I was perusing the Grace Ormonde Wedding Style site today and completely fell in love with some of the gowns that they feature for 2007. The magazine's focus is style and high end design and it shows... the gowns on the 2007 runways that are highlighted really are drool worthy. As is everything else on this site. The flowers are GORGEOUS, the event designers are over-the-top beautiful...I could go on and on and on. Okay, focus.

Today's post is a splurge vs. save. I tried to find gowns that were comparable either in cut or style, or at the very least, gave that ahhhh how pretty feeling for both the splurge and the steal. Here we go! The splurge gowns are all $1500 and above (most of them far more). The save dresses are $1500 and below (most of them far less).

Top Row, left to right: Rosa Clara, Junko Yoshioka for Bonaparte NY, Oscar de la Renta; Bottom Row: Vera Wang, Ruben Perlotti (most photos from Wedding Style)

Top Row: J Crew $1000, Carmen Marc Valvo at Bloomingdales, Ramona Keveza on The Knot $1500; Bottom Row: J Crew $250, ABS by Allen Schwartz $300, Mary L. Couture at Nordstroms, $238

The main element you should look for, if you are dress shopping on a budget, should be simplicity. Find a dress you love, then scour stores to find a simpler, toned down version. If you take away some of the ruffles and beading, even an inexpensive gown will look chic and sophisticated.