Photo: killrbeez

If your father, fiancé or frugal side is less than thrilled at the prospect of buying a designer gown worth as much as a new Volkswagen, you’ve probably done an internet search or two for “affordable wedding dresses.”

Then, with your head spinning from pages of sale-priced mermaid skirts, beaded bodices and cathedral trains, you may begin thinking that designer dress prices don’t seem so unreasonable after all.

Nonsense.

It’s true that, with her heart set on a fabulous designer gown, a budget bride can face heartbreaking disappointment when confronted with the monumental cost of that one perfect dress.

But, that’s only an issue if she doesn’t know where to shop.

Strip-mall bridal shops are no longer the only option for brides on a budget. Savvy San Franciscans are coming up with innovative ways to find the perfect dress for their big day. All you need is patience, an open mind and a little bit of luck.

Try a trunk show

Trunk shows—events where designers bring their upcoming fashion lines into local shops for customers to preview—are ideal for scouting new trends. You may be able to find many designer gowns not normally carried in your local boutique. Lazaro, Monique Lhuillier and Rivini and are only a few of the names scheduled for trunk shows at Bridal Galleria (Embarcadero Center) this year, and those with the insight to book far enough in advance will preview the Spring 2010 Vera Wang collection there August 6-9.

While trunk shows aren’t traditional sales, some boutiques will offer discounts to attendees. Often, designers may throw in extra incentives as well. At the very least, you’ll get a lesson in designer style so that you can keep an eye out for similar, less expensive frocks elsewhere.

Hit the (boutique) outlets

In addition to local trunk shows, try Glamour Closet on Columbus and Jackson. A self-described “boutique outlet,” Glamour Closet promises shoppers 25 to 75% off designer prices on runway samples.

There are a few downsides to Glamour Closet. You’ll have a harder time finding a dress if you don’t fall within the traditional “sample sizes” of 6-12 (which equate roughly to women’s street sizes of 2-8). Also, since the dresses are samples from designer stores, they are sold as-is and may require cleaning, mending and altering. However, if you have an open mind, a good seamstress and know exactly what you want when you see it (note: all sales are final at Glamour Closet), it’s possible to find a (nearly) perfect designer dress at a (nearly) perfect price.

Consider a pre-owned model

With nearly 3,000 wedding dresses currently for sale, the PreOwnedWeddingDresses website offers solutions for brides of all budgets and sizes. The site, which was just featured on KGO’s "7 on Your Side," features dresses from the likes of Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, and Oscar de la Renta—all  at a fraction of their original prices. The site even lists several new dresses with tags still attached, although the numbers on those dress tags are naturally much higher than the numbers on the used ones. Incredibly, a recent search for dresses priced $1,000 and under on the PreOwnedWeddingDresses web site returned no fewer than 1,500 listings.

When you can’t buy, rent

It’s not strange for a groom to rent a tuxedo, so why can’t a bride rent a designer gown for a day? Although the best selections are outside the San Francisco Bay Area, if you’re visiting Sacramento or Los Angeles, it’s worth a visit to Alexandria’s Formal Gown Rental in Roseville or One Night Affair in L.A.

For more information: 

Here Comes the Guide trunk shows

Amy Kuschel Bride sample sales

PreOwnedWeddingDresses on "7 on Your Side"