The wedding outfit is one of the most expensive, and important, aspects of the wedding plans. But with the average cost of the big day ever increasing, many brides are finding ways to get crafty and save money in the process. We’ve already looked at DIY weddings to create every aspect of the day yourself, but this outfit is so important I think it deserves a closer look. Not everyone has super seamstress skills, or even friends who do. If you can’t make a whole dress yourself, but want to save money whilst giving it a shot of your own individuality try customizing one.

The thought of letting yourself run riot on your wedding dress may bring you out in a cold sweat, but don’t panic. Go slowly, keep it simple and look at existing styles for inspiration. Start by buying a dress in the style you want- be that a full skirted princess dress, an elegant fishtail gown or a short vintage prom style. Make sure it is as plain as you can find, with no lace, sequins or other details. This gives a great blank canvas to start with and means you can do almost anything you like. Besides, the simpler the dress, the cheaper it will be.

Of course, the embellishments and designs you add are up to you, but here are two of the best ways to customize your dress:

Rhinestones

The best way to add a bit of bling to your dress. You can go subtle with just a sparse scattering or go wild for a super sparkly look. The quickest and most effective way to add rhinestones is to use an application wand such as Kandi Kane or Bejeweler. These are available cheaply on Ebay, where you can also buy hundreds of rhinestones in a huge range of colors The Hot Fix crystals are used with these applicators, which heats up the glue on the back of the rhinestone. Just tap the wand where you want the crystal and it will instantly stick in place. Super quick and hugely addictive, so don’t get carried away! Step back and look at the dress reguarly to check your overall progress.

Lace

So feminine and an elegant classic, lace is perfect for adding a pretty delicate touch to your dress. The top tip to bear in mind when using lace is not to go wild- think of all those massive lace meringues in the eighties; too much can date very quickly. Instead, just use subtle touches. Perhaps some off-the-shoulder straps, or cover the top half of the bodice in some lace. Ideal for the bride who wants to look like a princess on her big day.

These are just a few ways to customize your dress. You can also try dying it (though it’s best to find a specialist to do this), applique or adding fabric flowers. The best thing about customizing is that you can match everything perfectly, without having to rely on luck.