A Guide to Shopping Black Friday Wedding Deals

Smart Holiday Shopping Tips for Engaged Couples

When Black Friday comes around, shopping for your wedding dress, bridal party attire, decor, and more gets so much more exciting. Knowing you can score phenomenal discounts if you just know where to look or time things just right is such an adrenaline boost, and Avery Austin knows just how you can get yourself focused for some seriously smart holiday shopping that makes the most of your bridal budget. From some advanced planning and focused shopping targets to choosing between online and in-store bridal shops, the tips in this Black Friday wedding deals guide have got you covered. Let’s start with learning how to prepare before Thanksgiving weekend and all the holiday discounts begin.

Jump to the section you need:

• Prepare for Black Friday Bridal Deals in Advance
• Top Black Friday Bridal Categories to Target
• Black Friday Deals at Online Bridal Sites vs. Boutiques

Prepare for Black Friday Bridal Deals in Advance

Whether it’s months before November or Thanksgiving month has just begun, you can already start to prepare yourself for shopping Black Friday wedding deals (and even Cyber Monday deals too). Doing a little advanced brainstorming and preparation can help you make the most of your shopping experience, both in-store and online. Here are a few ways you can get ready for Black Friday weekend sales on items you’ll need for your wedding:

• Get Signed Up & Start Following Socials: If there are email newsletters for your favorite bridal sites, hobby shops, and decor stores, get registered so you’ll be the first to receive news about sales, early-access events, and more. If you aren’t already following those same brands on your social media accounts, that’s another great way to stay on top of any and all upcoming Black Friday bridal deals. At the bottom of Avery Austin’s homepage, you can easily sign up for the newsletter or check out the socials links!
• Know Your Needs Before You Shop: Try making a list of the essentials for your wedding day, including anything from your veil, bridal gown, and shoes to save-the-dates, invitations, and table decor. Maybe even clothes for your Honeymoon! Whatever it is you think you NEED within your budget should be on your list. Having this information at the ready can help keep you from impulsively jumping on things you don’t actually need just because they look like a good deal.
• Do Some Measuring: Know all of your sizes before you shop so you don’t end up with great Black Friday wedding deals that just don’t end up fitting right. Start with your bust, waist, hip, and hollow-to-hem measurements for your wedding dress (Avery Austin’s sizing blog can help if you don’t know how to measure yourself), but don’t stop there! Figure out your ring size and your future spouse’s ring size if you plan to shop for wedding ring deals on Black Friday. If you’re on the hunt for decor, make sure you know approximate dimensions for any surfaces or areas you plan to decorate.
• Consider “Neutral” Items: If you’re not 100% set on your wedding colors or theme, shift your focus to items you’ll need that won’t change no matter the theme or color. For example, getting-ready robes, special bridal party hangers, or gifts are all “neutral” items that don’t rely on specific wedding colors.

Top Black Friday Bridal Categories to Target

Even if you’re not a planner who totally prepped in advance, you can still focus your Black Friday bridal shopping for the best deals. Whether you plan to hit the wedding boutiques on Black Friday or shop for stationary and decor online on Cyber Monday, knowing the big wedding-related categories that are worth checking for deals is a great way to get started. Here are a few of the top Black Friday and Cyber Monday categories worth checking for discounts:

• Wedding & Bridesmaid Dresses: Track pricing on your favorite bridal dress and bridesmaid gown styles so you’ll know if any of them have been marked down for Black Friday. If you score a stellar deal, you might even be able to get yourself a second bridal dress look to wow at your reception! Keep an extra close eye on sale sections for wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses online because sometimes these categories end up with an extra percentage-off code during Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
• Shoes & Accessories: Veils, jewelry, and shoes are sometimes offered at the same bridal shops and sites you’ll already be following for Black Friday bridal deals, but if you’re hoping for more variety to score the best discounts, don’t forget to keep your eye on department store retailers or your favorite shoe stores too!
• Stationery & Paper: While save-the-dates and invitations immediately come to mind, you might also need custom signs or posters to display at your venue on the day of your wedding too. Keep tabs on your preferred stationery or digital printing sites for their Black Friday bargains. Some sites even allow you to save your custom projects in advance, so you can compare pricing with ease when Black Friday rolls around.
• Decor & DIY Details: If you know you’ll need a lot of bulk items, like table covers or runners, welcome bag supplies, votive candles, or centerpieces, then craft stores and hobby shops should also be on your list of places to monitor for Black Friday sales.
• Honeymoon & Travel: If you have a general idea of where you will want to travel to for your honeymoon, keep tabs on the resorts and booking platforms in case there are any major Black Friday discounts on travel packages. You can also look out for deals on travel essentials like luggage.

