How to Buy a Wedding Dress Online: Tips, Tricks, and Gowns to Consider
The ritual of gathering in a bridal boutique—your loved ones sip Champagne while you slip into gowns in a plush-carpeted dressing room—is undoubtedly a joyous one, but some modern brides are foregoing the tradition and opting to buy wedding dresses online.
“According to The Knot 2020 Wedding Attire Study, nearly half of females (45 percent) said COVID impacted how they searched for attire,” says Shelley Brown, The Knot’s senior fashion and beauty editor. “The main change being they did more research online.” Not only has the pandemic had an impact on shopping habits, but its effects are also redefining what a wedding looks like. Instead of one big ceremony with several friends and loved ones gathering in the same place, couples are pivoting to virtual ceremonies and safely planning a series of micro weddings.
“A lot of the brides we are styling now are having multiple events,” says Anny Choi, head stylist at Over The Moon. “With not everyone vaccinated yet and uncertainty around travel, we’ve noticed couples splitting up events between close, older family members and the friends group.” In most cases, multiple events mean multiple looks for the bride, and “instead of putting all eggs in one basket with a more expensive bridal designer, a bride might look to buy something from a contemporary ready to wear designer to split up costs,” says Choi. One of the easiest ways to discover those need-to-know designers? Browsing online.
When you walk into a store, you’re typically beholden to what’s inside those four walls, but the internet broadens your choices, granting every bride, no matter their location, access to emerging designers who are redefining the definition of evening wear and bridal attire. “There is also easier access to international brands,” Choi adds.
Navigating the web for such a momentous occasion can be a daunting task, but “a good rule of thumb is if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Brown explains. “We recommend brides be wary of stores promising high-end designer gowns for unbelievably low prices. Pay attention to the URL and the overall look and feel of the online store. Are the photos grainy? Are the product descriptions vague or poorly written? If something seems off, it could be a counterfeit site.”
Similarly, don’t forget to read the fine print on return policies and shipping costs and delivery dates. Also steer clear of anything that’s final sale, as those selects are ineligible for returns. “The last thing you would want is to take a risk on attire that you can’t return,” says Brown.