NEW YORK (CNNfn) - JFK Jr.'s bride wore a $40,000, one-of-a-kind, designer wedding dress. But we can't all afford that sort of luxury, so an entire industry has sprung up to make dressing the bride more economical.
Bride's Magazine reports that the marriage market generates 32 billion in retail sales. But more and more couples are being practical as well as sentimental, and looking for ways to cut costs.
Dina Ivopac could have spent $4,000 for a wedding dress, but instead of buying her dress, she's renting it from a New York store called "Just Once."
"Every bride wants the dress of their dreams," she said. "This way you can afford to do so."
For prices ranging from $300 to $800, brides can choose from hundreds of designer dresses at the store. A Vera Wang gown that costs $4,500 to buy, rents for only $800. And a Regency dress that comes with a $1,500 price tag is only $350.
"For a whole package, alterations, dress of your dreams, accessories, it can go for $1,000," said Debra Vail, manager of Just Once. "That makes it so much more economical."
Since more and more couples are paying for their own weddings, rental stores like this one are in demand all over the world.
"We would rather put the money toward a down payment for a house," said bride Beth Schaffer.
The desire to cut wedding costs has spawned an America Online service called The Knot, with information ranging from finding reasonably priced photographers to discarding unwanted wedding gifts.
"Money is the biggest issue on The Knot," said Knot partner Carley Roney. "With the average wedding costing $19,000, people are asking how they can do it for $3,000."
Many suggest marrying in off peak times when couples have the most bargaining power with caterers and hotels.
"A wedding in a peak month would run about $250 average per person, and in an off peak month, it would run $175," said Plaza Hotel catering director Lawrence Harvey. "That's a 42 percent saving."
Affording a wedding is never a piece of cake. But these services and stores can help couples save thousands of dollars.
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