What is your opinion on buying a gown online?

carilynn92

I found a shop on Etsy with very beautiful gowns for a good price. But I worry that I'm going to buy a dress and then hate it when I get it. What is your opinion of buying a wedding dress online?

Liatris2010

Don't buy anything you haven't tried on. If the Etsy seller will let you return it if you don't like it for a full return, then by all means, go for it.

CMGr

Don't buy anything from China.

itzMS

In Response to Re: What is your opinion on buying a gown online?:

Don't buy anything from China.
Posted by CMGr

Ooooh good point. There are a lot of Etsy sellers/shops based out of mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong now.

OP, definitely check the location of the seller!

lovesclimbing

I bought mine online from simplybridal.com. It was too big but I had a very good seamstress lined up. I have no regrets. The dress was beautiful. I agree with PPs though. Stay away from those China sites. Anything that has no return policy or bad grammar, run from.

carilynn92

The seller I found was from China but she has a very good return policy. If there is anything wrong with the dress, it can be sent back. Even if you don't think the dress looks just like the picture, she will take it back.

KSMITJEN

NO WAY !

Why would you buy a gown a gown you can't try on and actually see before you purchase it. Who's going to back up thier product, some email address in China ? Don't think so. Its such an important part of ypour wedding day. Don't mess around with it trying save a few bucks and adding to your stress.

monkeysip

I've tried on many many gowns, and found NOTHING that I like.

I know what shapes look good on my body, so I've ordered from an etsy seller.  She is based here in America, has nothing but good reviews, and I have personally talked to one of her customers. 

Is it a bit of a risk?  Yes.  Is it for everyone?  No.  But after finding nothing in so many bridal shops, and not having any reputable seamstress in town for my budget, I went for it.  I'm pretty confident it will be fine, although I may need to do a little bit of alterations, which is natural when ordering a dress from someone across the country.

But at least she took my personal measurements (of every part of my body), and it's being designed with all my personal wishes.  I don't think I'll regret it.

CMGr

In Response to Re: What is your opinion on buying a gown online?:

The seller I found was from China but she has a very good return policy. If there is anything wrong with the dress, it can be sent back. Even if you don't think the dress looks just like the picture, she will take it back.
Posted by carilynn92

China does not have the business ethics that we have in North America.  They all promise a great return policy, but few actually will honor that.  Even if they do, you will be stuck with huge import duty taxes and shipping costs.
Why don't you post the photo of the dress that you like?  We can help you find the original or something similar.
Dresses look completely different on real ladies than they do in photos.  You really can't choose a dress from a photo.  Most girls are disappointed when they try on what they thought was going to be their dream dress.  I know my daughter was!  She chose something very different from what she had imagined after trying on real dresses.

StageManager14

Ditto CMGr. I've read so many horror stories on these boards of brides trying to return dresses to Chinese knockoff companies with "great return policies" that then spend a year or more battling to get their money back and still end up out several hundred dollars from duty tax, shipping, etc. Unless this is literally throwaway money and you can easily afford to eat the cost and buy a second gown if needed, don't do it.

trinicharles

I bought a dress online from DavidsBridal.com and it just arrived two days ago. Haven't tried it on yet but I knew what I wanted, what I wanted to spend, and I'm certain of my dress size. I have no problem getting it altered if I need to. But after reading these reviews, I hope this works out well for you because it sounds like they're saying that China's a bad idea :(

Yasya

I just bought my gown online, and I am happy with my decision, especially considering the price (but I understand that it's not for everyone!) Basically, I went to a lot different bridal salons in my area to narrow down exactly what I wanted and what I thought looked good on my figure. Then, I found a dress that fit that description, and bought it from a Chinese knock-off site. The dress basically looks exactly like the photo online, but the fit is all off. Thankfully, I bought the dress with the expectation that the fit would be weird and I would have to get it fixed. But even with the additional tailoring costs, the dress is still way cheaper than it would have been if I bought it at a salon, or even a david's bridal.

Kisswhodat

I think if you buy from the reputable sites, Pearlsplace.com, Netbride or Rk you will get a real gown from a real designer.  But the copy sites that are all over, no.

mattandjamie2013

It's a tough one -- I bought my dress in person, but I look at it often online. There is so much about the dress that I can't see online. It also fits the model quite differently than how it fits me, and I'm a similar size to the model. I think if you feel strongly about the dress online and decide to purchase it, it'd be a good idea to budget out a fair amount of money for alterations. Not only for fit, but if you try it on and don't like the neck line (for example), a good tailor could transform that for you.

Good luck!! Either way you choose will be great -- just fully commit and don't regret it -- you can transform the dress if there is a little something you don't like (with some money, of course..)!

cayharrop

Don't do it!!  This is your wedding day, probably the most important garment you will ever buy. Get the experience from a bridal salon, and the expertise of the trained staff.

