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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy my wedding dress off eBay?

55 replies

HairyBeaver · 27/11/2013 17:07

Hi

I'm getting married next August in a shoe string and have seen many dresses from china that are very cheap.

I've been recommended one seller who is cheap but doesn't have the dress style I really want Sad

I've seen the style I love on eBay by a few sellers and don't know whether to trust them or not?

The dress is only £50 so would you risk it for a biscuit?

Or do any of you lovely ladies have any recommendations wrt the Chinese sellers on eBay? Smile

OP posts:
OohBridget · 27/11/2013 17:50

... a friend had a dress from China destroyed at customs because it had something on it (presumably a tiny parasite or somthing) .. Shock I think you need to factor im a dry clean after

Breadkneadslove · 27/11/2013 18:04

I don't think you should stress yourself out any more than you need to and it sounds like, buying off a chinese ebay site will be a bit of a risk I think instead you should sit down with a biscuit and research all of the great advice given, also factor in that there are lots of great sales on around this time of year and also after Christmas (couldn't click on the link so not sure if it's a full on wedding dress or just a beautiful dress you are after... Good luck and I'm sure you will end up with the dress of your dreams...

CocacolaMum · 27/11/2013 18:15

I bought mine on ebay for £40!!

(I actually bought 'a' wedding dress a couple of years ago, long before I knew we were getting married but it was the wrong size so if anyone fancies a well priced dessy dress size 14 which I am still more than a bit in love with please message me, lol)

its this one if anyone's feeling nosy :) www.google.co.uk/search?q=dessy+wedding+dress&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=zWWUsy3EvPT7AabroCgCw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=768#q=dessy+1004&tbm=isch&facrc=&imgdii=_&imgrc=pKzU180okKYs9M%3A%3BA5Bcq0cjQplbgM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.weddingretailer.com%252Fimages%252Fdresses%252Farticles%252F1338337803329281(1004.jpg).jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.weddingretailer.com%252Fdresses%252Fdress%252F--wedding-dresses%252FDessy___Style_1004%3B317%3B420

scoobysnac · 27/11/2013 18:48

I got mine off ebay. Was a designer dress that someone was unable yo wear as they had fallen pregnant. Cost £400 (£3000 in shop) altered for £100.

Don't worry about ebay as you hVe buyer protection if something goes wrong

DuckToWater · 27/11/2013 18:56

I think if you can risk losing £50, go for it. I didn't get my dress off eBay but got it from Monsoon in the sale, was 70% off (!) so cost only £70. I got it as I thought it wasn't bad, and so cheap I got it as a spare "just in case" I didn't find anything else I liked. Anyway I ended up wearing it - I spend about another £30 getting it taken in and fitted perfectly.

I did get my shoes on eBay and veil though, which were about £30 each, and my tiara, can't remember how much it was but not very much.

The bridesmaid dresses each cost more than my dress - about £120 each!

RunningKatie · 27/11/2013 19:06

Oxfam have bridal shops too, i know there's one in Leicester but not sure where the others are.

They have sample dresses etc., and you can look online at what they have in stock Smile

loveolives · 27/11/2013 19:20

I did, £50 well spent.

HelloDoris · 27/11/2013 19:21

Is there a similar style dress on Jjshouse to the one you like? They sometimes will make changes to dresses, might be worth an ask??

Otherwise weddingdress-factoryoutlet.co.uk/locations/london.php wedding dress factory outlets (3 across the country). Their most expensive dress is £449 and they start from £150. Maybe worth a look if there is one nearby?

jamdonut · 27/11/2013 19:47

Not a wedding dress, but we got a gorgeous Prom Dress from a Chinese company on E-bay, for £35. I felt sure it would be awful,when it arrived, but it was actually really lovely and my daughter looked fabulous in it. And the transaction was totally trouble free.

cantbelievemyeyes · 27/11/2013 20:07

I've seen many of these dresses in person- some have been fine, more have been pretty poor quality. It depends what your expectations are. There are certainly sellers that can come up with a decent knock off that looks quite a lot like the original designer dress. The main difference is in the cheaper fabrics and techniques used, and the overall feel of the dress can be very different to the 'real' dress (which you'd probably notice if you've tried on the original)

A common complaint is that sizing can be way out, even when providing your measurements for a custom dress. So I'd recommend making sure you budget for alterations, and also think about whether you'll need a hooped underskirt to give the look you're after- and budget for that too.

