Weddingbee boards

Okay, So I have been doing SO MUCH research regarding purchasing a dress from overseas for a less expensive price.  I thought I would blog about it, and give everyone updates about it. I am in the middle process right now.   Clearly the replica will not be identical. So if you are willing to accept that, and get alterations done, then it is a good choice.  I am a risk taker, and instead of spending $2000-$5000 on a dress, I would spend 130-300$ and be the only person noticing the minor inperfections.  It stinks bc you cannot try it on, but if you try one on similar in the store, then you will have no issues.  I do not believe purchasing a dress from China or Hong Kong if you are a perfectionist or a super bridezilla that is going to complain about everything under the sun that isnt the same as a $5000 dress. Obviously, it isnt going to be identical for a 80th of the price.  I just had a daughter, and am not working, therefore we are on a budget.  I have having 2 dresses for my wedding. One is in JFK right now (coming from china), which I purchased on ebay. and the other I ordered from a website called ioffer.com that I actually use quiet frequently.  I used paypal with both of these dresses.  I looked at many other websites that made "custom dresses"...like dressilyme, myweddingdressforless....but I was a little weary.  The issue with some of these sites is that they mail the dress out sometimes 2 or 3 months later, and by that time, you cannot dispute the transaction with paypal, or get your money back.  Paypal allows you 45 days to dispute a transaction.  I spoke to both sellers, which informed me it would be between 15-18days, and 25-35 days with the other.  And so far, the dress I purchased on ebay (which i bought on Oct 24th) is super early. The dress that is in NY right now is a short dress by Allure (Far and Away Collection). It retails for $599, and I got it for $130.  I chose a seller that had 100% feedback.  I will post photos of the actual as I go along.  The second dress I am not sure who makes (if anyone knows please let me know :) i am not a bride dress fashionista, but I purchased it from www.ioffer.com for $295.  Right now that one is in the making.  I purchased through paypal, and then took all of my own measurements and sent it.  Obviously it  is still a big risk, but if you do all of your homework regarding the websites and being secure, you should be fine. When e-mailing the people about the dresses, you need to use very simple english.  Generally they are very responsive. Let me know if you guys have any input with your expieriences. I will keep you ladies updated :) also.

Thanks :) i checked the tracking info for the Allure dress on the way, it is in New Jersey. Hoping to recieve it by monday or tuesday, i will post photos! :)

I bought mine off etsy...  It's being made ATM.. To have

Made here would cost me $6000 min but I have paid $1600 for top quality

Fabrics, custom dress! I hope it works out!!

I completely agree with you missmarriage. Even though a dress is suppose to be something so special, I would rather use that money and invest it to the reception for others to be happy with celebrating.  I cannot justify spending all of that money for 10 hours at the max.  I am pretty easy going myself, so if the dresses are not completely identical, it can always be made to look similar. Right now the Allure dress is in Maryland in transit, I am dying to recieve it!!!

Okay, so after patiently waiting for my short dress, it finally arrived today! I absolutely love it. The craftmanship is top notch, and measurements are exactly on point.  I would try to post photos of me in it, but i cannot do the whole lace up back thing bymyself. it came USPS and with a tracking # and all... 

thanks kristen. I will post photos of the next one once it comes. hoping for the same turnout. It honestly is crafted a lot better than i had thought it would be from some of the horror stories.

@ReyDar64: thank you all, i love it! The seller from ebay is called cloudskirt2009. He had 100% feedback so i went with him. 

@ShellVee: aww haha. Yes make a thread about it. I feel like every bride should know what experiences other brides have with purchasing a dress from overseas. it is so important!

Okay so my fiance helped me put on this dress and lace it up the back.  He did an OK job with it, but here are the photos of me in it!

@jcougler:

You Look Stunning! it looks like a perfect fit and so much fun to wear!

Okay so my dress arrived Monday. Which was approximently 12 days from the date of purchase.  The seller stated it would be 15-17 days, and that photos would be sent PRIOR to shipping.  The photos were never sent after I had contacted him several times, and was simple ignored of course, since the company already had my money.  It showed up in a UPS bag, packing tightly and fine. The quality is absolutely perfect, to the "t" of what the photo shows.  The dress kind of reminded me of a vera wang dress I tryed on at Davids, quality wise.  It must be a Wedding dress company in China, because the return address was label "So and So wedding Company"...I wish I kept the packaging for a reference.   Although I DID ask for a lace up back, and recieved a zipper back.  Not a deal breaker for me, and I could change it to lace up if I change my mind. At least the short white dresss has a lace up.  The measurements are exactly what I sent. It does have a long train, and I have lost about 8 lbs since I sent the measurements, so it will definitly need to get it altered length wise and maybe on the sides somewhat which I am fine with. I am 5"3' and a size 7-8, so things are usually superlong on me anyways.  Both dresses together cost $430, which I think is awesome. I did try it on (by myself) haha, and I DO need a petticoat for underneath for poofiness. If anyone can PLEASE tell me what type they would recommend. I have not done much research regarding these things yet.  I know I can get them off of ebay and different shapes, but I am not educated on the type. The dress is a slightly dropped waist as you can see, and it needs to be poofy kind of like a princess dress.  I would love anyones feedback regarding sellers online or a type.  I will probably post a photo of myself in the dress once I have some alterations done, or at least a petticoat   Overall my expierience buying a dress from China was awesome. Now I have to wait a year exactly to get married. haha.  Here are the photos of how the dress turned out.  If anyone else orders a dress online please show me the actual and replica. I LOVE to the them. 

@BodyByViGirl: http://www.ioffer.com/i/stylish-taffeta-tulle-caught-up-ball-gown-bridal-dress-wedding-gown-sweep-train-101014-212678586?from_login=1 

that was the link to the second dress. The site is a lot like ebay. There was also another site called http://www.cynthia-styling.com which I found the exact dress and item number on. I dont know if it is the same company that is listing his/her items on ioffer because it is the same item #101014. I used ioffer because I was able to talk them down about 25$, and I could use paypal. Please let me see your photos once yours comes in please!!  I am going to order the hoopskirt soon I think and then post photos