Non-traditional(ish) dress designers?

The dresses you posted remind me a little bit of this Leanne Marshall, although hers is more subtle and just barely under $4000. Also this etsy dress.

ETA to add another: from etsy

Someone at r/femalefashionadvice posted this dress and I’m obsessed with it and really want some brave and fabulous bride to wear it: http://www.clairemischevani.com/designs/floral-duchess-dress/

ETA: Reformation has lots of options in the $200-500 range, many with floral prints like this - https://www.thereformation.com/products/myrtle-dress-tangiers

I would start by looking at bridesmaid dresses, they are often floor length. For example, this and this one from BHLDN. Adriana Pappell also has some cute ones!

How do you feel about buying used designer from somewhere like The Real Real or eBay? I also wanted to go non-traditional designer and ended up buying through eBay and being able to wear a runway Maison Martin Margiela bustier for less than many people pay for a wedding dress. Could be a really cool option that would allow you to get something really unique still in your budget./

My plan of attack would be as follows:

1. Check out Rent the Runway to look for designers through there.

2. Search stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks to see what they have in their evening gown sections.

Obviously, a lot of these dresses will still be expensive, but not $5k!

Have you already begun trying on dresses? I would suggest finding a couple of designers, and then doing some research to find salons that carry these designers. That way you can start to hone in on what you like.

If you haven't tried on any gowns yet, I recommend doing so! Even if you go to a salon that has traditional stuff. You may never know and end up falling in love with a more traditional look, or having a mix of the two. You won't be able to know until you actually try on the gown itself. Internet searching can only do so much, especially b/c you are only looking at the gown on the model picture. You frequently don't notice things that show up once you put on a gown, details on a lace, the way it sits on your body, etc.

Going to try on gowns is also good to see what you absolutely don't like either. That way you can really begin to hone in on the look and fabric you are going for.

You mentioned that high fashion designers are typically $5k and up. So does that mean that your dress budget is under that? It is true that more fashion forward, edgy, non typical gowns are going to be at least starting at $2500 and go upwards of $10,000. So that's something to keep in mind as you shop.

But you should be able to find more unique gowns within more affordable designers. Typically these designers have one or two 'finale' gowns that are on the higher end for their line, but still generally obtainable by the brides interested in that designer.

Might be slightly off topic, but your floral stuff reminded me of this new Spring 2018 Mori Lee gown. It legit JUST came off the runway (it is NY Bridal Fashion Week this week), so once it's out in the wild, you can definitely start to inquire about it:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ_wkyBlKoT/?taken-by=morileeofficial

Details on the floral bodice here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ7UWXulFT5/?taken-by=morileeofficial

This was Mori Lee's 'finale' gown this past sunday. A lovely off shoulder ball gown with feathers:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ_b8lrF--H/?taken-by=morileeofficial

Mori Lee's price range--at least for the Blu line-- was $1000-$1500 I found when I was hunting for dresses. I can imagine that the gowns above are probably $1700-$2500 at least? But can't say for sure until they start to come into stores.

You might want to keep watch of Allure's gowns. They're more budget friendly (at least their Allure line--not their couture line). They sometimes have unique gowns that are still friendly with the budget. Check out Sotterro Midgely/Maggie Sotterro as well. They have their floral stuff too sometimes. They had one that had floral print, Kira, but it looks like it's discontinued:

https://www.maggiesottero.com/blog/pastel-and-floral-gowns-by-maggie-sottero-designs/

If you do want to know some awesome designers and are willing to splurge a little, I can name a few.

• Hayley Paige
• Lazaro
• Kitty Chen
• Tadashi Shoji
• Romona Keveza

Some of the mid-price designers I always liked are BCBG, Herve Leger (used to be too expensive but are liquidating their assets right now), Ted Baker, Alfred Sung, Dress the Population

Try Marchesa Notte