I bought a dress off the rack and I gave it away later. My family gave me a check to pay for my wedding and it was up to me how I spent the money. I put the check in the bank and paid for my own wedding, very cheap! DH and I used the wedding money to pay toward our student loans. I have never regretted not having a big wedding or fantasy wedding dress. My girlfriends who did have the beautiful wedding dresses still have them hanging in their closets, well pushed to the back of it out of the way. One made a tablecloth from hers for a wedding anniversary party. She said it was the most expensive item in the room!