That dress is beautiful! Reminds me of one of my first SCA dresses on a budget- a pale yellow brocade tablecloth (!), which was from BedBathandBeyond, with a pink silk dupioni underskirt (verra verra cheap silk). Nowadays I might not be so inclined to use a tablecloth, since I know I can get better stuff for cheap. You just need to know where to look!

Those people who snark other people for the suggestions need to have their hands duct taped so they can't type.
(Besides, aren't there guide book thingies out there specifically for the purpose of "SCA on a Budget" ?)