We’ve all heard cringe-worthy stories about what went wrong when shopping for wedding dresses online. “What I Ordered vs What I Got” is a whole genre of meme on the internet, so feeling apprehensive about shopping for your dream dress online is understandable!

However, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, many brides have been left with no other option. Wedding vendors have also had to step up to the occasion, navigating best practices to ensure brides can get the perfect gown in time for their special day. While online shopping for your wedding can be stressful, there are numerous ways to ensure you get it right.

Of course many are skeptical about buying wedding dresses online. Things are not always what they seem on the internet, unexpected shipping delays can cause headaches, and many simply prefer interacting in person, plain and simple. But shopping for wedding dresses online has its perks.

Shop for Your Entire Bridal Party in One Place

Shopping for wedding dresses online is a lot less stressful than physically browsing in stores. You can shop from the comfort of your own home instead of spending an exhausting day trying on dresses. Shy or reserved brides who are uncomfortable being the center of attention might also find shopping for wedding dresses online a more comfortable alternative. Most importantly, there are simply more options online than in physical stores. If you have budgetary concerns, online vendors offer a wider variety of dresses per price point.

And you can shop for your whole bridal party in one afternoon! Most brides have a color palette in mind for their bridal party before they even begin looking. It’s disappointing and frustrating when you don’t find styles that suit everyone in one store, but it’s much easier to bounce between five different websites than five different physical stores. Online vendors like Afarose serve as a one-stop shop for all your wedding attire needs.

Shop a Custom Designer Wedding Collection Without the Hassle

Here at Afarose we’ve created a wealth of style categories for every bride, but we understand that many want a more personalized touch. Often, brides who want custom dresses pay through the teeth to get them. Since many physical boutiques stock off-the-rack wedding dresses, they charge extra (up to 50% more) to sew custom designs.

At Afarose, all our dresses are made to order to keep costs down for our customers, reduce waste, and produce made-to-fit dresses for each bride. We’ve redefined what it means to be ‘custom-made,’ tailoring each dress with 11 key measurements to ensure the best possible fit. That’s eight more measurement details than most brands use! We strive to go the extra mile and make sure that your wedding dress is an exact match.

Even though we work hard to ensure precision and fit, we understand that seeing is believing. Our Try At Home program makes it easy for brides (and bridesmaids) to personally try on dresses from the comfort of home. Select two or more dresses for $10 per bridesmaid dress or $15-$25 per wedding dress. Those prices cover shipping both ways, and you can keep the dress(es) for up to seven days! You and your bridesmaids can turn a try-on session into a party, and you can order samples of swatches and fabrics to decide what fits your wedding best.

Work With Afarose Through Virtual Appointments

We’ve also launched a new feature to make getting your perfect wedding dresses online even easier: virtual appointments! Schedule a one-on-one video conferencing consultation with our experts to discuss styles, sizing, fabrics, logistics, and more.

What Is a Virtual Styling Session?

Here’s how it works: the bride-to-be completes a simple questionnaire about her style and wedding plans, then selects her top three dress designs. During the scheduled Zoom call, an Afarose representative will literally showcase those dresses for you, pointing out details and taking notes on what you do and don’t love. You can dictate exactly what should be added or removed. And if you want outside opinions—say, friends and family—you can share the Zoom link with them to join for free. Don’t worry about taking notes or saving links during your session—you can focus on finding the dress, and our stylist will then follow up about all the looks and details you liked!

Our virtual styling appointment is perfect for the busy bride, or perhaps a more reserved bride who would rather not have a stranger sizing them up in their underwear. If you’d rather not deal with a pushy sales person who’s desperate to secure a sale, a virtual appointment is for you. We’re also working on setting up virtual appointments for bridesmaids and mothers-of-the-bride, so eventually your whole bridal party can be styled from the comfort of your home.

Why Book a Virtual Styling Session?

Virtual styling sessions are very convenient. Instead of spending a whole weekend browsing different stores, simply hop on a call and let a professional handle it on your schedule. Plus, Afarose doesn’t bother with a commission system, so there will be no pushy sales spiels. Our stylists are focused on only one task: finding the perfect dress for you.

When Can I Schedule a Virtual Styling Session?

Check Afarose's scheduling page for availability and select the best time for you. We aim to be as flexible as possible, so if you’d prefer a date that’s not available on the page, you can contact us to discuss. We understand the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding, so you can contact us to reschedule as needed as well.

How Does a Virtual Styling Session Work?

It’s quite simple. First, you schedule an appointment. Fill out our questionnaire so we understand your style and vision. Pick three dresses. Then, get your appointment link and hop into the online meeting when the time comes! You get to sit back and watch our stylist show off every dress, tweaking styles for your preference. Remember, our dresses are made to order—so you can be as specific as you want. Like the neckline but not the button up back? No problem! Love the beaded bodice but not the chapel train? We can fix it!

Find Your Perfect Dress at Afarose

Shopping for wedding dresses online can be a daunting task. At Afarose, we understand the need to get things perfect for your big day, so all our services are geared toward making sure you find the dress of your dreams. Shop at Afarose for a fantastic, personalized shopping experience that meets all your wedding dress needs, without any hassles.