Attire & Accessories Forum

How to shop for your wedding dress

2

Re: How to shop for your wedding dress

  • do you girls have any advice - I am going to look at wedding dresses for the first time on Saturday. I am worried in case the dresses are all small sizes in store (like a UK 8 or 10).  I will be mortified if I cant fit in any of the dresses I would like to try on (i'm a UK 14 or 16 depending on the fit as my top half bigger than my bottom!) lol
  • hellohkb said:

    http://www.bhldn.com/bridal-party-guests-view-all-dresses/juliette-dress-and-camille-topper-blush

    Is BHLDN safe to buy from online? That dress style looks like a million bucks on me from trying gowns on locally, but everyone locally keeps trying to put me in white/nearly white/fancy white. First, ick, I am pale as pale gets, white dresses make me look like a corpse. Second, with my adopted daughters, white feels wrong. I can't wear red, but a softer pink is my friend.

    As for BHLDN vs David's. BHLDN has a good return policy, so if it's an unprecedented nightmare on me, I can return it. Their online sizing charts appear on reviews to be accurate or a little big. David's in person had dresses all over on sizes, I went from a size 4 in a mermaids to a 16 in a ball gown. Plus, their returns appear to be near impossible. BHLDN does have brick and mortar stores, I'm just not near one.


    BHLDN is owned by Anthropologie, so it's a legitimate website.
    Thanks! My pretty is on it's way to me, yay!
  • @velvethelicopters HOLY COW thank you for linking this website. I had never heard of it, and I'm basically in love with everything they have!!!!!!!!!!! :)
    Wedding Countdown Ticker

    image
  • Just don't forget to tell them your budget!! :)

    <a href="http://www.theknot.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Wedding Planning Ideas"><img src="http://global.theknot.com/tickers/tt1beab4.aspx" alt="Wedding Countdown Ticker" border="0"  /></a>

  • This is awesome! I'm definitely going to have a look around this site and see what they have for plus sized brides. Any issues with sizing or quality of the dress that you can see?
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • Hey I just went to http://www.loehmanns.com and they now sell " WEDDING DRESSES". For $300-$500 & they are really cute. Only thing no return on wedding dresses. I've already found my dress at a near by shop but I am waiting to purchase it because I want it on sale but if the price doesn't drop I think I will purchase 1 from loehmanns because they are super cute.
  • Wow cute dresses at great prices!  Have you seen any of these dresses anywhere to try on? 
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • Wish I had read this before I got suckered into buying a dress. I was THAT girl who got caught up, rushed, and pressured. Now I have a dress that is at my budget without alterations, my Mom and Sister weren't there (they are livid), and I'm not sure it was THE dress to boot. As another poster stated, "dress regret is a bitch."
  • brooklynscottbrooklynscott member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper First Comment
    edited February 2015
    You may want to go to bridal store that carrys that designer & try on some of their styles then you will know which size & style to order
  • I think most dress shops have a variety of sizes for brides to try on. I haven't shopped in the UK and only went once in the US, but I went with my sister dress shopping a few years ago and they had many different sizes. Even if it is too small they can usually clip it in the back so you can still get a feel for how it will look on you.

    I noticed your post was from December, so have you gone dress shopping yet? If so, how is it going?

  • I got my dress for only $300 including my alterations! Read my blog to find out the best tips to get your dress on the cheap :) BTW I got my dress from JJ's house...read terrible reviews...had a panic attack...got the dress and I LOVE IT. They even refunded me some money because the top was too big and I needed it altered. 

  • jjs house is a fake website and the quality of the merchandise is poor please don't buy from them ever or any other china knock off website.

    do you want  a designer gown for a good price say between 99-600 dollars you can get one first check out davids bridal they have a ton of dresses at those prices. want something more unique and not seen go to bridal salons ask about discontinued gowns at discounts visit bridal consigments check out places such as rk bridal and pearls place they sell at discounts and are ligit. 

    yes designer gowns come from overseas but they are the only shop authorized by the designer to make the dresses and they are the only one with the exact patterns 


  • I exclusively shopped online because I hate bridal stores. I got dresses from J. Crew, Ann Taylor, and BHLDN. It was super easy, and returning was easy as well. All three websites have significantsales multiple times a year (think 25-40% off). I paid less than $350 for my dress, and since it was in Ann Taylor sizes with clear measurements online, my dress only needs to be shortened. 

    Online works, people. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The other advantage - no months of lead time!
  • I exclusively shopped online because I hate bridal stores. I got dresses from J. Crew, Ann Taylor, and BHLDN. It was super easy, and returning was easy as well. All three websites have significantsales multiple times a year (think 25-40% off). I paid less than $350 for my dress, and since it was in Ann Taylor sizes with clear measurements online, my dress only needs to be shortened. 


    Online works, people. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The other advantage - no months of lead time!
    All of these websites have brick and mortar stores in the USA.  They are not Chinese knock off sites.  You are comparing apples to oranges.
    httpiimgurcomTCCjW0wjpg
  • I did not make any comparisons, and I never said anything about Chinese knock-offs. Your initial post said "never shop online." Several people in this thread said they never even knew shopping online from legit places was an option. So I wanted to make explicit that it is possible.
  • You have an excellent point.  I should qualify my posts about online shopping.  The problem is, many Chinese knockoff sites try to hide the fact that they are located overseas.  Usually, their bad grammar gives them away, but not always.  Sometimes they even have relatives in the USA that front for them.
    Thank you for your correction.  We both need to be careful about how we describe online ordering sites.
    httpiimgurcomTCCjW0wjpg
  • some more tips 

    if you are doing a custom gown find local place that does custom wedding gowns these places will  have plenty of samples for you to try on so you can figure out what you like dont like about the dresses. 

