Posted in Wedding Tips

You’ve probably been dreaming about your perfect wedding dress for a while now – and we imagine you’ve been doing a lot of Internet research on the subject. So what happens when you spot your dream designer wedding dress on sale for a super-low price on a website you’ve never heard of? Do you buy it? Here are six ways to make sure that that wedding gown is the real dress of your dreams, and not a knock-off.

1. Do your homework - If you spot a wedding dress that you love (in a gallery like WeddingWire’s of course!), visit the designer’s official website and check out their store locator. Only purchase your designer gown from one of the reputable retailers or websites listed on their page.

2. Check the advertised price - If you see a dress’ price on a well-known website or in a magazine, and then see it sold for a much cheaper price, this should raise a red-flag.

3. Read descriptions carefully - If a dress’s advertised description says “imitation,” “inspired by” or even “fake” – you’ll know that dress is not created by the original designer. You may also see the designer’s name spelled wrong – that’s an even bigger red flag!

4. Look at the pictures - If the retail site features a photos of models with blurred-out faces, cropped off heads, or any other strange imagery, you may be looking at a counterfeiter.

5. Give them a call - A wedding dress is a major purchase, so you shouldn’t be shy about calling any online retailer you’re suspicious of to make sure it’s legitimate. If the website doesn’t list a phone number at all, that’s another reason to perhaps move on.

6. Examine your dress – Make sure your dress includes a tag and inside label featuring the designer’s name and logo. Check the quality of the dress and make sure the seams are intact and there are no visible tears or damage to the dress.

Source: The Wedding Wire Blog and www.bridalbeware.com