Every bride begins their dress dress journey online, whether it's scrolling through numerous Instagram feeds or searching through Pinterest Boards, the search begins on the web. Why should it stop there?

With the current Covid-19 pandemic, having to be in lockdown and being restricted on where and how far you can go from your home, we at Eternal Bridal realise that it's the small joys that make another day in a current pandemic world that little bit better... like receiving an online purchase in the mail!

With many brides currently spending their free time researching online for their dream dress and itching to be able to start visiting boutiques, why not consider purchasing your gown online? Shop for your dream dress in your own time, with time to think and make an informed decision without the pressure of making a decision in a boutique, and as a bonus you can do this all from the comfort of your home!

With increasing interest in online shopping Eternal Bridal has launched Galia Lahav's Pret-A-Porter collection and the designer sample sale to our online store! From high-end Pret-A-Porter to our designer samples, whatever takes your fancy, Eternal Bridal has something for every bride.

Galia Lahav's Pret-A-Porter collection offers high quality, modern, chic dresses from the brilliant bridal queen of couture. Click here to check out the collection. Our designer sample sale brings to you a collection of gorgeous gowns at a fraction of the cost. Click here to check out the collection.

So, here are some tips on how to shop online for your dream wedding dress:

1. SHOP WITH A TRUSTED SOURCE

Just like shopping for any other big-ticket purchases, your dream dress is an investment with high emotional significance as well as financial. The last thing you want is to feel anxious or apprehensive about your purchase. It helps to start your search with well-known bridal retailers as they are already established with good foundations. If you are thinking of shopping with a new retailer be sure to read their reviews and customer testimonials. The more good feedback you read the more likely you will have a seamless shopping experience.

2. KNOWING YOUR SILHOUETTE

When you are pinning and saving your gown inspirations, you will find that there is a style you are drawn to. Identify the style of gown and the silhouettes you are interested in and consider if that is suitable for your body shape. Wedding dresses come in so many different silhouettes, the most common silhouettes are ball gown, a-line, column/sheath, trumpet, fit and flare and mermaid. Knowing your style will help you filter your online search.

3.UNDERSTANDING THE FABRIC

Understanding the fabric is an important step to ensure the quality and the flow of the dress is what you expected. Wedding dresses can be made in many fabrications, when reading up on a potential dress be sure to read what fabric is used. The dress may look good in photos, but it is in the description that will tell you how the dress may fit, if it’s going to have a stretch or if it’s going to be stiff. If you are looking for something soft and stretchy then look for fabrics such as crepe, chiffon, silks. If you are looking for something that is more structured to give you the shape, look for corsets or satin. If you have any questions on the fabric, be sure to ask the retailer.

4. CHOOSING THE RIGHT SIZE

For many people choosing the right size can be tricky but don’t stress! Start with having your basic measurements taken, that would be your bust, waist and hip. The retailer will always have a size chart and measurement guide to follow and if you are in-between sizes, we recommend getting the bigger size, as it is always easier to take in a size then to let out if there is not enough fabric in the seams. Always keep in mind that alterations and fitting may be required to achieve the best fit. If unsure, feel free to reach out to the retailer.

5. DELIVERY TIME FRAME

When shopping in a boutique a wedding dress could take 6-8 months or more to arrive. Be sure to read up and see how long it will take for your dress to arrive and allow some time for alterations before your big day. We recommend allowing 4 weeks ahead of your wedding date for alteration and fittings.

Eternal Bridal’s online collections offer a short delivery time frame for brides that need a dress as soon as possible. Our sample collection lead time is within 14 days and Pre-a-Porter lead time is 10-12 weeks. For shorter time frames, please feel free to reach out to us.

6. FINALISING YOUR DECISION

If you are 99% sure you’ve found the one but are still hesitant it might help searching for pictures of real brides in your chosen dress. Seeing a real bride might help solidify your decision, sometimes a model in the dress just isn’t enough, you want to see the dress in action. Don’t forget that you can always reach out to the retailer and ask as many questions as you like, they will have the best advice and most amount of information to help you say YES to your dress.

Just because you are shopping for your dream dress online doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a great experience. Why not gather a group of your most trusted friends and family and hold your very own online search party, all can be done virtually. Or you can keep your dress a secret for your wedding day and make a statement!

Shopping online for your dress isn’t as scary or hard as you might think. If you follow these steps, you are sure to have an enjoyable time finding the ONE.