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You may be thinking this is strange advice coming from a store that also sells online, but we only list items we are authorized to sell by the manufacturer and gowns we have in stock. There are a few other U.S. based e-retailers that also sell this way. Just be wary of any that don't list the price as they are probably discounting and since the manufacturers don't allow this, their accounts may be cancelled after your order has been placed and you will never receive your order, leaving you without time to order elsewhere.
The sites to be overly careful with are the Chinese sites. If they ask what color (aside from white or ivory) or material you would like or if they ask for more then your bust, waist, hip, and height measurements, they are a knock-off designer. The picture they are showing you is the actual manufacturer's picture and not of their product. So, when you think you are ordering this:
A couple other things to consider:
Since they offer these dresses at such low prices, expect low quality work. I have seen dresses come in that were so flimsy and thin, you could see right through them. I have seen dresses that had no lining or crinoline and hung like a sheet. I have seen dresses that were actually GLUED together. Yes, I am serious. Aside from brides bringing in their knock-off asking our seamstress to make it wearable, the biggest woe I get from brides is stains. So many have come in with stains that the dry-cleaner didn't even think they could get out for them.
At prom, I had many girls come in the week of their prom looking for a last minute dress because the dress they ordered 4 months prior had still not arrived despite being reassured on numerous occasions during the wait time that it would be there.
If there is no address or contact number and only a box for you to input your info for them to contact you, RUN! These are scams, you can kiss your money goodbye.
If customs decides the order is falsely devalued (to save money on shipping as many overseas sites will do), they can confiscate your package and send it back.
The Ebay knock-offs are another to watch out for as they purposely charge a small amount for the dress and a large amount for the shipping. This is so that if you are unhappy, you have to pay for return shipping and they only have to refund you the cost of the dress.
Also, when you are researching an online site or going through feedback on Ebay, be very careful. Often these sites have people that spend hours inventing new IDs and plugging their dresses on Ebay (yes, they will leave positive feedback with fake IDs to boost your confidence), Y!Answers, and other bridal forums, not to mention most of the feedback on their site can easily be faked.
Know your after purchase costs before ordering. Is there a local seamstress willing to work on your gown? Many salons won't work on gowns not purchased from them or will charge a fee. Our fee is $25 and that doesn't include the actual price of the work. How much is it going to cost to get it steamed/pressed? A dry cleaner may charge you as much as $100 when local salons steam their gowns upon arrival. And trust me, you will need it steamed as the dresses are crammed into the smallest box they can get it in.
There are much better alternatives to save some money on your gown. Most local shops will have a clearance rack, browse it! Usually once a year, they will also have a sample sale where they sell the try-ons at huge discounts. If you are lucky, you may find a store like ours, that on top of orderable gowns, also carries off-the-rack gowns direct from the manufacturer when they are discontinued. Many salons will let you put a deposit down when you order and pay the rest when the dress comes in, giving you a bit of time to set the money aside.
Just remember, if you are already on a tight budget, the worst thing you can do is take a chance on ending up with a dress you don't love and very well may get stuck with. The wedding may be one day, but you will have the pictures to cry over forever.
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