Black Friday Deals at Online Bridal Sites vs. Boutiques

Wondering if bridal stores even do Black Friday sales? Yes, they do Black Friday and Cyber Monday wedding deals, but it does look a little different when you’re shopping online versus in an actual boutique. From the type of discounts to the way you shop, your expectations for the big weekend sales should shift depending on where you want to shop. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re looking into holiday weekend discounts at online and in-store bridal shops:

Online Bridal Retailers

• Look for Direct Discounts: Since many online bridal sites are selling their own designer brand, you typically get direct discounts right from the source (without the salon markup pricing). Add in extra percentage-off discounts through special Black Friday codes, specific collection markdowns, or special shipping discounts, and you’ve got yourself a great deal! Sometimes you can even snag steep Black Friday or Cyber Monday discounts on sample wedding dresses if the online retailer offers a try-before-you-buy option, like Avery Austin’s Try at Home Program.
• Explore Bridal and Bridesmaid Options: Many online bridal shops (like Avery Austin) make it easy to browse a wide selection of both bridal and bridesmaid dresses and accessories all in one spot, so you can work out all the details for yourself and your entire bridal party all in one place (and hopefully with a great sitewide discount code for Black Friday too)!
• Shop Whenever You Want at Home: The best perk to shopping online bridal retailers on Black Friday weekend is that you never have to deal with traffic or compete with the crowds. You’ll be shopping at any time of the day from the comfort of your own home. Just remember to check those holiday deals closely for their expiration dates. Some special discounts only last a day, while others last for the whole weekend or longer. In fact, Cyber Monday usually means that online bridal retailers will have sales all weekend long or brand new deals to explore come Monday. If you’ve never shopped online for a big purchase like a bridal gown before, be sure to check out these tips for buying wedding dresses online.

Brick-and-Mortar Bridal Shops

• Watch for Trunk Shows: If you’re looking for a great Black Friday deal on a gorgeous designer wedding gown from last season’s collection, then you’ll definitely want to watch out for special trunk shows that pop up at that designer’s locations or your local shop. Temporary price cuts, free accessories, in-shop alteration discounts, and more might be offered during a trunk show on Black Friday.
• Check Out Sample Sales: While the latest, brand-new bridal gowns are less likely to feature steep discounts on Black Friday weekend, there is a chance your local bridal boutique might be looking to clear their shelves of the past season’s sample wedding gowns. Off-the-rack clearance sales are big during Black Friday, so you could score anywhere from 40% to 60% off sample styles! Just remember that samples have been tried on frequently by other brides, so look at them closely for any signs of wear or damage before committing to what is likely a final sale. Here’s an article with tips for buying sample wedding dresses so you’ll know what to look for while shopping.
• Remember to Make Appointments: Many bridal shops require appointments year round, but even if your local bridal store normally accepts walk-ins, it might be a good idea to schedule an appointment over Thanksgiving weekend instead. Given that many people have taken off for the holiday or plan to shop for deals on Black Friday, expect that these shops will be busier than ever. Securing an appointment in advance can ensure you have time to shop and a bridal stylist to help you.

If you haven’t already, it’s time to get your budget in order and your shopping needs list prepped so you’re all set and ready to go for the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday wedding deals! Don’t be shy—go ahead and stalk your target shops for deals on all the items you need! And of course, don’t forget to sign up for newsletters from Avery Austin so you’ll be the first to know about any and all events and sales year round, including those special holiday weekend discounts.