The projected average cost for a wedding this year is $36,000.

Let that sink in.

I’m sure at this moment, you are thinking about what you could do with all that money. Pay off some debt? Get a new car? Go on a much needed vacation?

Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to find more couples exhausting every option available to cut costs in their wedding. Financial stress and wedding planning seem to become interchangeable terms.

For all those out there currently planning their wedding….I apologize for reminding you of how stressed you are! That is certainly not my intention. In fact, I’m here to do the opposite.

My story started just like yours. It began with two people in love, and their journey of planning a wedding. The bliss that one feels when engaged is unlike any other. However, I can admit from firsthand experience…..that newly engaged bliss was tested when the wedding planning began. I found myself frustrated with the same things you probably are. I’ve said it in the past, but I was never the girl who dreamed of her wedding dress from a young age. So when I got engaged, I was completely lost. I was a bit luckier than most I will admit, because my now husband already had factory contacts in place for his footwear and apparel company (Hey Babe!). Not only that, at the time of our engagement, he had already launched one of his many subsidiaries; RDevine. He encouraged me to take the opportunity and design my own wedding dress. Not only that, we were able to source much of our wedding with said factory contacts.

I was granted the opportunity to have the wedding of my dreams….and with that he handed the reigns to RDevine over to me, and this allowed me the opportunity to share this experience with you. I knew that I wanted to help all those couples in the world get the wedding of their dreams AND keep money in their pockets after they said “I Do.” Fast forward a few years, and I can proudly say that I have helped a number of brides and grooms by providing them with the custom wedding attire they so fabulously wore on their wedding day.

How did we do that?

Most popular brands that you are familiar with in the bridal world (and in the non-bridal world too!), outsource their production to third party manufacturers. RDevine has completely cut out the middle man, and sells direct to the consumer. We work directly with our own factory and create custom pieces for each client we work with. The dresses that you find at bridal salons actually cost about one-third of the retail price. In essence, you are paying for the designer name, and the prestige that accompanies the boutique you are shopping at. Infuriating, isn’t it?

Direct-to-consumer brands like Floravere, Anomalie, and RDevine (is it a shameless plug if it's our blog?) are taking the wedding world by storm. Brides and grooms alike, crave that personalized experience. Not too mention, it’s natural to want a sense of honesty and transparency as well. After all…..it is their big day. No one wants to feel like they are just another sale, or feel as if they are being robbed blind by those big purchases that come during wedding planning. Floravere allows brides-to-be to try on 3 different dress styles and choose the gown that fits them the best. Gowns range from $1,000-$4,000 depending on customization etc. Anomalie uses a similar structure to RDevine, in allowing their brides to personally take part in the creation of a fully customized gown. Anomalie’s average dress cost is $1,350 and they include shipping in their services.

So what about us? What does RDevine offer?

We are glad you asked!

Wedding Dresses: We offer the option to create a fully customized wedding dress from start to finish, the option to choose from a popular non-RDevine design listed on our website, or the option to take a popular design and add your own flare to it. All gowns cap off at $1,000 unless they require extra handwork typically associated with heavy beading or embellishments. However, in the 3 years RDevine has been in business, we have yet to break the seal of $1,000 for an order….even on some of the more detailed dresses. All wedding dresses are made to order to your measurements, and you work closely with us to ensure you are part of each step of the process.

Suits: We offer the option to choose a suit design from our site, or a complete custom creation made to order with your measurements. Your suit options price at $225 for a quality suit made exactly to your liking.

Bridal Party: You guessed it…..made to order and made with your measurements!

Décor: Currently we have a few items on our website, but we are always adding to our collections! Even if we don’t have it on our website, we can source your décor directly and get you the best price.

Coming Soon: Over the past 3 years we have grown as a business and have added additional options for our couples. We are proud to announce that we will be adding the option to have a Wedding Liaison to assist in all your wedding planning needs. It doesn’t matter if you are planning your wedding stateside, or if you are choosing to do a destination wedding. We will work closely with you to ease your stress and help coordinate details with all vendors involved. Prices and package options will be available soon, so stay tuned!

Until then, feel free to reach out to us with any questions, comments, and concerns at info@rdevine.com.

Yours truly,

Desiree
CEO of RDevine