    also make sure the salon has your size in samples the biggest mistake would for you to make an appointment someplace and then get there and all the consultant can do is place the hanger with the dress on it to your body. 

    gowns run small so if you are a street size 22 you would need to make sure the salon had sizes 24+ in stock for you to try on, if they only have 2-3 gowns move on and look for a salon that has at least 10 gowns if not more you can choose from.

    order your gown to the measurements i measured at a 28 but my bust is super small 42c sample was a 24 and i was only 5 inches difference between that and the 26, my gown was ordered in a 26 and the only alterations were the hemline im 5'0 and the bust which needed to be taken in like 3 times 
  • imageBridal stores are so expensive although I was so frightened to order online from any website! So I put an order from 58eveningdress company and went ahead...and oh my! Exactly what a beautiful dress did I get! It's precisely what I desired, the fabric is outstanding and it fits ideal somewhat minor fix on my shoulders however no biggie. 58eveningdress company has excellent customer support since I'd email them and so they might email me back. So that was a plus I got my dress one day prior to the actual delivery date! Thank you so much! Im can't wait to wear it and in love with my dress! Thank you quite.

  • ViczaesarViczaesar member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    edited September 2015
    imageBridal stores are so expensive although I was so frightened to order online from any website! So I put an order from [removed] company and went ahead...and oh my! Exactly what a beautiful dress did I get! It's precisely what I desired, the fabric is outstanding and it fits ideal somewhat minor fix on my shoulders however no biggie.[removed] company has excellent customer support since I'd email them and so they might email me back. So that was a plus I got my dress one day prior to the actual delivery date! Thank you so much! Im can't wait to wear it and in love with my dress! Thank you quite.

    Based on the wording/grammar and the fact that this is your only post I'm calling vendor.  @KnotRiley



  • I am toying with the idea of getting my dress from David's Bridal.  But i just want opinions and experiences on Quality, Customer service and Brand as a whole. Im a picky shopper on a regular basis so i don't like to shop with retailers that don't up hold a certain standard, whether its for product, or overall business practices.  What I've heard so far was either ok or horrible.  What do you think? Are there better options for a budget bride like me?
  • My daughter bought her dress at Elizabeth Manor in Northville Michigan. We had a great experience everyone was helpful and even the owner herself took great interest in us, we felt like family. My daughter was an out of town bride which made things a bit complicated. Elizabeth called us to make sure we were happy and when she realized I was upset with our seamstress, she immediately offered that I bring the dress back to Michigan. Her seamstress Michelle was amazing! She started on the sleeves without even having my daughter in town because she was only arriving 2 days before the wedding. Michelle worked on all the details of the dress without making us feel rushed. She even delivered the dress to our hotel when she finished it. I can't say enough good things about the service we received at Elizabeth Manor, especially from Michelle. I would highly recommend them to any bride.
  • Good tips especially fourth point. This post is helpful I am going to share this with my friend who is getting married this year and is very confused with her dress. Thanks so much for sharing !
  • Another piece of advice I'd have is to see what the price range of a salon is before making an appointment. Doing this, I didn't waste my time at places where I wouldn't be able to afford anything. I thought David's Bridal would be my best bet, but actually found better prices at bridal outlets such as Bridal Mart in Burlington, NC, a local consignment shop, and a regular bridal salon (where I ultimately purchased a Mori Lee). Keep in mind also that DB doesn't have crinolines built into the dress... they'll try to add that and one of their longline bras to your purchase, which will add $160 to your total before tax. 
  • I appreciate your sentiments and intentions but some of the things you advise I completely disagree with.  I bought my dress online, for sale, at Davids, and it is my perfect dress.    I read reviews, looked at photos of real brides wearing the dress, and even contacted one.  That said, I know my body type very well and I know what works and what doesn't.  I also don't have enough free time to go to the number of stores I'd need to go to and shop for dresses.   But online, at work, in my spare time, I did MANY hours of research,
  • CMGragainCMGragain member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    edited August 2016
    I appreciate your sentiments and intentions but some of the things you advise I completely disagree with.  I bought my dress online, for sale, at Davids, and it is my perfect dress.    I read reviews, looked at photos of real brides wearing the dress, and even contacted one.  That said, I know my body type very well and I know what works and what doesn't.  I also don't have enough free time to go to the number of stores I'd need to go to and shop for dresses.   But online, at work, in my spare time, I did MANY hours of research,
    I am not certain who you are responding to with your post.  There is nothing wrong with buying a dress online from David's Bridal.  They are not a Chinese knock-off website, and they are reputable.  They accept returns on everything except clearance.
    Photos can be deceiving.  The photo of my daughter's dress made it appear to be a ballgown with a big skirt.  It was, in fact, an A-line, which was exactly what we were looking for.  If she had chosen from the photo, she would never have bought that dress.
    I would not recommend going to more than two shops in one day, and David's was our first choice, even though we didn't buy from them.  We had four days to set up the wedding, the reception and to choose the dress before I had to fly back home, 2000 miles away.  Mission was accomplished.  We probably spent less time shopping than you did on line!  I'm glad you found your dress.
    httpiimgurcomTCCjW0wjpg
  • I really agree with this. You can't beat what you see (and feel) in the shop!! Same goes for bridesmaid and flower girl dresses....I ordered one from China. It took 10 weeks to arrive and when it did it was really cheap and very heavy - winter weight! My mum made me one in the end....

    Read my Blog at http://bridechiller.blogspot.co.uk/

     

    Oh my goodness, your mother made that dress?! She did an incredible job! It's lovely!
  • I think buying online is perfectly fine if the return policy is customer-friendly. We can surely try on things in the shop and buy a cheaper one online. It's a good way to save money.
  • Just checked jj's house this week. I feel you.
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards