Buying my dress where I live... or where I'm getting married??

cshearholdt

I am about to begin wedding dress shopping, but don't know whether I should purchase my dress in a salon where I live (I'm going to school in Colorado), or if I should purchase it back in my hometown where I am actually getting married (in Missouri, a good 600+ miles away).

For fittings and such, it would probably be more convenient to buy in Colorado so I'm not going home and trying to squeeze in fittings between family time, but transporting it from Colorado to Missouri for the actual wedding seems like a big hassle.

Any thoughts, advice, or other brides who have been in the same dilemma would be greatly appreciated!!

kks4471

I bought my dress where I currently live, and got married 6 hours away.  It was so much more convenient to go shopping and get alterations done where I live.  Plus I had peace of mind knowing that my dress was nearby in storage at the salon.  When I drove to our wedding, I laid my dress across the back seat of my car, and had no problems with wrinkles.  I've heard that if you fly with a dress, the flight attendants should be able to hang it up for you (correct me if I'm wrong!).

misssunshine17

I would definitely buy it locally. If something goes wrong, you'll have many more chances to fix it than travelling.

csweaney

Buy it locally to avoid having to go back and forth for fittings, etc. Trust me, you'll thank yourself later. Then pay to have it shipped (or if it is a relatively unstructured dress I've heard of carrying it on the plane with you--not sure about this, you might have to check with the airline)

JennaMichelle88

I'd say it depends on how easy it is for you to get home. I'm doing the same thing and bought it in my hometown. I knew I was going to be going home at least once a month for wedding stuff anyway so I just had to plan my fittings way in advance to make sure there were appointments available when I was in town. If you don't want to make the trip that often, though, buy it in Colorado.

[Deleted User]

I bought my dress in Colorado, actually. (If you're in the Denver area, I bought my dress at Bea's Bridal Nook - and LOVED my experience) I'm getting married in Indiana. And I live in Virginia. I was with my mom & sister for Christmas, so we went dress shopping. I was going to wait and have them ship my dress to a place in Indiana for alterations, but I started having nightmares it got stuck in CO, so.... now I have it.

But, if I knew I were going to be here in Virginia until the wedding, I would be getting the alterations done here. Since I'm hopefully going to be moving to Indiana in the next few months, I'm going to get the alterations done at a place there.

One of the things to consider (and I didn't until after I had made the decision to buy) is the actual alterations place. A lot of salons will not alter dresses that weren't purchased at their salon. Seems silly, I know. But, if you end up finding a dress at a bigger store, like David's Bridal, you should be able to get alterations done at any of their locations no problem.

MayberryAfterMidnight

Another vote to buy locally! I'm in the same situation - I live in New Jersey, but I'm getting married in my hometown in Virginia. Although I did look at stores in VA, I ended up buying where I live because of the alterations. I prefer to make appointments at salons on weekday nights, when it's less crowded. If I were getting alterations done in my hometown, I would only be able to do them on the weekend. It was also easier to have the dress with me in NJ when I was purchasing shoes, etc. to go with it.  My dress is more of a sheath style (not a huge ballgown), so I'm just planning to drive with it laid across the backseat. I'm probably going to arrange to have someone in VA steam and press the dress a few days before the wedding, just to get any wrinkles out from driving.

[Deleted User]

I vote buy locally, make sure you get a bag for the dress that isn't see through & take with you. If not easy to travel with talk to dress shop about assistance (packing) to help ship dress once final alterations are done & ship it 2-3 weeks before wedding & arrange for whoever you are shipping dress to unpack to let wrinkles out & if necessary take some where to be pressed before wedding.

This will hopefully be a lot easier on you then having to plan major trips to do your dress shopping & alterations which will save you money & time & stress.

Good luck in finding your special dress.

Uberoom12

Buy locally. Trying to squeeze in fittings will just drive you insane. Have it shipped or take with you a few weeks before like PP said. It can be wrinkled out or pressed then.

erinlin25

I bought mine in my hometown (4 hours away).  There was much more selection there so it was a no brainer.  We are getting married "in between" my hometown and where we currently live.  I originally shopped in the wedding city but did not find a dress  loved.  I found it at home so we bought it knowing I would have to make the trips for fittings.  (My first fitting is Friday so depending on what has to be done I may bring it back with me to get the alterations done).  However, since you are 600 miles away I would say get yours locally if you can.  I at least can drive back home and will need to go down there a few times before the wedding anyway, so its not a hassle to me.  But a 600 mile drive would be taxing for sure. 

Even if you have to fly with the dress, they are used to it and you can carry it on.  Call the airline and find out there policy, but from what I have read before no one has had issues with them storing it nicely on the plane. 

Ella and Pedro

About flying/ traveling with a dress...

Maybe this is not a big deal for you but FYI I have read that if a person keeps their dress on a hanger or hangs it for very long (maybe this means more like for weeks not hours?) it can warp/stretch the fabric and may not fit properly afterwards.  So, I would not hang it up in storage...

The suggested storage is in a garment bag, then within a box or second bag (see below) air tight, in a dark place, flat.  Under the guest room bed?  I would also put in some cedar or lavender (not moth balls) just to be sure....

You should buy a waterproof garment bag, double bag the dress into this (garment bag it came in would go inside this bag) for transport outside your home into the car, from the car to the wedding venue or hotel, in case it is raining or something spills...

and

I would do a BBB check on anyone who is in the area of your wedding to ensure they are safe to do a pressing/cleaning. But - definitely do this professionally, not just steam it yourself (if you have the $.)