How far would you go to find your wedding dress?

[sswed13]

I'm curious to know how far you are willing to go to find your wedding dress. Are you an online shopper that had it delivered to your door? Found it in the city you live? Or did you find a dress you saw in a magazine and hunted down the store that had it and took a trip?

 

I've gone shopping a few times and have been able to narrow down some choices. I did find a dress I like here in Calgary, but is it 'the one'... I'm not sure. I'm going to NYC in a month, and I will be dress shopping there with my mom, and MIL. I also got an appointment at Kleinfeld (and I did fill out the application for SYTTD, but I'm still waiting to hear back about casting). Even if I am not casted, an experience at Kleinfeld with their staff and expertise is a dream come true. I am so hopeful, and almost positive that I will be buying a dress in NYC that maybe that's why I don't want to commit to the dress I found here and say it's "the one". I hope I don't sound so crazy that I'm flying all the way across the continent to find my dress.

[cinnagirl]

I went to two David's Bridals in my province to find my dress (it's one of the Vera Wang Whites) and called a few across the border in the States to see if they even had it. The first city was 2 hours away and the dress I wanted wasn't even there. The second city was 2.5 hours away and they only had one sample of my dress left...a size zero.

 

I tried on a bunch of dresses in my hometown but none of them were quite it. I found a couple that could have worked but I saw this dress on the David's bridal website and was determined to try it on. I couldn't buy another dress without knowing how this one looked on me. I'm so happy that I trusted my gut and kept searching for this dress. I ended up buying it, it was perfect. 

 

I don't think you're crazy for flying that far to look for a dress, because you're getting a totally different experience than you might get a home. The Kleinfeld's experience. Do whatever makes you happy, I say!

[cindy2013]

Is it bad that I've only gone to one David's Bridal just to take a look with my mom, and haven't started really shopping yet?  I get the feeling I may be a bit late....I think we'll go back at some point this month, and maybe check out Syracuse to see what they have to offer.  Anyone have suggestions for bridal stores in the Syracuse area?

[ChocoTaco7568]

Kleinfeld’s will definitely be a bridal experience to remember. I really think the answer to your question comes down to budget. For me, to factor in the cost of airfare, a hotel, and potentially sales tax (there isn’t any in OR) would be unjustifiable as it would account for approximately 25% of my dress budget. While I didn’t travel any great distances to find my dress, I did call 16 bridal boutiques to hunt down a sample that would be discounted enough to meet my budget. Of the 16 boutiques that carried the line only 5 had the specific dress, 2 of them refused to sell because the sample was less than a year old, but luckily one of them sold me my dream dress at 40% off! Granted if I played the waiting game, I probably could have gotten a better price but would have risked damage to the dress as a result of it being a sample or even worse, someone else buying the sample. Best of luck with your dress search.

[JayKay]

I bought my dress locally at a store in the city I live in. 

 

I don't think you are crazy at all for going to NYC to find your wedding dress.  I dont think its really any different then people flying to their destinations to do site visits before deciding on a destination or resort.

[kaesse]

i started my dress hunting, half a year before mu big day, i think more time you have in hand more secure you will recieve a better case! i did my order at  a Chinese factory "weddingdress-evangeline.com", $299 for my wedding dresses, i think it's pretty good, and their quality is good also at all

[kaesse]

i started my dresses hunting 6 months before my big day, most of my friends ordered their wedding dresses online, frankly speaking it's quite cheap, but be aware you are contacting derectly with a factory, cuz that will make sure you will get a better price, $299 for my dresses at

"weddingdress-evangeline.com", i think it's pretty good, and my dresses were fabulous when i open it up, what a joyfull moment when i dressed in my big day!!!

 

[JessiTaylor]

i went to the next (mexican) state for my dress, but it was only an hour or so to drive

 

if it hadnt found it there or in the city i live, i was planning to drive to macallen or somewhere in texas to look. at a push, i would have flown to houston as there are often discounted air tickets there. i was very determined but luckily it wasnt necessary to go far

 

i dont think i would have considered buying online though.for one thing most sites are from the US or china and getting stuff delivered to mexico is a hassle. then its a hassle to return it if necessary (and if allowed) and until youve tried on dresses, it can be hard to know the perfect style for you. saying that its worked out well for lots of people!

[Dazeydawl]

I found a maggie sottero dress online that i immediately fell in love with. No authorized retailer in my city (or province) carried a sample. I called stores in the states and other provinces and the closest one was in calgary... a 13hr drive. I originally was going to make the drive but because this dress was already $300 over my budget before taxes (so almost $600 over after) and then still alterations, i decided to just order it without trying it on (very scary). I have tried on many gowns with the same silhouette and knew i would love the fit, it was just a case of getting the details right, some dresses had lace but no tulle, or tulle with no lace, or both but no beading.. my Aiden had it all, its perfect and i cant wait for it to come in so i can try it on.

[Islandsunrise]

It’s the most important dress of your life…there shouldn’t be any limits. That’s pretty much what I told myself after walking out of David’s.…after I just didn’t get that feeling of “This is the ONE!!!†Like Dazeydawl, I was stuck on one of Maggie’s designs and had to have it. After a week I finally found a sample, but unfortunately it was 3.5 hours away. I literally jumped in my car and drove straight there (Augusta). I’m glad I did because it wasn’t what I thought I was looking for. However, since I was so close to Atlanta, I decided to stay the night. On the way leaving for home, I ended up checking out this cute little bridal boutique: Winnie Couture. I fell instantly in love with two dresses.  I acutally almost cried...and I'm not a crier..lol To make a long story short…sometimes that extra drive will save you tears of regret and bring you loads of smiles.  Don't limit yourself!  You're going for the wedding you want, now get the dress you want!  Wish you all the best~

 

~A~