Dear Bride-to-be, now-a-days there are so many choices out there for your dream wedding gown. These choices include: colors; silhouettes; fabric; design; beading; and of course, the designer. Your wedding will only happen once. You can take those photos only on this one day. You will only be able to feel like the queen you are…for just this one day. Don’t you want it to be picture perfect? In every detail? You deserve that special attention. This is a very important day in your life, there is no room for mistakes.
I’m going to tell you why you shouldn’t purchase your wedding gown on-line. We understand that every bride is looking for the “best deal” out there, but what is your description of a “deal?” Read this post carefully, because you WILL learn a lot. And take all this information into consideration when deciding on the purchase for your dream wedding gown.
1) PRICE: “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is!” remember that saying? The price of your wedding gown is a huge factor, you don’t want to purchase a cheap wedding gown. Watch out for those cheap prices. If the gown shown in the photo is alluring, it’s most likely that what you see in that photo is NOT what you’re expecting to receive in the mail. So, remember that you’re always going to get what you pay for.
2) FEEL, TOUCH, SEE: “What you see IS NOT what you get” For such an important day in your life, shouldn’t you be able to feel the fabric of your wedding gown? And touch it? And see it in person? What if the gown you order online isn’t the most flattering fit for you? There are many websites out there that illegally take and steal our designer’s professional photos and advertise the fact that they can reproduce that dress in the picture for you. Absolutely NOT TRUE! These factories don’t have the same quality control like the designers do. You will be extremely disappointed to find out that the “dress in that picture” is not actually what you’re going to get in the mail.
3) FIT: Many designers and manufacturer’s have different size charts. China made gowns are shorter than gowns you would find with designer gowns in a bridal shop. And their size charts are entirely different than US size charts. These gowns just don’t fit as nicely and precisely as known designer gowns that you would find in a bridal shop.
4) QUALITY: You may see a photo online for a gown listed at $300 and the same gown photo in a bridal shop for $900, there’s a reason why. The $300 gown is definitely NOT the same fabric, bead work, lace, detail, and most importantly, workmanship. The higher price gown is made of a higher quality fabric, high end beading (such as Swarovski crystals or Austrian crystals), or expensive lace. Quality is a huge factor in your one-day wedding gown. You don’t want loose beads or empty space beading. This is what you’ll get if you buy your gown online. If you had both gowns–the online dress & the bridal shop dress–you would definitely be able to see the difference in quality.
5) EXTRA CHARGES: If you order your gown online, it’s most likely you won’t get a garment bag for it. This is important, as you want your gown to be safely kept until you wear it on your wedding day. Also, you will have to find someone to press your gown, this is a charge you will have to pay and may cost anywhere from $40-$100. Most bridal shops will press your gown for free if you bought your gown there.
6) CUSTOMER SERVICE: If you purchase your wedding gown online, you don’t have the individual attention and customer service that you deserve as a bride. You want to go into a bridal shop that specializes in wedding gowns. They know what they’re talking about, and they can guide you to find that perfect dress for you, and the most flattering style that would be best for your body. If you order your gown online from a website in China, you most likely won’t be able to talk to an “actual person.” You’ll need to communicate via email, which you may not even get an immediate response due to the huge time difference.
AND LASTLY…
7) SHIPPING: If you find a gown online on a website that claims they can deliver your gown in 6-8 weeks, BEWARE! There is no possible way that a quality wedding gown can be made & delivered to your door that quickly. The average delivery of a well-made designer gown is approximately 4-6 months, depending on the designer. And if you’re ordering your gown from China, there are custom fees that may be applicable. Or, your gown could be held up in the customs department, which may delay the arrival of your gown. Some China factories send them in pillowcases to avoid the duty fees, too. This link is a bride who explains this happening to her. http://arizonabridal.blogspot.com/2009/12/jessicas-heartbreaking-story.html
We’re proud to exclusively represent these reputable renowned designers:
http://www.maggiesottero.com/
http://alfredangelo.com/index.aspx
http://www.allurebridals.com/
Dear Miss Lovely Bride-to-be, thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding and my best wishes go out to you and your fiance in this exciting venture! Have fun & enjoy every moment of the planning, because your wedding day comes around real quick.
Terri H. Ewbank, Fashion Director & Co-Owner
Elly’s Formal Wear & Bridals | Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
http://www.ellysformalwear.com/
