How and where to find a simple wedding dress

Simple or Bohemian style

For a simple wedding dress to create a chic and understated look, check out Frieda Brides. This Singapore bridal boutique has classic, minimalistic and bohemian wedding dresses from international designers at accessible price points. Read on for plenty of useful info for anyone planning to get married; plus, we have a special offer and dates for upcoming trunk shows – great for inspiration for the big day!

Up-and-coming designers

For those wanting ‘one-off’ looks that aren’t mass-produced, Frieda Brides carries bridal brands from up-and-coming designers such as Made with Love (Australia), Jenny Yoo (USA) and Catherine Deane (UK), amongst others. These designers embody different bridal styles to cater to a variety of brides’ tastes; there’s everything from sexy bohemian gowns to dreamy boho-vintage styles, and sleek, minimalist wedding dresses.

Generally, the gowns you’ll find at this Singapore bridal boutique will likely appeal more to the ‘anti-princess bride’ – or just anyone looking for a more modern, Pinterest-worthy dress.

Accessible quality

Knowing that not every bride has a budget of $10,000-plus for a good simple wedding dress, Frieda Brides hand-picks designers and dresses with quality, drool-worthy designs at accessible price ranges. (Win, win and win!) No wonder it won silver place in the ‘Best Bridal Wear’ category in our very own Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards.

We asked their team to answer some frequently asked questions from brides-to-be.

When do I need to start shopping for my wedding dress?

We advise you to start looking at gowns anytime between seven to ten months in advance of your actual wedding date. This is because wedding dresses are not usually bought ‘off the rack’ (the gowns at the shop are just samples for try-ons). Each gown is made-to-order for each bride. The designers usually require the orders to be placed about six months in advance to allow sufficient time for production and shipping, and time for alterations after it arrives.

Also, brides usually need at least a couple months to visit different boutiques to ponder over what they like and dislike before making a decision. If you’re planning on getting married mid to late 2021, you should start shopping no later than the start of 2021.

What if I need a simple wedding dress quickly?

If you’re a ‘bridechilla’ (i.e., a bride getting married very soon who needs a dress fast!), it’s still possible to get your wedding dress on time. Just be prepared for the ‘rush fees’ that might apply; also, some options might not be available.

How can I get started with wedding dress shopping?

Pinterest is always a good place to start researching different types of bridal wear and trends. As you browse, you’ll start noticing certain types of dresses that you’re more drawn to. Go ahead and pin these images and save them. However, do keep an open mind; what brides look like in pictures and what looks good on them in real life can be very different.

Many brides are often surprised to find that they end up not loving a wedding dress style they previously thought they would go for; they’re often attracted to other styles that they hadn’t thought about. So it’s very important to try dresses in real life to find the one that would look best on you.

How much can a simple wedding dress cost?

There is really a wide range when it comes to pricing. You can find a $200 wedding dress online from questionable websites, up to around $8,000 to $20,000 for couture wedding dress labels such as Vera Wang, Berta and Gahlia Lahav.

From our own experience (and brides’ stories), you generally get what you pay for. So be careful to not fall for cheap offers. To purchase a decent quality wedding dress, we usually recommend a minimum budget of about $2,000 to $4,000. We’re constantly on the hunt for the hottest bridal designs with good quality at the most affordable prices we can find. Prices at our store for a brand new wedding dress range from $1,800 to $4,800.

What’s the current trend for wedding dresses?

The trend is definitely moving toward simpler and more fuss-free styles. Bohemian styles are still well-loved, but clean and minimalist styles are definitely hot right now; we’re not sure if Meghan Markle played a role in this! More and more brides are now asking for plain simple wedding dresses with no lace or just a little bit of lace. Nevertheless, it’s more important to not follow trends but to go with what you feel best in and what fits your own personal style.

Special offer: Wedding gift for Expat Living readers

Expat Living readers will receive a free veil with any dress purchased by 27 February 2021!

Also: Exclusive trunk shows

Frieda Brides will be holding trunk shows from January to February 2021, where they will temporarily display a selection of their hottest new dresses that are not currently carried in-store. Brides will have a limited time to try these designs at their boutique.

Bridal Trunk shows dates:

5-16 January: French-chic gowns by Parisian bridal label, Donatelle Godart.
26 January – 6 February: Boho-luxe styles from Los Angeles based bridal label Tara Lauren.

9045 8979 (WhatsApp) | info@friedabrides.com
friedabrides.com | @friedabrides

Plan what jewellery you’ll wear with the dress too!