Top tips for buying a wedding gown online

From the traditional salon search to the DIY online hunt, today's brides have more options when buying a gown. However, unlike other shopping trips you might love, this is one experience that's likely to be filled with emotion and frustration. Expectations are higher for your wedding dress than for any other garment you will buy - ever.

Shopping in a bridal salon means you get to actually see yourself in dress after dress until you find the one that fills you with indescribable joy. However, it could also be disappointing when the one is not within your budget.

By going online, you don't have to worry about all the attention being on you or feeling vulnerable because of a limited budget. Plus, you'll find lots of up-to-the-minute, affordable options at sites like www.ebay.com, www.taobaonow.com, www.qoo10.com and www.bridalplace.com.sg. However, you won't be able to see how you look in your dress - or whether it even fits - until it arrives at your doorstep.

Amy Ong, designer and owner of DiGio Bridal, says, “Shopping online can be risky. Some see it as a way to save money, but the alteration of an ill-fitting dress could cost you almost as much as what you'd pay for a store-bought gown. A wedding dress, after all, should fit you perfectly.”

Wei Tin Bang, 31, who tied the knot in early 2013 and now resides in England, shares her experience with www.etsy.com, an online sellers network.

She says: “After visiting designer stores and checking out second-hand as well as rental outlets, I chose to buy my dress from Etsy as I'd shopped the site before without any issues. Also, shopping online in London is virtually risk-free as it is part of the law to have free returns.

“I bought a classic tea-length dress with a seller in China who seemed reliable. When it arrived, there were tears in the petticoat, and it was bunched up in odd places. I got my refund, but it didn't make up for the disappointment of not getting exactly what I was looking forward to." 

Mandy Koh, co-founder of online bridal boutique, www.bridalplace.com.sg, says, "It's easy to blame online retailers, but shoppers can be at fault too. Purchasing the wrong size, for instance, is not an uncommon occurrence.

"For an accurate fit, you should go to a professional tailor to be properly measured while wearing the undergarments and shoes reserved for your big day.

"Providing online retailers with details like your shoulder width and dress length from collar bone to floor, for instance, are important to how a dress fits."

Other ways to be successful with online shopping include browsing experiences or reviews from real brides and purchasing your dress from a Singapore-based store.

"Bridal Place, for example, is big on the quality fabrics and tailoring. We curate the best products based on local tastes and trends. What's more, we are able to respond quickly to queries and requests," says Mandy.

Bride-to-be Jacyn Kang, 28, who is getting married this year, says, "I can see why women would shop at online boutiques. They are great sources of inspiration and even I found many gorgeous designs at affordable prices.

"In fact, I was rather tempted to buy a dress for my pre-wedding photo shoot and considered getting my gown online as well - and at a fraction of the price of one from a bridal salon. But I ended up going with a local seamstress for a custom-made dress instead as I did not want to put myself through the worry of not liking what I ordered.

"Marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime moment and I want to be sure that I get it right. There are tons of details to look out for when it comes to planning a wedding – and knowing that my gown will fit perfectly takes a small load off my shoulders.”

If you’re still in two minds about which route to take, Steve Thio, contributing editor of Her World Brides and Female Brides advises: One of the limitations of buying fashion online is not being able to try the gown before you purchase it, so don't be too adventurous or choose a style that you're not used to. Instead, opt for a silhouette you're familiar with and know you look good in.”

This article was first published in Her World Brides June - August 2014.