#Middlebury #PromDress
Shopping for the perfect dress is a crucial part of a wedding or prom. But like many purchases with a big price tag – and high stakes – there’s a lot that can go wrong. Buying a wedding dress or prom dress can come with unexpected expenses, delayed orders, surprise policies and unwanted stress in advance of a big event.
Follow this advice to ensure that dress shopping goes smoothly:
- Start shopping early: Experts recommend buying a wedding dress between six and nine months ahead of the big day. You don’t need as much time for prom or another special occasion, but experts recommend starting a couple months ahead.
- Be clear about your budget: Be upfront about your budget, so your sales person shows you dresses in your price range. You don’t want to fall in love with a dress only to find that it is way over your budget.
- Factor in alterations: Dress alterations can be costly, so double-check policies in advance. Some dress shops offer alterations for a flat fee or cap expenses at a certain amount.
- Don’t pay 100 percent up front when buying a wedding dress: Most salons ask for a deposit of about 50 percent of the dress price for expensive gowns. You should not be pressured into paying the entire cost of a wedding dress upfront.
- Check the cancellation policy: Always check a store’s cancellation policy for your specific order. Each contract is different, and custom orders may have a strict cancellation policy.
- Be clear about your schedule: Brides have complained to BBB that their dresses arrived too late for alterations. Be sure to be very clear about schedules and leave extra time to resolve any issues.
- Want to rent? Do your homework: Renting a dress is an increasingly popular option for proms and other special events. Be sure to start early because popular styles and sizes will sell out. Also, check BBB.org before committing to a specific company.
Some online sellers offer gowns that look like designer dresses for a fraction of the price. Buyers expect these dresses to be low-cost replicas, but BBB often hears that the dresses that arrive are ill-fitting and constructed from poor quality materials.
If you’ve decided to buy a wedding dress or prom dress online, keep the following tips in mind:
- Beware of counterfeit gowns: Authorized retailers are the only stores allowed to sell a designer’s gowns. Anyone else claiming to carry them is likely selling counterfeits. In fact, many dress designers do not sell their gowns online at all.
- Shopping for a deal? Be realistic: As much as a budget-conscious bride or party-goer may want to find a $5,000 dress for $350, it’s probably not going to happen. Many designers don’t allow their dresses to be discounted below a certain margin.
- Double check delivery promises: It’s vital that your dress arrives in time, so be sure the seller clearly states its typical delivery times.
- Understand the return policy: Review the guarantee, return, and refund policies before purchasing. Know if there is a way to return your dress (and how much it will cost) if you are not happy with it. Make sure there’s a way to contact the company where you find the prom dress or wedding dress in case of problems.
- Be wary of overseas sellers: Buying wedding dresses or prom dresses from an international seller may seem like a good deal. However, U.S. and Canadian laws and consumer protections will be difficult, if not impossible, to enforce.
- Read BBB tips for shopping online: Although a wedding or prom dress may be an extra special purchase, much of the general advice for shopping online applies here, too. See BBB.org.
