One of the biggest expenses for a woman planning her wedding is her wedding gown. Many women have dreamed about their special day since they were children. You can have your special day and your dream dress without spending a small fortune. Handmade Wedding Gowns are more affordable than you might expect.

Thanks to the Internet there are many Discount Wedding dresses online that can be custom made for a fraction of what you would expect to spend at a typical bridal salon. Many of these custom made gowns can be yours for under $400 US dollars. These dresses, while low in price, are not low in quality. Many retailers online who offer custom made bridal gowns give many options, including choices of fabrics, colors, and special customization like adding sleeves to a sleeveless dresses or adding embellishments to a gown.

Wedding gowns are not like a typical dress off the rack. If you want the best fit possible it's important to provide your chosen dressmaker with your proper measurements. The best way to get accurate measurements is to have a professional seamstress take your measurements. If this is not possible, then at the very least another person should be doing the measuring. If you try to do the measurements yourself they will not be 100% accurate.

Most retailers who offer custom made bridal gowns will include measuring instructions and/or charts. These charts and instructions will guide you so you provide the exact measurements the tailor needs to create your dream dress.

The other important aspect to keep in mind is the cut or shape of the dress. A dress may look gorgeous online or in a photo, but not all dresses look good on all body types. If you have a fuller figure, don't be shy about showing some skin i.e. a Strapless Gown or halter style gown. On the other hand if you are bottom heavy you'll want to choose a gown that compliments your shape. "A" line dresses are very flattering to a fuller figure. This style tends to elongate your figure without drawing attention to your waist. Another style that can be complimentary to the fuller figure is the "empire waist" type of dress. This style is close fitting below the bust and then flows out concealing your waist and hips.

For women with a large bust you'll want to choose a dress that has a sweetheart, halter or deep-V neckline. Also, dresses with boning on the sides can add support. Try to stay away from jewel necklines or high-collar styles.

If you're a petite bride the "A" line shape is great for you as well because it will help elongate your silhouette. If you decide to go with a Strapless Gown make sure the bust area is form fitting. If you need to reach up to kiss your groom or any other reason you don't want to have a "wardrobe malfunction" moment.

Lastly, if there's a gown you've fallen in love with but the price tag makes you think it's out of reach find a retailer who offers handmade wedding gowns. Email them a picture of the gown, even though it's not part of their normal stock. Most will be more than willing to make the gown for you. It will cost a bit more than the gowns on their website because in this case there's no pattern. So, this will truly be a custom gown. However, rest assured you will save 100's if not 1000's of dollars by having your gown custom made.