Wedding Finding a Wedding Dress Oversea

[mb418]

Hi all!! I have been moving around (and will move again in Sept) so I do not know how to even start to look for a wedding shop in my area! (I am now close to Dubai and will be in Paris in Sept, any recommendation in either place will be appreciated!). What would you recommend me to do? Actually I see that a lot of wedding dresses that I like are only available in the USA or Canada. If you have experiences buying a wedding dress outside of your local area, please advise me!

Also, all of my good girl friends are located very far away from me, so there is pretty much no way that I would have any of my good friends coming with me to try on dresses (I am really quite disappointed about this). If you have tried on dresses on your own, was it a difficult experience to narrow down to one? How did you cope?

Last, is the groom not supposed to see me in the wedding gown at all?? or only the day before the wedding??

Thanks in advance!

 

[trinity911]

Hi MB

Although Dubai is stuffed with amazing shopping malls full of designer names, I don''t recall seeing that many wedding dress shops when I was last out there (2007). I think that there''s a tendency to rent dresses through wedding planners so maybe that''s why. Having said that, I think it wouldn''t be hard to find a tailor in Dubai to make you your ideal dress from a design and the ones I have seen out there are hot on beading (and very in keeping with the opulent Arabian tradition). Certainly there have been a few big wedding shows in Dubai so the market''s growing. Found a couple of websites for you:

well-known dubai shop
tailor service

Oh, and apparently in Jumeirah plaza there are a couple of stores that sell Demetrios, Watters & Watters & Pronovias but it may not be a large range.

As for Paris, there''s a lot of choice. Not sure of your budget but Pronuptia has a number of branches inc. on the Rue Rivoli & Blvd Raspail. Other French brands include Cymbeline (there''s stand-alone boutique in Rue St Jaques, Paris 5th) Other options include harve mariage or the gorgeous coupole mariage on the 6th floor of the galeries lafayette on Blvd Hausmann that carries a range of labels, then I''d get my shoes from Printemps and of course, the lingerie options are

I wouldn''t worry about trying on dresses alone. My BM is in Australia so I had to do the same thing. It was funny but a couple of times, the mum of the other girl also trying on dresses in the store ended up helping me more than her daughter!

hope this helps!

 

[mb418]

Hi Trinity, thank you sooo soo much for your help!!!! Much appreciated!

My worry is that the prices in Europe are much higher than anywhere else (even for the same dress). Will go down to Dubai this weekend or next. I guess I will just ask my fiance to go around the mall if I decide to try on dresses.

 

[vintagelover229]

The very first time I went shopping for my gown was by myself. I suggest you bring a camera, and go to very very nice bridal salons that KNOW what they are doing. That way they can look at your body and know the inventory and say...this style should look nice. Take TONS of pics, email them to everyone....but most of all....trust yourself.

The dress will scream THIS IS IT! And you won''t want to remove it. Just some advice....try not to get caught up on the ones that fit you, and the ones that dont. The ones that "fit" will look better than anyother one...but if another dress you love is in your size, it will end up looking 100X better than the one that "fit".

Another thing...DON''T let the sales people push you into buying a gown. WAIT! I know they''ll say....we won''t give you this price again, etc. etc.....but you need to have other ppl''s advice on a gown. A lot of the time they love the same one you do, but they also may point out things, and so you keep searching for THE DRESS that has all the "little" details in one gown and you''ll fall in love.

I don''t know if your into "used" gowns but may brides sell even unused dresses on this site

http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/search


You can even search by locations. If you find a dress you love, you might want to see if it''s on here. It''ll save a ton of money and if my dress and been on there...I''d have boughten it in a heart beat. One of the gowns I actually tried on was sold on that site by someone else. So you might want to keep an eye out for it because you never know!


Happy dress hunting!

 

[Pandora II]

I would recommend having one made for you out in Dubai!

The groom is not supposed to see the dress at all before the day. DH helped pick the design and the fabric, saw all the sketches - and was still blown away apparently when he saw it on me in person, so I wouldn't worry about involving him in the process.

