How to Find the Perfect Wedding Dress

Of course, you don’t know exactly how the prices for a wedding dress are calculated or how much bridal wear typically costs—after all, this is probably your first time getting married. Unfortunately, at first glance, our answer to the question of how much a wedding dress costs isn’t entirely satisfying, because it is: Prices for bridal wear vary widely. But don’t despair—we’ll, of course, give you a concrete answer to your questions like “So how much will my wedding dress actually cost? What should I expect when I walk into my favorite bridal boutique?” We’ll show you how the price of a wedding dress is broken down and also provide a few rough estimates to help you make an initial assessment before your appointment at your bridal shop.

Amid all the numbers, fabrics, and designer labels, however, there’s one thing you shouldn’t forget: your intuition. When searching for your wedding dress, your gut feeling plays just as big a role as your budget. Before you start scrolling through Pinterest boards and Instagram feeds, take some time just for yourself. Maybe sit down at home in peace, without distractions or outside influences, and ask yourself: How should my wedding dress feel? What’s truly important to me? If you enjoy drawing, make some quick sketches. If not, a few keywords will do: a two-piece set or a classic dress, ruffles or a clean design, backless, boho vibes, or elegant simplicity? Maybe it’s especially important to you that the dress isn’t too long or that you can move freely. Be sure to jot down these personal criteria in advance. Then you can browse our Austria Wedding wedding dress inspirations with a specific focus and further refine your ideas. With this clear vision in mind, you’ll walk into your trusted bridal shop with confidence and make decisions that simply feel right.

How much does a wedding dress cost, and how do I find the perfect one?

We can’t give you *THE* one price for your wedding dress, but we can show you which factors generally influence the price of a wedding dress. A quick disclaimer: As you know, here at Austria Wedding, we’re a platform that places a huge emphasis on quality. That’s why our price quotes and guidelines always refer only to wedding dresses from bridal boutiques and specialty stores—never to online shops that sell wedding dresses—because, sorry to say, those shops simply can’t compete with the high-quality, stunning wedding dresses found in bridal boutiques when it comes to quality and craftsmanship. You understand, right?

What is the average price of a wedding dress?

According to the Wedding Report 2025 (for Austria and Germany), brides typically spend between €1,000 and €2,500 on their wedding dresses from bridal shops. This does not include accessories, hats, shoes, or tailoring costs, if the wedding dress needs to be altered. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are also many brides who want to wear short wedding dresses or who buy a dress exclusively for the civil ceremony, which then costs less.

The price range in well-stocked bridal boutiques is usually between €1,000 and €5,000. Short wedding dresses or secondhand items are typically priced between €800 and €1,500.

Factors That Affect the Price of a Wedding Dress

The price of a wedding dress is determined by several factors that, taken together, define the dress’s quality—and the amount of work that goes into it. One of the biggest factors affecting price is the fabric: materials like silk or tulle are usually significantly more expensive than chiffon or synthetic silk fabrics. Added to this is the quality of the material—the finer, more durable, and more comfortable it is against the skin, the higher the price generally tends to be.

The cut also plays a crucial role. Many people think a princess dress must automatically be more expensive because it uses more fabric. That’s only partly true: Mermaid and fit-and-flare dresses are often particularly labor-intensive because they must be tailored very precisely to the body and require sophisticated craftsmanship. As a result, their prices are often comparable to those of more voluminous styles. A-line dresses tend to be the most affordable—especially if they consist of just a few layers and have a relatively simple design.

Another factor is the details. Wedding dresses are rarely completely minimalist: lace, glitter, pearls, or embellishments make the design special—but they also add to the cost. It’s not just the quantity that matters here, but above all the craftsmanship: Is the lace simply sewn on, or is it intricately incorporated into the design? Are the pearls attached by hand or by machine? The more handwork involved and the higher the quality of the craftsmanship, the higher the price usually is.

Finally, the name of the brand or designer also plays a role. As is generally the case in fashion, customers often pay for brand recognition, signature style, and demand: Major designer labels and established brands are frequently more expensive than smaller bridal boutiques—not necessarily because the wedding dresses are “better,” but because the price also reflects the design work and brand value.

Sample Prices for Wedding Dresses

We’ve calculated average prices based on six different wedding dress styles and would like to share them with you—purely as a guideline. Please don’t take these figures as set in stone: a mermaid-style dress might cost as little as 1,000 euros, while an empire-style wedding dress could cost as much as 2,500 euros. Just think of this overview as a little helpful post from us, not as prices set in stone.

A-line

A relatively classic, less elaborate style—often in the mid-price range:
approx. €900 – €2,000

Princess Dress

Plenty of fabric, volume, and often more details—and usually a bit more expensive:
approx. €1,200 – €3,000

Mermaid Wedding Dress

Elaborate in cut and fit, usually in the high-end price range:
approx. €1,400 – €3,000

Fit and Flair Dresses

Similar to the mermaid style: a figure-hugging silhouette with a more intricate cut:
approx. €1,300 – €2,800

Empire-Style Wedding Dresses

These are often simpler designs with less elaborate underlayers, so these wedding dresses tend to be a bit more affordable:
approx. €900 – €2,000

Sheath dress

Less fabric, more modern style. These wedding dresses are often in the mid-price range:
approx. €1,000 – €2,200

The prices listed generally refer only to the wedding dress itself—alterations by a tailor, accessories (veil, shoes, jewelry), or dry cleaning are usually not included and are charged separately. Designer dresses or couture styles can be significantly more expensive, depending on the brand, fabric, and amount of handwork involved. Conversely, there are also more affordable options, such as those found at outlet stores. You decide which factors are important to you as a bride, and based on that, you can determine an approximate price you’re willing to pay.

As you can see, there’s no set price for a wedding dress. To get specific information about the costs, it’s best to visit your favorite bridal boutique in person. Be sure to do that! On Austria Wedding, we’ve listed many great bridal boutiques for you. Pick your favorite boutique and schedule a fitting appointment right away!