Should you buy a wedding gown online?

There are so many sites where you can buy a wedding gown online, but should you? The short answer is yes. The real answer is more complicated. Yes, you can go online to purchase a gown, and there are thousands of options in so many styles and price ranges. Brides use online sources for a number of reasons. Some buy online because they are trying to get a more economical gown that meets their modest budget. Others browse online stores because they can offer more options than they may find in their local boutiques. Elopement brides may need a gown in a short amount of time, and buying online gives them the option of ordering a gown (or several) and having it arrive in time for their event. Whatever your reasons for shopping online for your bridal, bridesmaid, or any other gowns for your wedding, there are some things to consider when looking at different sites.

What styles are offered by the site?

If you are in a hurry, you may want to find a site that allows you to select from a variety of styles. Just because you think you want a flowing, boho style gown doesn’t mean that’s the style that looks best on you or even the one you’ll finally select. AW Bridal has a large selection of gowns in a variety of styles and silhouettes. Brides can find elegant and traditional gowns to full-on boho, even colorful embellishments and black gowns all on an online bridal gown site.

This traditional, satin A-Line Baylee gown by AW Bridal is simple, but elegant.

Online bridal gown sites offer a lot of boho-style gowns like this elegant Maraca gown and more fashion-forward, short, or Coachella-inspired looks.

If you’re looking for a gown with color, traditional boutiques may not have many in the store. AW Bridal offers a number of colorful options from black gowns to this stunning floral embellished Alison dress.

Can you outfit your bridal party?

We give bonus points for online bridal gown sites like AW Bridal that offer bridesmaid gowns in standard sizes and plus, as well as junior bridesmaid sizes, and Mother-of-the-Bride styles. With their custom fitting and variety of colors and fabrics, you can coordinate your entire bridal party all at once.

This gorgeous, velvet gown in burnished gold comes in a bunch of colors. Bridesmaid gowns are customized to fit every shape and size of your bridal party.

The dusty blue pantsuit at AW Bridal is a modern take on the traditional mother-of-the-bride gown. Choose from traditional options to sleek and sophisticated ones.

Plus size brides don’t have to worry about fit with AW Bridal‘s customized fitting. Gowns range in sizes from 0-30 with no additional charge for plus size.

Junior bridesmaid gowns come in complimentary styles and matching fabrics and colors to work perfectly with your entire bridal party looks.

Does the site allow for customization and color matching?

Look for sites that offer tailoring or customized gowns for a better fit. While off-the-rack may sometimes be less expensive, buying a custom gown allows you to save money on alterations. AW Bridal provides custom sizing by simply uploading you or your bridesmaids’ measurements. Not sure about sizing? They will set a virtual visit with a fit expert who will walk you through your measurements. At a minimum, you’ll want to be able to order fabric swatches to see colors and the quality of the fabrics.

Look for hidden costs or special details

All those alterations and custom gowns can get costly. We love that AW Bridal customizes gowns at no additional cost, plus they will send you fabric swatches for free. Be sure to look at add-on costs on any site you visit. Those shipping, alteration, and return charges can add up quickly. AW Bridal also provides special discounts for students and nurses, and they have full galleries of ideas and mood boards to match their gowns to the style of wedding you want.

Can you complete your look?

Sure, you can order accessories from anywhere, but ordering from sites that offer items like shawls, capes, or jackets in coordinating fabrics and colors makes accessorizing your gown seamless. AW Bridal has an adorable line of shaws to match your bridesmaid gowns, and their beautiful belts, headpieces, and jewelry are elegant and affordable. They also have great gifts and a line of the cutest robes for your bridal party or even you and your groom.