Get dressed to the nines

With so many fantastic high street options you don’t have to spend a fortune on your wedding outfit. Katie Wright finds the best affordable bridalwear

Gone are the days when buying a wedding dress means spending hours and hours in stuffy boutiques, a six-month wait for the gown to arrive and a minimum four-figure price tag.

More and more high street retailers are entering the bridalwear game, offering beautiful gowns in the sub-£500 (and even sub-£100) bracket.

With most collections available online too, the dress of your dreams could be just a few clicks away.

Here’s our pick of the high street bridalwear top five... TOPSHOP Style: The first ever Topshop Bride collection, which has just launched, comprises five limited-edition dresses in classic silhouettes but with fashionforward touches, like thin satin ties and cold shoulder necklines.

Interested? Act now, because some sizes are already selling out. Prices: £350 to £795. Best for: Fashionistas – Topshop bride satin tie shoulder dress, £350 (www.topshop.com)

– Topshop cutwork lace bardot bridal dress, £450 (www.topshop.com) ASOS Style: Decidedly trend-led, the ASOS bridal collection is aimed at a younger clientele, with beachy, sexy dresses and a couple of Curve options too.

There’s even a white maxi T-shirt dress for the most laid-back of brides. Prices: £95 to £350. Best for: Trend-setters – ASOS bridal cami maxi dress with concertina folding, £150 (www.asos. com)

– ASOS bridal trumpet hem maxi dress, £200 (www.asos.com) WHISTLES Style: The retailer’s inaugural wedding collection mixes modern shapes and ornate fabrics, with standout pieces including a flowing one shoulder lace gown and a tiered pleated column dress. Not set on a dress? Try the 70s-esque ruffled jumpsuit. Prices: £499 to £699. Best for: Tradition with a twist – Whistles Theodora wedding dress, £599 (www.whistles.com)

– Whistles Guinevere wedding dress, £599 (www.whistles.com) NINE BY SAVANNAH MILLER Style: Miller brings her trademark coolbohemian aesthetic to a range of bridal gowns at Debenhams.

Think 20s-esque tiers, beautiful beading and lots of lace. Prices: £320 to £450. Best for: Boho brides – Nine by Savannah Miller Ivory “Eligenza” Lace bridal dress, £420, Debenhams (www.debenhams.com)

– Nine by Savannah Miller ivory “Anabella” frilled bridal dress, £450, Debenhams (www.debenhams.com)

BOOHOO

Style: Boohoo’s dresses are the most affordable of all, but they’re surprisingly expensive-looking, thanks to an abundance of bead detailing and lace overlays.

For brides who don’t want to go floorlength, there are some very pretty midi and knee-length styles. Prices: £30 to £50. Best for: Shoestring budgets – Boohoo boutique Ali All lace plunge neck maxi dress, £45 (www.boohoo. com)

– Boohoo boutique Dora chiffon long sleeved wrap maxi dress, £30 (www. boohoo.com)

From left to right: Whistles Guinevere wedding dress; ASOS bridal trumpet hem maxi dress; the Nine by Savannah Miller ivory Eligenza lace bridal dress; and the Whistles Theodora wedding dress.