parisian party

By now we’ve all seen the images of the Dior wedding dresses from Paris Fashion Week in January. What Destination Recessionista didn’t imagine herself marching dramatically yet solemnly down the stone aisle of an ancient French Cathedral draped in yards (and yards) of that cascading silk taffeta? Well, one of the first laws of Recessionista-ism is Just Because It’s Not Couture Doesn’t Mean I Don’t Look Fabulous, and you can look fabulous in a wedding gown from Paris without having to break the bank to do it. This month’s Oui Magazine article on the average costs of a French wedding says to budget between 500€ and 2000€ for a classic robe de mariage, including slip, veil and shoes, and 3000€ for the ensemble if it’s designer.

If you’re able to come to Paris to buy your dress before your wedding, you should know that very few designer boutiques have actual stock in their shop. They have one sample of each style that everyone tries on, so the visit can be pretty long if there are two D.R.’s vying for the same dress!  If you’re really pressed for time, and really insistent, some stores may be able to get a dress to you within a few days, but it will be “as is” and you’ll have to take it home with you for any alterations. Most wedding dress boutiques- even the ones in Department Stores like Les Galeries LaFayette require that you make an appointment in advance, although you may be able to “drop in” if you visit mid-week. If you’re looking for a bargain, one of the more modest Parisian wedding dress boutiques is Complicité, where you can find brands like Lise St. Germain, Ligne Floue and Phillippe Swann starting at under 500 euros. No, it’s not Haute Couture, but on a sunny day in Paris, with Monsieur Recessionisto at your side, you’ll definitely feel like a million bucks (…circa 1999).

Complicité Illi Tulle

Complicité Floue

Complicité Phillipe Swan

Complicité Lise St. Germain