Yes — and not "yes, if you compromise." Every gown we make at Lace & Love comes in under $1,500 cut to your own measurements. All fifty-nine of them.
Here is where the money actually goes in bridal, what to look for, and which shapes give you the most for a budget.
Why boutique gowns cost what they cost
Designer gowns in New York or Los Angeles start around $2,500 and climb past $8,000. Most of the distance between that price and what the dress cost to make is showroom rent, sales staff and the brand's margin. Very little of it is lace.
Buying direct removes those layers. Ours start at $829 in standard sizing, with a median of $949. Made to measure adds $100. So the most expensive gown we make — the heavily worked Aurelia in vintage lace — is $1,499 cut to your body, and everything else sits well below that.
Each one is sewn by Shany Sasson, a third-generation designer working from a studio in Israel since 2011. The shop holds 5.0 on Etsy across 213 verified reviews, and 4.99 here across 191.
What $1,500 buys
- Woven French lace and Italian tulle. Not printed lace, not polyester
- The gown cut from your bust, waist, hip, height and hollow-to-hem, with no sample-size guesswork
- Your choice of neckline, sleeve length, back coverage, lining colour and slit, at no extra charge
- DHL or UPS Express, with duties and taxes prepaid where they are shown at checkout
- On most gowns, several hundred dollars left over for a veil
Start in the boho collection, or see everything we make.
Where a budget stretches furthest
Lace and chiffon gowns are the best value we sell. A chiffon skirt takes fewer hours than a boned, structured one and moves better outdoors, so you are not paying for construction you did not want in the first place.
Long sleeves turn a summery dress into one that reads seasonal and considered. They cost more to make than a strapless bodice and far less than beading.
Beach and destination gowns are the lightest things we make, which matters when the dress has to fly with you.
Four things that actually save money
Buy made to measure. It costs $100 here. A boutique sample usually needs $300 to $800 of alteration work to reach the same fit, and sometimes it never quite gets there.
Order direct. You are paying for the sewing, not for the lease on a showroom you will visit twice.
Check the shipping terms. Duties can add 10 to 25% to a gown crossing a border. Ours are prepaid where they are shown at checkout. Confirm it before you order anywhere.
Give it time. Five to six weeks to sew, then three to seven business days to ship. Rush work costs more everywhere, ours included.
Questions
Are there costs that turn up later?
Duties and taxes are prepaid where they are shown at checkout, so the total you see is the total you pay. On alterations: a gown cut to your measurements starts far closer to your body than a sample, so there is usually very little to do. A hem or a strap may still want a local adjustment, and we would rather tell you that now.
How do I make sure it fits if I order online?
You take five measurements at home, with a soft tape and someone to help. We send an illustrated guide. Shany reads your numbers before cutting and writes to you if one looks off against the rest, which happens more often than you would expect.
Can I customise a gown and stay under $1,500?
Yes, on every gown in the collection. Neckline, sleeves, back coverage, lining colour and slit are all included. You can also put the bodice of one gown on the skirt of another — just ask before ordering.
How long does it take to make?
Five to six weeks, then three to seven business days by express courier. We check that against your wedding date before you order, not after.
Still narrowing down? Take the style quiz. Already know the look? Go straight to the boho gowns.
