How to Buy a Wedding Dress Online

Buying clothes online can be risky business, especially when it is something as important as your wedding dress. Working with reputable vendors is essential, as is having a good idea of what you are looking for in a dress. Keeping these factors in mind will help you buy a wedding dress online more successfully.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Measuring tape

Know Your Vendor

1. Visit an online wedding-site directory such as Top Wedding Sites to find referrals to online dress merchants (see Resources below). Pay particular attention to any available user reviews of these services to get a better idea of the quality of their dresses and their level of customer service.
2. Check out well-known retail establishments which are now offering bridal dresses online. The sizes offered by these stores may be more similar to the off-the-rack sizes you are familiar with, making it easier to buy the right size the first time around.
3. Get a bargain by shopping an online auction site. You may find current and last season's dresses available from many sellers, but you should take the time to read reviews by other shoppers before placing your bid.
4. Look for vendors who also operate brick-and-mortar establishments, in addition to their online stores. Many times, you may be able to take the dress to them for alterations or even try on dresses you see online before purchasing them.
5. Read the vendor's return policy before making your purchase. Ideally, you should be able to return the dress if it doesn't fit within a reasonable amount of time of receiving it.

Prepare to Shop

6. Use the vendor's guidelines to take proper measurements before you shop online. Depending on where you are shopping, there may be specific measurements you should perform to ensure that you shop for the right size.
7. Locate an alterations expert in your area. Most wedding dresses are designed to be taken in and let out up to two sizes, but the skills of a talented tailor or seamstress will be required to do so.
8. Find the dress you want to buy at a local bridal shop and make an appointment to try it on. You can then shop with more confidence online after seeing what the dress looks like in person.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also sell your wedding dress online to help recoup the cost of hosting your wedding. Whether you are using an online consignment store or an auction website such as eBay, be sure to include plenty of pictures and detailed information about the condition of your dress to help your potential buyers.