The Sabrina neckline, also known as the bateau neckline, is

How to bag the perfect wedding dress without breaking the bank

Most little girls dream of getting married and we women are no different when we grow up. We still have that picture in our mind of how our big day is going to be. You imagine walking down the aisle in the perfect wedding dress, looking just like a princess. Wearing a sophisticated tiara or hairpiece, and holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Everything is just perfect, and money is not a thought that enters your head.

Now your dream becomes reality and youe gotten engaged and are beginning to plan the perfect day. Except when you do start you soon realise that the reality is that funds are not endless and you have to work within a short lace wedding dress budget. That budget must cover so much, fees for rental of your ceremony and reception site, decorations, catering/food, bar, flowers, music, photography, video, marriage license, invitations, wedding rings, transportation, honeymoon, attendants, gifts, guest wedding favors, and a myriad of other miscellaneous costs. So how much is then left for your wedding attire. A dress for you, your bridesmaids, flower girls and of course the men's wear..

Not many of us have the luxury of spending over ?000 on a designer dress and even if you could you might prefer to allocate less towards the dress and use a larger portion of your budget for a more elaborate honeymoon or reception party.

Whether or not you are working to budget everyone enjoys the feeling of accomplishment when locating and acquiring a bargain. These days it's not so hard to come across a bargain with little effort.

The best way to start is to have a look in some bridal shops. You may not have the intention of buying from them but you can certainly establish the style, size, and cut of the kind of dress you are going for.

Make notes of what kinds of styles and colours you like the best. Sometimes you find a style in a magazine and when you try it on you find it isn't really how you imagined and it doesn flatter your shape the way you expected. Bridal gown sizes can come up smaller than your usual size so the best thing to do is to go by your measurements and ask dressmakers for the bust, waist and hip sizes that make up the size in general. Some bridal shops don't keep the manufacturers labels on and instead re-label and price with their own internal tagging system (many salons do this to avoid "competitive shopping" and price comparisons). The shop should tell you the name of the designer or manufacturer if you ask.

Once you have got an idea of the styles you like and the size you need, then you can begin searching for your gown and accessories. It best to purchase your dress before shopping for accessories. Certain elements of the dress will help you choose the best accessories to match.

When you start looking for a gown it is better to find a dress that either fits perfectly or is just a little bit big. Because of the delicate fabrics making alterations can be done easily if the dress needs "taking in" but to "let it out" can be quite tricky. Most gown designers always allow about an inch or slightly less for seem allowance. If a gown is very tricky to alter this will reflect in the price of the alteration. So remember your dress budget needs to be for the dress its self and any alterations needed.

Designer Wedding Dress Neckline Cuts

When shopping for a wedding dress, it is important to be aware of the different neckline cuts that are out there. It is important to remember that different necklines compliment different body types. With so many options currently available, ranging from a sweetheart cut to a strapless look to the off-the-shoulder style, a bride-to-be may not know where to start! If you are in the midst of making a decision on a designer wedding dress, becoming knowledgeable about specific neckline cuts can help you make the right decision.

The Sweetheart

The sweetheart neckline resembles the top half of a heart, hence the name. This neckline is a good option for the fuller-figured bride as it accentuates the chest area. In most cases, the sweetheart neckline has an overlay of sheer material rising above the heart-shape or some subtle piping, both of which give a longer, leaner look to the torso. This effect also makes the neck look longer and more romantic. Brides with a more boyish figure should avoid the sweetheart neckline.

The Strapless

While some brides should avoid the strapless neckline, it does wonders for others. In many cases, the strapless neckline can be paired with the sweetheart neckline or straight neckline which gives the bride the illusion of a smaller figure. Women with broad shoulders should avoid the strapless wedding dress but those with delicate shoulders and collarbones will do quite well with this style.

The Off-the-Shoulder

The off-the-shoulder wedding dress neckline is a very popular one. Just as you would imagine, the neckline starts just below your shoulders and emphasizes the neck, shoulders, and collarbone. The off-the-shoulder neckline has small sleeves that cover the top part of the arm. This neckline is flattering to all figures, but brides with fuller arms or issues with their shoulders should avoid it. This style is ideal for pear-shaped women, and anyone who would want to show off their shoulders.

The Sabrina

The Sabrina neckline, also known as the bateau neckline, is great for brides with a certain body type. This neckline, cut straight across, follows the curve of the collarbone, edging near the tip of the shoulders. The Sabrina is usually accompanied by sleeves though many designers are now pairing it with sleeveless dress styles. Well-endowed women should avoid the Sabrina neckline.

The Portrait

Women with full arms and prominent collarbones may seriously consider the portrait neckline for their wedding dress. Similar to the off-the-shoulder style but with more fabric, the portrait scoops across the shoulders (from tip to tip). If you have an undefined collarbone, this is probably not the neckline for you.

The Scoop

Anyone, no matter what body type, can wear the scoop neckline. It is the ultimate classic style and can be either low or high cut. In many cases, the scoop in the front is complimented by a lower scoop in the back.