More brides are buying their dress online now. Some retailers offer known brands at better prices, perfect if you can find the dress to sneakily try on.

There are also a lot of retailers who offer non branded gowns for less than $500 and they can be tempting. Below are my tips for any bride who wants to go down this road. These comments also apply to bridesmaids dresses.

My advice for buying your dress online.

• Have a back up plan incase it is not what you want. Understand that you may need to start again and this dress and money may be wasted.
• Have someone lined up for any alterations you may need. If this person is an experienced dressmaker they may also take more accurate measurements for you.
• Err on the side of larger for any measurements, a dress can be made smaller easily in most cases but rarely bigger.
• Small adjustments can usually be done easily but large adjustments may not be possible or may be expensive. Full sleeves, boning and heavy detailing make alterations more difficult.
• Dresses with lacing in the back are a great choice, they can simply be tightened instead of altered.
• If you are tall take care, making a dress longer could be very difficult. The length should be on the website or available on request.
• Order fabric swatches if you can, if you cant reconsider using this supplier. The exact colour, quality, shine and finish of the fabric will make a huge difference to the finished dress.
• It is unlikely the dress will be silk at this price point. If they say silk be wary. Synthetic fabrics can look a little ‘cheap’ so push for swatches.
• Websites that have a selection of photos of ‘real brides’ are great becasse it can help seeing the dresses on non-models and in real light.

Solving disasters

My dress is late!

• It is safe to assume your dress will be shipped from China. It is also safe to assume they will want to send it sea freight to Australia as that is a lot cheaper. If the delay is under a month ask them to send it air freight. Especially if it is their fault it is late.
• Consider paying the difference between sea freight and air freight yourself.

I hate it!

• Look at it in the light your wedding will be in, it may look amazing in candle light.
• Try adding a splash of colour with a sash, if the fabric isn’t what you want, breaking up the volume of it can help.
• If it looks bad on your body take it to an experienced dressmaker. To have it fitted correctly will make a world of difference.
• Shorten it to a reception/rehearsal dinner dress and start again with your ceremony dress.
• If you or a few family members can sew consider covering it with beads and sequins. This can work well with lace as it is a repeated pattern the lay out of the beading will be even if you bead each repeat of the lace.
• It could be the shape of the skirt that isn’t sitting well. For a fuller skirt see if you can borrow a hoop or tulle petticoat to try on under it. if this improves it you can arrange to have one made. For a straighter skirt try pegging it at the back to make it look narrower. If this works find someone to make the alterations.
• Add an over layer or a few of bridal tulle, it is cheap and doesn’t need to be hemmed. A full tulle skirt with a simple ribbon waist work over the dress may be better than you expected.
• Send it back, They generally only offer credit but you may have luck with another dress. If the dress has a fault or looks so far from the photo it may be possible to force them to reimburse you.