These are important and logical questions for any bride thinking about purchasing a wedding gown online. For many brides, choosing the right wedding dress is one of the most important decisions of her life. It can be stressful, chaotic, fun, nerve-wracking, overwhelming—and, often, all of the above!
As a bridal label that sells wedding dresses in our online store and in physical bridal boutiques, we understand the hesitation many brides have about buying a wedding dress online. With such a major purchase financially and emotionally, it makes sense to want to try your dress in person and make sure it's perfect.
But there are also many good reasons to buy a wedding dress online. For one thing, you won't find a better selection anywhere. Buying a wedding gown online means you have the entire internet at your fingertips. You can discover and explore brands and styles you might not find at your local bridal shop. This is especially true if you live in a remote location, or somewhere that's not, say, Los Angeles or New York.
Buying a dress online also means you have the luxury of time. Shopping at a boutique surrounded by family and friends can be fun, but for some brides it can also be stressful. When buying a wedding dress online, you can take all the time you want. Research the designer, share photos with your bridesmaids, and sleep on it until you're sure about your decision.
With all that said, there are definitely some things to consider before buying a wedding gown online. In this post, we'll share five tips for purchasing a wedding dress online. These tips will ensure you feel confident about your decision, both in terms of who you're buying from and what you're getting.
As you probably already know, there are a lot of choices when it comes to buying a wedding dress online. How many? Googling "wedding dresses" returns over 100 million results.
Not all websites are created equal, however. It's important to do your research and be sure you're buying from a reputable source. Generally speaking, the more information you can find about an online store, the better. This includes product information and photos. Reviews can also be helpful if they're available. Avoid any online store whose content seems fake or otherwise sketchy.
You can also assess a store's reputation by reading about them on other websites. Remember that this may not always be the case for new designers or even established labels who recently began selling online. In these cases, try looking the brand up on social media to see what kind of following they have and how they interact with their followers.
The bridal industry, more than most industries, is a collaborative community full of different vendors. A good, trustworthy designer or boutique will communicate with their fans and followers in an open, honest, human way.
Just because you're buying online and not from a physical retailer doesn't mean you should have to figure out everything for yourself. In the same way you'd book an appointment with a bridal shop or ask a sales associate if you have any questions, you should reach out to the online store with any questions you have about buying a wedding dress online.
Feel free to ask questions about the gowns themselves—how they fit, how and where they're manufactured, what materials they use, whether any customizations are available—as well as questions about the purchasing process, shipping times, and method of delivery.
If you have any questions for us, you can email us or contact us through this website.
You may not be able to try on a wedding dress online, but you should make sure to get as much information as possible about sizing.
Start by finding out your own measurements. Measure your bust, waist, and hips. If you need to, get a friend to help! These measurements will help you determine your size.
Once again, not all sizes are created equal. Look for a sizing chart on the designer's website that gives specific measurements so you know what to expect from a size 4, 6, 8, and so on. If you have any questions or want more information about sizing, get in touch with the store.
Unless you're buying "off the rack" from a major retailer like Macy's, your wedding dress will probably be made to order. For this reason, you shouldn't expect to be able to return it once you've completed your purchase.
If this sounds daunting, don't worry. Almost every made-to-order wedding gown requires alterations of some kind, whether it's purchased from a physical store or online. The best thing you can do to feel confident about your purchase is to find a good tailor or alterations shop in your city. They'll help make sure your wedding dress fits perfectly.
If you aren't sure how to find a good alterations shop, email us and we'll be happy to recommend one in your area. For more information about alterations, here's a great article about wedding dress alterations.
This is important advice whether you're buying a wedding dress online or from a physical retailer: don't leave it until the last minute.
This is especially true when talking about made-to-order wedding gowns. Most bridal labels take 4-6 months to process, manufacture, and ship an order. "Rush" orders may be available for an additional cost, but you should aim to order well in advance of your wedding day to allow for any necessary alterations.
Ordering your dress in advance also gives you plenty of time to style your wedding accordingly. Once you know what your gown will look like, you can use it as a reference point for your bridesmaids' dresses, flowers, centrepieces, and other decorations.
For most brides, a wedding dress is a major purchase. Before completing your purchase, you should make sure the website's checkout is secure.
Start by checking that the URL in the address bar of your browser starts with "HTTPS"—the "S" is important, as it indicates a secure connection. You may also see a "locked" icon in the address bar, indicating that the website is secure. Don’t enter any of your personal or credit card information if the page is not secure.
Valid and comprehensive contact information is also a good indicator of a site's security. Emailing the site owner to make sure is always a good idea. You can also look for security badges displayed in the website's checkout area.
Our online store runs on Shopify, one of the world's most popular and trusted ecommerce platforms. You can feel 100% confident purchasing through our website.
We hope that these tips has given you confidence and peace of mind! Buying a wedding gown online can seem like a scary proposition, but if you follow our advice you should be able to find your perfect dress and feel confident, secure, and excited about your purchase.
Is there anything we missed? Do you have any additional questions about purchasing a wedding dress online? Let us know in the comments!
