08/16/2026
"BRIDES BEWARE & BE AWARE OF COUNTERFEIT INTERNET SELLERS!"
Published Article by Shireen Jackson
Believe in the saying that “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
So, you have found your dream wedding dress on a designer’s web site or at bridal boutique, and the designer’s recommended retail is $2000. Then you find a photo of the same dress pictured on an internet site for the bargain price of $200. Logically, you have to ask yourself “What is being compromised?” Is it the fabric or lace, the quality of the beading or embellishments? Is it the design or inner construction & fit of the garment? Probably all!
Too many brides have been terribly disappointed and lost their money to counterfeit sellers from a foreign country that blatantly steal the designer’s original model’s photographs and use those identical images to advertise dresses on their web sites, leading brides to believe that they are selling the same style and quality gown for a fraction of the cost. The dress you'll receive….. if you ever receive it…..will be a cheap knock~off version of the gown you fell in love with only a semblance of the designer’s fabrics, embellishments, construction, fit & quality. Imagine paper thin fabrics, stiff laces, cheap sequins, itchy netting, uneven seams, unflattering cuts & shortened trains. Counterfeit gowns frequently arrive in sizes and lengths that have no bearing on the measurements you saw on the website, resulting in a poor fit.
If it's even possible to alter the gown, and if you can find a willing, experienced seamstress, then the alteration costs often can exceed the purchase price, negating most of the savings you received from ordering a gown online, and you will still be left with an inferior quality dress. Additionally you will have to pay to have your gown pressed for the portraits & wedding day, when that service is usually either free or discounted at full service bridal salons.
For the most important dress of a lifetime, brides are advised to shop only with an Authorized Retailer and an established bridal salon! When shopping for a particular designer or dress, check the designer’s web site to locate an Authorized Retailer, the only businesses approved by the designer to distribute their gowns! Designers do not sell direct to the public from their web sites, but only thru their Authorized Retailers!
“Buyer’s Beware” warnings are a part of every legitimate designer’s web site, and it is best to heed their advice against trusting some unknown internet seller from who-knows-where to timely deliver an “authentic“ designer gown at a unbelievably low discounted price! Why would you even consider purchasing the most significant dress you will ever wear without seeing & trying it on or risk ordering from an overseas counterfeiter?
For expertise in selecting your wedding gown & accessories to compliment, please enjoy the once~in~a~lifetime experience and expert knowledge of trained consultants that wedding boutiques have to offer! They will provide knowledgeable service to help you find a lovely gown in a silhouette that will flatter and within your budget, assist with alterations, pressing and other services, and also help you coordinate all of the wedding party fashions. Their goal is to have every bride happy, walking down the aisle in beautiful wedding gown that fits perfectly and with which they are proud to have their boutique name associated.
