Attire & Accessories Forum

Nowhere to Try Dresses

My problem is that we live in a small, northern community where there are no formal shops - not many stores at all. Most people shop online for everything, so I'm really stuck about what to do. I don't want to spend a lot of money on a dress that isn't flattering, but I don't have the options to try on multiple styles either.

I've been looking at lots of sites, but am no further ahead in making any decisions. I've looked at everything from recycledbride.com to lightinthebox.com. I know what I DON'T want, but have too many conflicting ideas about what I DO want...

We are having an outdoor wedding on a lake. FI is wearing a suit, not a tux. I am torn between a long sheath style or a slight mermaid OR a tea length dress. I am a 10 in real life (working on reducing that too), and have an hourglass figure.

These are a couple that have caught my eye.

http://www.lightinthebox.com/Sheath--Column-Straps-V-neck-Court-Train-Elastic-Woven-Satin-Wedding-Dress_p174770.html

http://www.lightinthebox.com/trumpet-mermaid-strapless-knee-length-satin-lace-wedding-dress_p251151.html

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?

Thanks!

Jenn
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Re: Nowhere to Try Dresses

  • edited August 2012
    Jenny, welcome and congratulations on all the excitement of wedding planning!

    There is a post at the top of this forum, you will definitely want to check it out. It lists vendors you will want to stay away from - including lightinthebox.

    Maybe you can find someplace within a few hours drive to try dresses on.

    I work with a woman that ordered from therosedress.com, and she said she was thrilled with their service and with her dress. She is maybe an 18/20 in off-the-rack sizing, and said to pay close attention to the measurements there. Try to find something closer to shop in person, but that may be an option. Also, sites like JCPenney sell wedding dresses and may be a better choice as well.
    ~~Mendi~~ ...Everyone has their price; mine's chocolate Photobucket
  • I would agree with PP.  Is there a place you can go that's a little bit further away? It's an added expense, but it would likely be cheaper than ordering a dress that doesn't fit right or something your not happy with. 


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  • Don't buy from lightinthebox. It's a Chinese knockoff site.
     
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  • Your wedding is almost a year away, which means you're safe ordering a dress really any time in the next 4 months.  7, if you're willing to pay a rush fee.  You're not going to find yourself in a larger city with a bridal shop any time in the next seven months?
  • I really don't think that I will be in a city within a timeframe that would allow me to try on and order dresses. We are a two day drive from the nearest city, and they have maybe two formal stores. Ironically, I just left the city a week before setting a date - which was a total shock, btw - and had I known then I certainly would have tried on some different styles before committing to anything in particular.

    I have thought about making a trip to do some shopping, but right now I'm in major budget mode. We're both teachers and spent the last five weeks traveling (hence the being in the city at the wrong time thing ...) and I don't think that we'll be traveling again before next summer.

    Maybe I will have to budget a weekend trip into the wedding list as well...

    Undecided
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  • make a weekend trip. Stay in cheapo motel and pack lunches so you don't have to eat out, and go try on dresses. Otherwise, you will likely end up with a dress that doesn't fit you or your body type.
  • Where on earth do you live that it takes TWO DAYS to another city? and what do other brides do in your area? Clearly, you aren't the first person in your comunity to get married.
  • Where do you live??

    You really need to plan a trip to shop for a dress.  If you're off from school now, it would be the perfect time.  You can pack sandwiches, stay at cheap lodging, whatever.  Perhaps you can stay with friends or family?  It will be one of the most important days of your life......you want to know what you buy will look good on you because you tried it on.  Don't leave it up to horrible knock off sites.  AND, even if you find a reputable site, it's been my experience that what you think will look good on you often doesn't.  And vice versa.
  • lol - I live in Labrador. It takes ten hours to drive to the ferry that connects us to Newfoundland, and another 5-6 hours to the first city. Going the other way, I would have to drive to Quebec - another couple of days.

    Most people here do travel to buy wedding and prom dresses.

    Honestly, I was blindsided by the proposal and setting the date, or I would have done some shopping before leaving St. John's (which is another 9-10 hours away from the first city, but it has several bridal salons). We're not planning to travel over Christmas, since this last trip put such a dent in our finances, and we bought a house in June. Airfare from here to just about anywhere is insane - I spoke to a friend today who was trying to book tickets from here to Toronto, and they were $1200 each (one way).

    And you are absolutely right, Joan - what I think might look good may well be awful, and I have no way of knowing until I try it on. Right now, the next time I have planned to go to St. John's is next summer - and that's not time enough for anything.

    Seems like I can do all sorts of planning and organizing online, but dresses aren't going to be so easy!
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  • And kudos to CMGr - traveling to help your daughter pick her dress is certainly a special and memorable thing to do. Mine didn't even congratulate me when I told her that we were engaged.
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  • Wow, I looked at a map and you are way up there!  I couldn't imagine what it's like.....I live within 20 minutes or so of 4 large shopping malls.

    Perhaps you can check out retail stores with lenient return policies. 
  • lol - I also didn't tell you that over half of the drive to the ferry is an unpaved road ...

    Yes, I am going to do some serious retail research, and likely end up with either something off the rack next summer, or buy retail online (if they have a return policy so I can try it without committing).

    I do miss shopping malls at a time like this, but all last year it never bothered me. Everything closing early in the evening gets old fast, but you adapt, and online shopping is where it's at!
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  • Congrats, Jennylee!  

    I'm in the same boat!  I lived in a relatively large city, but I'm spending time in the outback of Australia for the time being.  The nearest city is 3 hours away, and the nearest place I would go to get a wedding dress is a solid 6+ hours.

    Have you tried J. Crew?  They have some reasonably priced dresses and a good return policy.  I've also heard that BHLDN has a great return policy (although that's not from personal experience.  I've  heard from people who have worked with them).  
  • You might want to try jcpenney wedding gowns. Limited choices, but I think you can return their online dresses
  • Thanks! I will try them both. I'm also trying Sears, and there's one there that might work for me.

    Outback Australia? That's sounds so awesome! (This place isn't nealrly so exotic - 7500 people and lots of cold weather and snow!)
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  • Here's a store that is actually brick-and-mortar and has an excellent reputation. I almost bought from them when I was thinking about a short vintage style dress. They're more like the second one you showed than the first. I'm not sure how their returns work, though.

    image
  • Thanks divinemsbee! They have some beautiful dresses!

    I've got some emails out to the reputable sites for a few quotes, and I've found a possibility at Sears. The J Crew and JC Penney sites have possibilities as well. I feel better about looking online now, but won't buy anything until I learn about return policies. I know that I have some time to get a dress, but don't want to leave it until the last minute so i end up settling.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • Nordstrom has an incredibly easy and generous return policy, and they have a bridal section.
  • Thanks - I'll try there too!
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