Wedding Dress Shopping. Online.

We all know how crazy life can be, let alone with trying to plan a wedding too. Your spare time is cut short and limited due to wedding preparations.
Sure you can shop online to save time and gas money but I would advise in doing so on other wedding items such as decor, save the dates, invitations, thank-you’s and favors, etc. rather than your wedding dress.
Your wedding dress one of, if not THE most important decision you’ll make regarding plans for your wedding day. You’ll want to do your research on designers, availability, pricing, shipping time, and even the latest customer reviews, google the reviews if you need to, learn who you will be dealing with. I’ve often noticed poor reviews on the quality of online gowns. Especially if the dress is from an unknown vendor. If the dress is a steal, and the company selling it is unknown, that should raise a red flag. There have been may cases of poor sizing, Ex] tiny arms, loose fitting in the bust, and too short of a skirt. Especially if your dress has a scalloped lace bottom, hemming the bottom completely alters the look of the dress.
There are many beautiful dresses to be found online, and there are many to be found online that can also be sampled at your local bridal salon. Some online sites actually have store locations offering the same dresses which gives you the opportunity to try on the dress before purchasing, if you have this option, take advantage of it! Davids Bridal is one that is available in both Canada and the U.S.A. that have been known for their low pricing and also have a store front and and online option.
Having the opportunity to try your dress on a dress before purchasing it can be a deal maker or breaker, this is your chance to scan it over, inspect seams, hems, beading details, the zipper and the quality of the dress itself. When you purchase a dress online you are limiting yourself of that opportunity.
When buying a dress online, you are also subjecting yourself to extra customs charges upon delivery, so be sure to also read the fine print before finalizing your order if purchasing online, and definitely thoroughly read over their return policy, know your options. What if it shows up late? Nobody wants to rush back to the post office to return it this late in the game, and often enough, returning the dress can be more costly than the original price of the dress itself.
What’s even worse is, you’re still in need of a dress!
My advice to you would be to try on the real dress in the store, purchase it from a salon, and talk over options with your dress expert, they will know how to deal with any alterations that need to be made. Your dress expert will be familiar with the products they are offering you, offering you peace of mind, and believe me, peace of mind is worth every penny!
You have the rest of your life to deal with online shopping. Please don’t chance it with your wedding gown.