Many of us who are getting married may be doing so on a tight budget. A big way to save on wedding expenses is to buy a second hand dress. This may not sound very appealing to you, remember that the dress is only worn for a few hours. Why pay thousands of dollars for something barely worn? And it's not like you are going to wear it again anyways.

Buying a used wedding dress doesn't always mean buying one that was worn. There are many shops that specialize in reselling unsold stock from other stores for big savings. Or perhaps someone will sell a dress for a ceremony that never happened, in which case they want to get rid of the dress fast and cheap. You never know until you start looking.

A good place to start your search for the perfect used wedding dress is Ebay. Here you can find thousands of dresses in all shapes, sizes, and styles. Make sure the dress you want has measurements as close to yours as possible, so alterations are minimal. You may also want to check out local classifieds and second hand stores, although you won't get as much variety as you would online.

Regardless of the condition of your new used wedding dress, you will want to get it cleaned for the big day. It's hard to tell if it has been cleaned by the previous owner so err on the side of caution and have it done yourself. Then take it in for alterations. Yes, these are extra expenses but compared to how much you are saving they are minimal.

If you are really lucky, you will find a dress that fits perfectly, but this is a rarity. Most bridal stores will do alterations for you if you make an appointment, even if you didn't get your dress through them. Make sure you call ahead to find out though. If they can't, they may be able to refer you to someone who can.