Buying your wedding dress online can open up a world of options, especially if the designer you love isn’t close to home.
But a wedding dress is a little different from your usual online purchase. Fit, fabric, construction and alterations all matter, and a little research before you order can make the experience much easier.
As a bridal designer, these are the things I recommend checking before you buy a wedding dress online.
Before falling in love with a dress, take a little time to research who you’re buying it from.
Look for genuine reviews, real bride imagery and detailed photographs that show the gown from different angles. Product descriptions should clearly explain the fabric, construction, fit and how the gown is made.
Check the returns and exchange policy too, particularly if you’re looking at a sample or sale gown.
Most importantly, make sure there’s someone you can contact. A good bridal designer or stylist should be happy to answer questions about fit, sizing, fabrics and alterations before you order.
Tip: If you’re unsure about a fabric or colour, ask whether you can order a fabric sample before committing to the gown.
Not all wedding dresses are equally easy to order online.
If you can’t try your dress on first, consider a style with a little flexibility in the fit.
Bias-cut and slip-style gowns can be a good option because the fabric falls naturally around the body and often has more flexibility than a highly structured silhouette.
Corseted styles can offer more adjustability through the bodice, giving you a little more flexibility with fit.
Separates are another great option, particularly if your top and bottom measurements fall into different sizes. Being able to choose your top and skirt size independently can make finding the right fit much easier.
More structured or closely fitted gowns can still be ordered online, but getting the sizing right becomes more important. If you’re unsure, ask the designer how the particular style fits before ordering.
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Wedding dress sizing can be different from your everyday clothing size, and sizing can vary between bridal designers too.
Take accurate measurements of your bust, waist and hips, then compare them with the designer’s own size chart rather than simply ordering your usual dress size.
If your measurements fall across different sizes, ask for help.
Send your measurements to the designer or bridal stylist and ask which size they recommend for the particular gown. The construction and fit of the dress can influence which size is best, so personalised advice is often more useful than simply sizing up.
How to Take Your Measurements : Gown & Altar Sizing Guide
Most wedding dresses will need some alterations to achieve the perfect fit, even when you’ve ordered the correct size.
Before ordering, ask whether the gown is relatively straightforward to alter. Some fabrics, seams and design details make alterations much easier than others.
And don’t assume that buying a dress several sizes too big is always the safest option. Taking a gown down significantly can change the proportions and placement of design details.
Pay particular attention to sizing.
Ask for the gown’s current measurements and find out whether it has already been altered. If a second-hand dress is more than around one size larger or smaller than you need, we’d recommend speaking to an experienced bridal seamstress before buying it.
A beautiful bargain isn’t quite such a bargain if it can’t realistically be altered to fit you.
Before paying, check three things.
Lead time: Find out whether the gown is ready to ship or made to order, and how long production and delivery will take.
Reviews: Look beyond the product photography and see what real brides say about the quality, fit and experience.
Returns: Understand exactly what can and can’t be returned or exchanged. Sample, sale and made-to-order gowns may have different conditions.
And remember to leave enough time between receiving your gown and your wedding for alterations.
Even with careful measurements and plenty of research, trying a wedding dress on is still the best way to understand how it feels and moves on your body.
If you can’t visit our Mount Maunganui studio, our Try At Home service gives New Zealand brides the opportunity to try selected Gown & Altar gowns and separates from home.
It’s a simple way to experience the fabric, fit and quality in person before making your decision.
A quick final check:
If you can confidently answer those questions, you’re in a much better position to order your wedding dress online.
Explore our collection of wedding dresses and bridal separates, individually cut and made in New Zealand and Australia, or discover our Try At Home service if you’d like to experience Gown & Altar from home.
Next draw 1st December 2026