Buying online to save $$:

--Dress may be damaged
--Dress may need costly repairs by a seamstress
--Dress has no return policy
--Dress may be a copy and not the original

Is saving $$ really worth it to you?  Ask for a discount at the bridal salon and I bet you will get one.  Seeing and feeling the dress in person---there is no substitute for that.  Plus you can bring people with you to get an honest opinion if they see the dress in person with you.

Kvero

In Response to Re: What is your opinion on buying a gown online?:

The seller I found was from China but she has a very good return policy. If there is anything wrong with the dress, it can be sent back. Even if you don't think the dress looks just like the picture, she will take it back.
Posted by carilynn92

¿Which website was that?

¿What do you think of this one? > http://www.honestweddingdresses.com

I wrote to them and they answered very profesionaly. They have a good return policy and everything is very convincing, but I would like second opinions. Thank you!

LisaA2014

Great idea, support China's economy while America's tanks! Come on now, buy locally please support OUR economy!

MRSreadcomicbooks

I'm 99.9% sure I'm buying my gown from Etsy as well.  On Etsy, for anything, read the seller reviews, and ask them as many questions as you possibly can before making the purchase.  I asked my seller about returns - not okay because they custom make the dress BUT, they told me they can make a version of it in muslin and send that to me to make sure I like it. The seller of my dress can also make any custom changes, before or after they sent the muslin version of it...so ultimately it will be my dream dress. Buying a dress from Etsy is a little different than buying it from like...a bargain website or something. Typically it's something that the person has/will create just for you, and provided they can give you good answers to your questions, there is nothing wrong with trusting them.

As for me, I think I have decided on my dress, but I am still going to try on some in stores just to decide for sure if I want my Etsy dream dress. I have never seen anything like it, so it's unique and that's what I want.

ZimmerAshley

If you are going to buy online, make sure they are a legitimate seller of the designer. A lot of the times people buy online thinking it's a original ad come to find out that when they receive it it's not what they ordered and the designer will not back up whatever happened to that dress. 
Also, make sure you check out their return policy in case something happens or goes wrong. If they do not accept refunds or any replacements steer clear of these sites because you're almost  100% sure to get a fake or not what you were looking for.

When looking for a dress go to known sellers (ex. davids bridal). THey have affordable dresses more than you think! And also for your bridal party and DO NOT be afraid to ask for any discounts !

AnnieU13

I personally would NEVER buy a wedding dress online. There are so many things that could go wrong or be misrepresented in the photos. But if you really love it, I guess you have two options: first, check if you can return the dress if something is wrong. If not, then I would definitely stay away and go to option number two; print off a picture of the dress and bring it with you when you go into stores so they can help you find a similar gown. Plus, I would hate missing out on the experience of trying on real wedding dresses... but that's just me. :) Good luck, either way!

missbela28

Ummm, ladies.... Where do you think the designers have their dresses made? China!

mackdaddysgirl

I recently bought my dress online, on ebay, from China (gasp!). The reason? it cost $35. I can do a lot of altering and editing to this dress and still stay within $100.
And if it turns out awful? I'm only out $35.
I have bought several bridesmaid dresses at David's Bridal, they were over priced to begin with and the alterations on each came to over $140, PLUS as a wedding photographer I see David's Bridal's dresses rip on bridesmaid all the time.. in fact at a recent wedding every single one of the bridesmaids underwear were showing by the end of the night b/c the pencil skirts on the dresses split when they sat down.
So there was no way I was going to buy anything from DB, and all the other boutiques in town were way too pricey, so online was he only option for me.
Keep in mind ladies that not everyone has the budget to shop 'designer' gowns, and online is a valid option for some women, who shouldn't feel ashamed to shop within their budgets.

trinicharles

In Response to Re: What is your opinion on buying a gown online?:

I just bought my gown online, and I am happy with my decision, especially considering the price (but I understand that it's not for everyone!) Basically, I went to a lot different bridal salons in my area to narrow down exactly what I wanted and what I thought looked good on my figure. Then, I found a dress that fit that description, and bought it from a Chinese knock-off site. The dress basically looks exactly like the photo online, but the fit is all off. Thankfully, I bought the dress with the expectation that the fit would be weird and I would have to get it fixed. But even with the additional tailoring costs, the dress is still way cheaper than it would have been if I bought it at a salon, or even a david's bridal.
Posted by Yasya

"But even with the additional tailoring costs, the dress is still way cheaper than it would have been if I bought it at a salon, or even a david's bridal" <--- I don't know about that last part.... I don't think you were able to beat $99 for what you just described. That's how much I paid for the dress I found on David's Bridal's website on sale and no alterations were needed. ($106 after tax, free shipping)