For the Bride

Would You Buy Your Wedding Dress Online? 

Lindsey Napier, who tied the knot in September 2015, opted for a mermaid-style wedding dress for her special day. The top part was made with French lace, had a high collar on the front and an open back. The mid-section boasted chiffon ruching to the hips and a soft, ruffled chiffon skirt with a delicate detail on the left side on the hip made with pearls and crystals. “My ‘something borrowed’ was my sister’s veil and I was overjoyed as it matched perfectly with the dress both in length and style.”

Lindsey never considered the option of buying her wedding dress online. “I really wanted to experience shopping for a wedding dress and loved the idea of trying on different dresses. It turns out I didn’t have to try on that many anyway as I chose the fourth or fifth dress.” She also wanted the help of professionals when choosing her dress, which she was pleased to find. “The girls at Wedding Bells have lots of experience and really know their dresses. The dress I chose was one I actually wasn’t sure I liked, because it had ruffles. Thankfully they insisted on it and I fell in love with it as soon as I wore it.”

She adds that part of the fun of the experience was that she got to share it with her mother, mother-in-law and sister, and wouldn’t have changed a thing if she had to do it all again. “While I like shopping for clothes online, I only do it because I don’t have time to shop around. You should aim to shop for a wedding dress once, so the experience is really once in a lifetime.”

Michelle Drago, who will be exchanging ‘I dos’ in June 2017, found the dress of her dreams by accident online. The dress is A-line and off-shoulder with sequins around the top part and has a long train with ruffles that continue from the skirt into the train. “I was looking around online for wedding dress styles I liked and when I saw it, I fell in love with the design instantly. It cost just $133 (excluding shipping and taxes which amounted to no more than €60). I’ve browsed websites of local retailers but the dresses are not to my liking, and having heard that the cheapest options they offer are still around €500, I preferred buying the design I fell in love with.”

Despite not being able to physically see and try on dresses, Michelle says she still enjoyed going through a vast range of options online. “I’m pretty sure I wouldn't have enjoyed myself as much had I gone around the shops. Often, with online dresses you’re looking at manufacturers who can alter and customise the dress for you, you’re not bound by appointments, and it costs less which means you have more budget to spend on other items you may have otherwise held back on.”

Michelle admits there are some cons to buying your wedding dress online, however. “You do not get to try it on beforehand and you might not get the item you thought you would get. However, if you take the time to go through other buyers' feedback, that is often enough information to go on with regards to the reliability of the seller. If there is no feedback available, then don't buy from that seller,” she advises. “If I had to do it all again, I would still buy my dress online. If you check the feedback properly, measure your size accurately and are ready to take the leap, it is 100 per cent worth it.”