'Tis the season for engagements galore and it seems like people all around me are jumping on the bandwagon. At least five people I know have gotten engaged in the last month. There must be something in the water. After the initial excitement of the proposal, most women dive into a heap of panic while jumping into wedding planning. Finding THE perfect dress is of utmost importance. But if shelling out thousands of dollars for a dress you will only wear once is not in your budget, check out my tips below.

Nicole Richie got hitched this weekend and she donned three wedding dresses all by Marchesa. She wore a wedding gown during the ceremony, a dress for dinner and another dress for the after party.

Of course, wearing three dresses in a wedding seems a bit outrageous, but if you can afford it, why not?
I know most women dream of a gorgeous Vera Wang gown, but those will cost you from $2,000 to $12,000. Can't live without Vera? Check out her bridesmaid collection which start at $200 and go up to $1,000. Don't need a designer gown? The Limited offers wedding dresses at just under $300.

Another popular wedding gown retailer is David's Bridal. Ever see their commercial advertising gowns for just $99? Yep, that's them. That sale isn't going on right now, but they are offering dresses starting at just $109. Not bad at all. That's even less than some holiday cocktail dresses. Check out our list of David's Bridal coupons to save even more money.

If you are really brave, you can check out the Running of the Brides bridal event. Many brides camp out overnight to score their dream designer dress at a fraction of the price. This event is held all over the country so every bride will have the chance to visit a city near them and experience Bridezilla madness.

Not fond of the idea of getting trampled by hundreds of screaming women? Bid on dresses on eBay from the comfort of your home. You can either get a gently worn designer gown for cheap, or get a designer "inspired" (code for "knock-off") gown for a couple hundred dollars. I found many Vera Wang-inspired gowns starting at just $299. Sure beats the $2,000 starting price of her famous dresses.

Don't want to risk getting something online that you're not sure will fit you? You can always check out bridal sample sales where you can save up to 85% on your favorite designers. This upcoming bridal event in San Francisco offers designer dresses starting at $499.

Of course you can always get your wedding dress made. What's better than having a custom made dress? Every bride wants to feel special on their wedding day. If you are really crafty, you can even design and make your own dress. Fabric and material costs way less than a finished product. And it's something to brag about.

Last, you can skip the wedding dress altogether and get married in a white bikini like Pamela Anderson. Her white bikini by Melissa Odabash probably cost less than $150. Here's a similar one at $139. Or skip the brand name and get this simple white bikini from Victoria's Secret at just $29. Now you have even more money leftover to spend on your honeymoon!

For more budget wedding planning ideas, check out Heather's post from a couple of months ago.

What are some tips on getting great deals on wedding dresses?