How much should you spend on a wedding dress? For that matter, how much should you spend on the wedding?

Hundreds of young women plunged into the annual Running of the Brides wedding dress sale in Boston Friday morning, looking to snag a bargain for their big day. The event, hosted by discount retailer Filene's Basement, dates back to 1947. (Filene's Basement, which was bought out of bankruptcy last year by New York-based Syms , holds similar events now in other major cities.)

A spokeswoman for Filene's Basement says these events have really taken off since the economic crisis broke two years ago. Sales at events around the country have jumped between 38% and 60% compared with three or four years ago. More and more brides, it seems, are looking to make some savings on their wedding costs. Filene's says the dresses cost $249 to $649—big markdowns from full retail prices of $900 to $9,000.

This frugality is starting to show up in overall wedding costs. The cost of a median wedding fell 8% last year to $17,500, compared to 2008, according to the latest survey by the Knot, the popular wedding Web site. The biggest cost is usually the reception, and these days the shrimp cocktails are a little smaller and the wine is a little cheaper. The average reception cost fell $10 per guest to $63, says the Knot.

One big change due to the recession: The bride's parents are back on the hook again. During the boom, young couples were paying more of the costs. That's gone in reverse.