhouettes but with fashion-forward touches, like thin satin ties and cold shoulder necklines. Interested? Act now, because some sizes are already selling out.
Prices: £350 to £795
Best for: Fashionistas
:: Topshop Bride Satin Tie Shoulder Dress, £350 (www.topshop.com)
:: Topshop Bride Cutwork Lace Bardot Bridal Dress, £450 (www.topshop.com)
ASOS
Style: Decidedly trend-led, the ASOS bridal collection is aimed at a younger clientele, with beachy, sexy dresses and a couple of Curve options too. There's even a white maxi T-shirt dress for the most laid-back of brides.
Prices: £95 to £350
Best for: Trend-setters
:: ASOS Bridal Cami Maxi Dress with Concertina Folding, £150 (www.asos.com)
:: ASOS Bridal Trumpet Hem Maxi Dress, £200 (www.asos.com)
WHISTLES
Style: The retailer's inaugural wedding collection mixes modern shapes and ornate fabrics, with standout pieces including a flowing one shoulder lace gown and a tiered pleated column dress. Not set on a dress? Try the Seventies-esque ruffled jumpsuit.
Prices: £499 to £699
Best for: Tradition with a twist
:: Whistles Theodora Wedding Dress, £599 (www.whistles.com)
:: Whistles Guinevere Wedding Dress, £599 (www.whistles.com)
NINE BY SAVANNAH MILLER
Style: Miller brings her trademark cool-bohemian aesthetic to a range of bridal gowns at Debenhams. Think Twenties-esque tiers, beautiful beading and lots of lace.
Prices: £320 to £450
Best for: Boho brides
:: Nine by Savannah Miller Ivory 'Eligenza' Lace Bridal Dress, £420, Debenhams (www.debenhams.com)
:: Nine by Savannah Miller Ivory 'Anabella' Frilled Bridal Dress, £450, Debenhams (www.debenhams.com)
BOOHOO
Style: Boohoo's dresses are the most affordable of all, but they're surprisingly expensive-looking, thanks to an abundance of bead detailing and lace overlays. For brides who don't want to go floor-length, there are some very pretty midi and knee-length styles.
Prices: £30 to £50
Best for: Shoestring budgets
:: Boohoo Boutique Ali All Lace Plunge Neck Maxi Dress, £45 (www.boohoo.com)
:: Boohoo Boutique Dora Chiffon Long Sleeved Wrap Maxi Dress, £30 (www.boohoo.com)
GET THE LOOK
Love Helen McCrory's floral cold shoulder gown at the premiere of Their Finest? Try Boohoo's summery version, just the ticket for festivals and holiday nights out.
:: Boohoo Tall Theya Dark Floral Cold Shoulder Maxi Dress, £25 (www.boohoo.com)
BUY IT NOW
Struggling to find the perfect shoes for your Big Day? Then why not design your own? With Solely Original, you use a simple online tool to choose your style, toe shape, heel height, colour and more, then your bespoke pair are crafted and delivered to your door (solelyoriginal.com).
:: Solely Original white high heels, made to order from £100 (solelyoriginal.com)
FASHION FLASH
:: APPS THAT HELP YOU SHOP SMARTER
The Fashion Future Awards shortlist has just been announced, alerting us to some very cool new digital tools. A must for 'sneakerheads', restocks (www.restocks.io) alerts you when sold-out trainers are back in store, while ChatShopper (www.chatshopper.com) is an automated personal shopper that works in Facebook Messenger.
STYLE STEAL
Block-heeled loafers are an essential for spring, but if your budget doesn't stretch to Gucci's horsebit classics, don't fret; Heine's tasselled pair, available in black or silver, are a snip at £79.
:: Heine Silver Leather & Suede Pumps, £79, Kaleidoscope (www.kaleidoscope.co.uk)
