Saving money is the game these days, which means you're probably looking for the coolest dress for the lowest possible price. Perhaps you've even uttered the words, "I wish I could find something cheap to wear." Cheap wedding dresses are exactly what they sound like: poorly made, ill fitting, and cookie cutter. Here's why you should avoid them (and pay a few extra bucks for something good):

Cheap Wedding Dresses Are Expensive to Alter

Yay! You've found a great deal on a dress, falling neatly into your budget of $300. You take it to your seamstress, only to have her shriek and say, "I have no idea how to alter this type of cut or fabric." Yep, you've gotten a deal, but it's not exactly what you bargained for. Suddenly you're tacking on hundreds of dollars of alterations to make this dress ready for a walk down the aisle.

Cheap Wedding Dresses Come With Limited Customer Service

Now, I'm not advocating that you spend thousands of dollars on a dress just to have someone serve you champagne and crumpets while you try on several different styles. But buying a cheaply-made wedding dress can be a soul-sucking experience. Instead of slowly sifting through racks of beautifully pressed gowns, you'll be dragging yourself through a warehouse full of dresses in plastic body bags. Instead of having a bridal consultant at your disposal, you'll be searching through these dresses on your own while trying to flag down a harried salesperson who is likely dealing with several brides at once. Not fun.

Cheap Wedding Dresses Look Cheap (Duh!)

You know that adage, "you get what you pay for?" Consider this: "you only look as good as the dress you're wearing." You might argue that your eight dollar used nightclub dress gets more compliments from strangers than your designer cocktail number, however, the same theory does not apply to wedding dresses. Whether you like it or not, every person in the room is going to be looking at your dress, commenting on your style, and snapping pictures of every detail. If you choose a gown that has erratic beading, poor seam work, or a sloppy train, you'll end up regretting it every time you see your wedding pictures.

What to Do to Avoid the Fate of the Cheap Wedding Dress

Even if you agree with everything I've said so far, you might be thinking that you simply don't have the cash for a dress that would even fall in the category of "acceptable." Take heart. Just because you don't have cash, doesn't mean you can have a fabulous gown that looks great and doesn't break the bank. Consider the following options as you begin your hunt:

Go to a Sample Sale: Sample sales are god's gift to the frugal bride. Find a designer whom you covet and then scour your state for the next trunk show or sample sale.
Jump on eBay: If the idea of wearing someone else's dress doesn't skeeve you out, consider bidding on designer dresses via eBay. Chances are you'll snag a fancy dress for half the price that you would have paid had you gone the more traditional, in-store route.
Scan the Local Department Stores: Places like Nordstrom's and Macy's are prime hunting grounds for gorgeous evening gowns that can double as walk-down-the-aisle favorites. The best time to find deals is right before and after prom season, when awesome party dresses are plentiful.
Rent a Dress: Yep, you read that right. Jump online and type the search term "rental wedding dresses" and your hometown to find dresses that you can rent for the weekend of your wedding.