 

[mb418]

style="WIDTH: 99%; HEIGHT: 236px">Date: 8/5/2008 10:58:31 AM
Author: redrose229

Another thing...DON''T let the sales people push you into buying a gown. WAIT! I know they''ll say....we won''t give you this price again, etc. etc.....but you need to have other ppl''s advice on a gown. A lot of the time they love the same one you do, but they also may point out things, and so you keep searching for THE DRESS that has all the ''little'' details in one gown and you''ll fall in love.

I don''t know if your into ''used'' gowns but may brides sell even unused dresses on this site

http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/search



Happy dress hunting!

Hi Redrose, thanks so much for your advise. I don''t feel so alone in the process anymore!

However, I am thinking this dress-seeking thing is going to be a disaster for me! I am the biggest push-over and most indecisive person ever (and of course I then whine and regret my decision all day now! hehe) And I always think "is she/he mad at me???" yikes!!

I have a general idea as to what I why, so I hope it will be "easier". Though I have never tried on any fancy gowns so I would probably think every other dress is gorgeous

Thanks for the website recommendation as well! It will definitely also give me some idea how much it would cost me if I am going to buy my dress brand new.

Last, I don''t think any of you would recommend buying a dress online (or just order it from the store) without trying it on?? I was thinking this *could* be what I would do if the stores close to me simply don''t carry the dress that I wanted. Is this a bad idea though???

 

[mb418]

Date: 8/5/2008 11:05:06 AM
Author: Pandora II
I would recommend having one made for you out in Dubai!

The groom is not supposed to see the dress at all before the day. DH helped pick the design and the fabric, saw all the sketches - and was still blown away apparently when he saw it on me in person, so I wouldn''t worry about involving him in the process.

Hi Pandora!! I will be leaving Dubai in four weeks time so I don''t have enough time to have a gown custom made

 

[trinity911]

Date: 8/5/2008 10:57:01 AM
Author: mb418
Hi Trinity, thank you sooo soo much for your help!!!! Much appreciated!

My worry is that the prices in Europe are much higher than anywhere else (even for the same dress). Will go down to Dubai this weekend or next. I guess I will just ask my fiance to go around the mall if I decide to try on dresses.

No problem, glad to help.

Prices in Europe are quite expensive compared to the States (esp with strong Euro) but bear in mind that 'native' European brands such as Cymbeline may actually not be that much more expensive than in the US.

I was tempted to buy a dress without trying it on (Melissa Sweet's Lia) as I'm in the UK and everything I liked seemed to be American

but I chickened out at the last minute. In the end I bought a Vera Wang I'd tried on at a private seller's house where she wanted equivalent $4k but found it on bridepower instead for less than half that amount

. I think it's a good website as it shows closeups of dress details that you might not find on private seller websites and it has a returns policy. Best of all, to ship to the UK (ex. tax) was in the region of $60. I should be receiving it on the 20th Aug, v.v.excited!!!

PS - I see what RedRose is saying and in the US, shops may not be so twitchy about allowing cameras but in London, it's strictly forbidden. I imagine Paris will be the same as the service can be a little, erm, haughty

good luck!

eta: Saks 5th Avenue just opened last October in the new Dubai BurJuman centre mall and it's apparently 80,000sqft of retail gorgeousness that includes a bridal section where they stock Reem Acra & Vera Wang!!! There's no excuse not to go try on dresses now!!

 

[noelwr]

if you''re earning Euros, I wouldn''t say dresses are overall more expensive in Europe. it really depends on which one you choose. the dress my mom loved on me was haute couture and 2700 Euros. I really didn''t like it and chose something much cheaper which I loved (she was willing to pay for the dress she liked). so also depends on your taste. in fact I noticed the more simple the dress, the more expensive it is!

advice: don''t let them stand you on top of a box. if the dress is too long you will not have an idea if adjustments will shorten you until you are at your actual length and can see it folded in at the bottom. I''m short so this was important for me. any dress looks beautiful at it''s full length but can look quite different proportionately when they cut off a good deal off the bottom.

by the way, they wouldn''t allow me to take photos. and my dress will stay in the bridal shop until a week before my wedding. 2 months before they will measure me and make the alterations and then I go for trying it on again and then pick it up before I fly out. this way the dress remains insured. I think in the U.S. the ladies take their dresses home as soon as they are altered.

if you intend to "fly" your dress make sure the airlines allows you to take it on board. the airline I fly with will allow me to take a 5kg wedding dress on board. I''m starting to worry that my dress is heavier than that considering there''s a lot of material.

