For most women, their wedding day is the pinnacle of their lives, not including having their first child. So, they’ll spend a lot of money on their wedding dresses, hoping that they’ll have it as a special memory for the rest of their lives. But wedding dresses can be expensive, and one has to question whether the expense of some wedding dresses is worth it in the long run. Let’s look at some reasons why it might not be a good idea to spend too much on a wedding dress.

1. You’re only going to wear a wedding dress once. Even if you end up getting divorced and get married again, you’re not going to wear the same dress you got married in the first time. That’s a lot of money for something you’re only going to wear once.

2. Holding onto it, hoping your daughter will get married in it, is a pipe dream in today’s world. In the past, wedding styles didn’t change that much, and the costs for most families were so prohibitive in purchasing new wedding dresses that it made sense to keep a wedding dress in the family. Today, one can buy a wedding dress on credit, and styles change every 4 or 5 years. That, plus what if you don’t end up having a daughter?

3. Storing and having to keep traveling with a wedding dress can get to be a bit much. Most brides, once they’ve put the wedding dress away, never see it again unless they’re moving to a new location. Sure, it brings back memories, hopefully good memories each time, but it’s another thing you have that has more sentimental value than actual value.

4. If you decide to sell your wedding dress, most expensive dresses don’t retain their value as well. That may seem like an odd figure, but a Vera Wang dress can lose up to 50% of its value after a year, whereas a Reem Acra dress will retain its value better. It depends on how the dress was made and the types of accoutrements it comes with. Still, your wedding dress, no matter who made it, will lose some of its value.

5. There are other expenses at your wedding where the extra money might come in handy. After all, your wedding day isn’t only about your wedding dress, although it’s a big part of it. Would you rather spend $4,000 on a wedding dress and not be able to afford a good meal at your reception?

These are just a few things to think about when it comes to purchasing your wedding gown. If you have the money for everything, this doesn’t even enter the conversation. If not, this is a good place to start.