I don't sell wedding dresses but do have a business in the wedding industry so that's just my take on things having seen this debate many times!

cathpip · 27/11/2013 20:12

My sister brought one of those eBay dresses from china for £100, strangely enough it never turned up! She ended up buying a sale dress and having it altered, or you could do what my friend did and have a wedding dress party where all her married friends turned up with their wedding dresses for her to try on, she looked stunning walking down the aisle in my sisters dress :)

cantbelievemyeyes · 27/11/2013 20:20

If you use facebook have a look for the Brides Beware page. As you might expect this is a page warning brides of the dangers of buying counterfeit wedding dresses so it's very much a one-sided view. But it is worth a read as you'll see certain websites/ eBay sellers names popping up a lot as people complain about them. There is also a real life pic of a copy of the dress you like which will give you an idea of how some of the copies can look.

MammaTJ · 27/11/2013 20:23

I have done alterations on a few wedding dresses bought from China on ebay. I also bought my own ball gown from one.

The quality on all of them has been good. The fit, not so good, hence the need for alterations. There is no margin for error if it is too small, as the seams are tiny!

A friend had one when heavily pregnant and I advised her to go for one that would fit the bump, then I altered the bust to fit.

She paid around £50 and it was stunning!

Chippednailvarnish · 27/11/2013 20:28

Got mine from Monsoon and I'm sure it was around £100 and silk...
Maybe the January sales?

ImHonkingOrSomething · 28/11/2013 07:38

Charity shops are well worth it especially high street ones..
Heard someone was very disappointed in her dress ordered from China , it didn't fit.

MamaBear17 · 28/11/2013 07:50

I was bridesmaid last year and the bride bought our dresses from China. The material was very cheap and I couldn't find a dressmaker to do the alterations because the two I contacted said they wouldn't do alterations because the dresses were poorly made and they didn't want to be blamed if they fell apart. Up close, the dress looked poorly made and the material was cheap. I will be honest, I really didn't feel comfortable wearing it and felt I looked like crap. However; the bride loved them (I never told her I didn't like the dress, it was her day afterall!) and looking back at the photos you don't notice the imperfections at all.

Joysmum · 28/11/2013 08:00

If ifs well in advance of your wedding, the seller has good feedback and you can with afford to lose the £50 or purchase by Paypal funded by a good credit card with online purchase protection (to give you 3 ways to get your money back if it goes tits up, eBay, PayPal and Credit Card company) then go for it.

My hubby buys custom made shirts from the Far East and I bought a lovely fishtail evening gown that I thought had to be too good to be true given how stunning the photos were but could afford to lose the money so took a chance...and wasn't disappointed.

Beware about border control and customs and excuse duties and fees though.

LadyMedea · 28/11/2013 08:02

For genuine dresses at silly discounts I genuinely recommend Netbride - www.netbride.com/wedding/

I got my Alfred Angelo £900 dress from them for less than £300 including import tax.

You end up with exactly what you want and no risk as they are all genuine dresses. I tried the one I wanted in a shop locally then just ordered it online.

Original poster
HairyBeaver · 28/11/2013 10:08

Hiya sorry for delay on replying

Well jjshouse has only started doing the dress I wanted GrinGrinGrin I've put a pic on my profile and I'll wear a hoop under it so it's puffy.

My bridesmaids are shocked at my choice as I'm not a girly girl at all, I'm wearing converse as wedding shoes! Think retro tattoos, punk, sailor jerry style. But I love it GrinGrin

Thank you again ladies ThanksThanksThanks

OP posts:
SoonToBeSix · 28/11/2013 10:09

My friend bought her dress for £60 from China of eBay it was gorgeous.

FlipFlippingFlippers · 28/11/2013 10:14

My only advice is to send your measurements. My friend got hers done for about £120 and it was beautiful. However she ordered the bridesmaid dresses in standard UK sizes and they came up 3 sizes too small. She was refunded but didn't have enough time to order new dresses so had to buy from over here (costing 2x more than her dress alone)

Original poster
HairyBeaver · 28/11/2013 10:54

Yes I think I'll pay a professional to measure me Smile and from jjshouse they'll be minimal alterations if needed at all and it's in budget.

Also have just chosen my bridesmaids dresses and DS's suit. Feeling much more organised now Grin

OP posts:
TakestheMNbiscuit · 28/11/2013 21:14

I haven't read entire thread - but i am selling my wedding dress for £70 Ono in Surrey - size 14-18,white stapless, full
Skirt - shameless ad :)

olidusUrsus · 29/11/2013 02:32

I wouldn't. Browse some charity shops and department stores and keep a beady eye out in the Jan sales. Much better to know what you are buying - especially as you are most likely not to save any money buying from China when you factor in things like customs & alterations.

ZombieMojaveWonderer · 29/11/2013 06:16

I bought mine off eBay and it was gorgeous and fitted perfectly. Only cost £60 and I saw a very close replica in a wedding dress shop for £600! Mine was better! Read the sellers feedback closely and measure yourself properly. Don't panic if it doesn't fit because you can always get it altered.
Congrats and good luck!