I''m not usually traditional, but no one sees my dress until I walk down the aisle (except for Mom).

 

[mb418]

Hi Trinity, can''t not wait to see your dress!!!! A Vera Wang!! Please post pictures! I am sure you will look gorgeous in it.

A special thanks to all the information about the shops in Dubai! I have been to Saks but didn''t know it has a bridal section. Can most wedding dresses be taken in? (this will be one of my big concern if I were to buy it online)

Um ..... to all bride-to-be, is there any special etiquette when trying dresses on? Well, I think these wedding gowns are the most expensive dresses I would be trying on so far, and I want to enjoy the experience (instead of getting freak out or worst yet "ignored" by the salesperson).


Thanks!!

 

[noelwr]

just have clean panties on! and take off your jewelry so nothing gets snagged.

they should supply you with a corset (and do it up for your), hose, shoes, etc. and they will also help you put on every dress.

 

[mb418]

Hi Noelwr, thanks for your advice!! Definitely will make sure the shortening won''t alter the silhoutte of the dress. ( I didn''t even think about that!)

 

[mb418]

oops forgot to ask. Will the boutiques charge me for trying dresses on? I heard from my friends that wedding shops in HK and Canada charge some fee for each dress that they tried on

Is it true???

 

[vintagelover229]

Date: 8/5/2008 2:39:57 PM
Author: mb418
oops forgot to ask. Will the boutiques charge me for trying dresses on? I heard from my friends that wedding shops in HK and Canada charge some fee for each dress that they tried on

Is it true???

I have heard of this as well, but I haven''t experienced it first hand. My suggestion is to call before you go and ask. If they do, go somewhere else! It''s horrible isn''t it? Many boutiques take out the tag w/the designer''s name on it so you can''t go searching for it on the internet and get it else where!

 

[mb418]

Date: 8/5/2008 3:12:33 PM
Author: redrose229

Date: 8/5/2008 2:39:57 PM
Author: mb418
oops forgot to ask. Will the boutiques charge me for trying dresses on? I heard from my friends that wedding shops in HK and Canada charge some fee for each dress that they tried on

Is it true???

I have heard of this as well, but I haven''t experienced it first hand. My suggestion is to call before you go and ask. If they do, go somewhere else! It''s horrible isn''t it? Many boutiques take out the tag w/the designer''s name on it so you can''t go searching for it on the internet and get it else where!

oh my goodness! I really didn''t know this! how sneaky of them to use this method to stop us sneaking around!!!! hehe

 

[trinity911]

Date: 8/5/2008 2:39:57 PM
Author: mb418
oops forgot to ask. Will the boutiques charge me for trying dresses on? I heard from my friends that wedding shops in HK and Canada charge some fee for each dress that they tried on

Is it true???

I haven't heard of that. Even in the UK where they seem to charge you for everything except breathing, they don't charge. However, what more top end boutiques tend to do is take a deposit and if you don't turn up, take the money from your credit card. Reason being that apparently many people don't show and since some places only see 1 or 2 brides at a time, they end up losing out.

Oh, and don't worry about buying a dress that may not fit - plenty of people on this site have bought samples (myself included) then found local seamstresses to do the alterations. That's pretty common and you'll most likely end up saving that way instead of going through the boutique's dressmaking service.

I've not heard of boutiques taking the tags out. the ones I've been to have been more than happy to write down the brand and model name on a card for me...and we're talking designer places that at first seem a bit intimidating. Generally I've not had bad experiences and I'm sure that in Saks Dubai, you won't either - they're good there. Even in Paris, I'm sure they don't stoop that low.

 

[Rhea]

I mostly shopped locally, in the US and England, but only in each place as I was there. I dressed shopped on my own or with my FI.

There are no actual "rules" about if he can see you in the dress or not. It''s a superstition, one I didn''t choose to follow. He has great taste and there was no reason not to show him. My marriage isn''t going to fail because he saw me in the dress before hand