First off, be careful!

I recently found an auction where the seller was selling what she claimed was an $11,000 Vera Wang wedding dress. She was using photos right off of MaggieSottero.Com. Maggie Sottero gowns are cheaply made in China out of polyester fabric. Their most expensive dress hovers around $1200 retail.

Secondly, there are alot of sellers, mostly overseas, that use the original designer photo in their auctions, but what they are really selling you is a cheaply made fake. Look carefully- they are asking for your measurements and offering the gown in 300 colors. (Couture designers don't make their gowns in 300 colors).

Compare Apples to Apples

Sure, there are alot of the same gown on ebay. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. I can't tell you how insulting it is when we get an offer for 10% of our asking price, just because a similar gown just sold on auction for a lower price. Compare wisely-

1. Are the gowns you are comparing both new?

2. Have either of them been altered?

The value of a couture gown is not only dependent on the original retail price, it is also dependant on it's condition. A used, altered dress is worth pennies on the dollar in comparison to a new unaltered one that is identical.

Street sizes and Gown sizes are totally different

Especially in couture gowns. It is an absolute MUST to go by the measurements, not the size label. This is not the time to be vain about the number on the label. If your bust measures a size 6 but your waist is a size 10, get the 10 and have the gown altered. Most gowns (couture especially) cannot be "let out" without causing damage to the fabric. Not to mention that if it can be done, it is done at a premium price. If the gown you have fallen in love with is way too small, it is wise to keep searching until you find one closer to your size :)

Don't believe everything that you read

Just because someone says the gown is "couture" doesn't mean it is. If you are looking for a couture gown, research their values in stores (not online). Find out which brands are "couture", and which brands just use the term on their label. Gowns that are mass produced in China are NOT couture. Maggie Sottero gowns, even though they are popular, are not considered couture. To make sure that you don't fall victim to an unscrupulous (or uneducated) seller, do your homework. Nothing from David's Bridal is $4000. I've seen many brides fall victim to sellers that claim their "Oleg Cassini" gown was $2000 - $4000 new.....when the truth is that Oleg Cassini is only sold at David's Bridal for under $1000.

Use "best offer" wisely

If you see a "best offer" option on a listing, your seller has elected to consider offers on the item they are selling. This is your one chance to try to negotiate a price. Don't risk your chance by making a frivilous low-ball offer. (ie $1000 for a $3000 item). At the very least, your offer will be declined. Worst case scenario, they will block you from their auctions and forward your login name to other sellers, blacklisting you. (I've seen this happen). Using the "best offer" feature to deliberatly harass a seller because you don't like their item/price/photos will only get you NARU'd, so don't do it.

Understand our lingo- especially "sample condition"

This is important- if you are expecting a gown that is still in the designer's wrappings and has never touched the hands of another bride, it is best to order at full retail from a retail bridal salon. Most of the great deals that you see online were gowns that started their lives as samples. They may have been tried on alot, or not very much. Sample gowns are a super way to get a great deal on a high-end gown. You just have to be realistic about what you are getting.

 Our gowns are drycleaned and have minor repairs (if needed) done before they are shipped.