]]>Ali’s interest in flowers really bloomed several years ago, when she was living in a remote BC coastal community. She fell in love with the wildflowers there and took an interest in how the local residents were using plants for medicine. She began foraging herself, embracing the beauty and power of the local plants and flowers—and the rest is history.
We chatted with Ali about what she looks for when designing arrangements for weddings, the importance of sourcing locally, and her tips for couples planning weddings on a budget.
I use a large variety of flowers and foliage for every event—however, they are always local. I always stick to the colour palette the client has given me, but the flowers I end up choosing will vary based on what’s in season—in other words, what’s fresh and beautiful.
I try to learn about who my clients are and what they love, so I can draw greater meaning into my designs. Sometimes that means incorporating The Language of Flowers (a must-read book by Vanessa Diffenbaugh) or learning about the couple’s culture or lifestyle to help me incorporate plants or a style that they will love. I also love matching the flowers with the surrounding of the venue and incorporating seasonal elements.
Each event is different, and what I use totally depends on the time of year. In the summer, there are so many options. I work with local farmers ranging from backyard micro farms to large-scale farms. I forage most of the foliage I use. I naturally dye my own silk ribbon using plants and match the colours to work with my clients’ palettes. In the fall and winter, it’s a lot of foliage, lots of berries, and other botanical pieces like squashes, pinecones, etc. I also use a lot of dried flowers, and if necessary I use locally grown flowers from BC greenhouses.
I think most of us who live around the Pacific Northwest understand the importance of buying locally and supporting farmers and makers directly. However, when it comes to purchasing flowers, people tend to go to the grocery store or their nearest flower shop, where unfortunately it’s really hard to know what you’re buying. Unless it’s a retail shop that focuses on locally sourced flowers, most of the time the flowers are imported and come with a huge environmental footprint to get to that store.
Weddings have HUGE environmental footprints. But I also respect that people have budgets. Yes, local flowers can cost more than imported products, but my philosophy is that you can still stick to your budget and buy local flowers. You may just need to re-adjust your expectations of quantities.
Stick to the basics. If budget is a concern, figure out what you need versus what you want. Your florist can help you come up with ideas that work with the season and stick within your budget. You can even get creative with your arrangement ideas! For example, I had one bride who made lots of tiny little potted plants that we clustered with candles in lieu of centrepieces. It looked stunning. All the guests were given the pots at the end of the night as a gift.
Stick to your guns about what’s important to you and your partner. I often see couples get a little (or a lot) frazzled by everyone else’s opinions of what their big day should look like. But in reality, it really just matters what they themselves want.
DO IT!!! Even if it is just day-of coordinator. I’ve worked at events with couples who have relied on friends who ended up backing out, or venues that didn’t help out as much as expected.
Wedding planners are there to help you with your expectations and plans. They’re there to help you when problems arise—and problems always arise because of how many things are going on. It’s money well-spent in my eyes because it allows you to relax a bit more and really be there on your day. You can actually be present and soak it all in, knowing that someone else is there to be accountable for all the details.
Something that’s been standing out to me lately are all the local Victoria women business owners! I’m loving the trend of women supporting one another through business and collaborating on events, products, photoshoots, etc. I myself have been lucky enough to be surrounded by a community of local talented women, and I am always in awe of the generosity and endless support that gets thrown around like confetti.
Cosmos. They always win my heart over. I love Dark Knight scabiosa, and basically any flower that comes in black.
]]>First off, you are not alone. Countless brides share your fear and find themselves searching far and wide for any solution to ensure healthy wedding-day skin.
Lucky for you, you’ve come to the right place—and you have options. While the best solutions will depend on everything from your biology to your budget, we believe there are a handful of tips and products that can help every bride in her search for perfect skin.
Artifact Skin Co. is a company we’ve admired for quite some time. From their lovely packaging to their culturally-inspired, naturally-made facial masks, they’re a shining example of what makes Canadian businesses so great.
We invited Artifact’s co-founder Narae Kim to share her “must-have” wedding skincare tips to help you prepare your skin for your big day. Have a read, and let us know in the comments if you have any skincare tips you’d like to add!
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Think of your skin like a muscle. If you suddenly do an intense workout without stretching first, your body will cramp up, right? Your skin is the same way. Give your skin a few weeks to adjust, heal, and improve before your big day.
Once a week, use a “deep cleansing” clay mask to pull up stubborn impurities from your pores.
Deep cleansing clays:
Did you know that not all clays are created equal? Where and how a clay is collected will determine how powerfully it pulls.
If you feel that your skin could use more of a gentle purifying cleanse instead of a deep cleanse, then the masks below will fit your needs. You can use these gentle cleansers over the entire face or try “multi-masking” with deep cleansing clay masks.
For example, some brides will opt to use deep cleansing clay masks on their “T-zone” area (forehead, nose, chin) while using gentle cleansing clay masks on the cheek and jaw area, where the skin tends to be more dry.
Gentle cleansing clays:
Exfoliation is key! Once or twice a week, use a brightening and exfoliating mask treatment to achieve bright, youthful, glowy skin.
A face mask with twice the renewal power:
Step 1: Apply over entire face and wait 15 minutes for the Vitamin C and papaya fruit and honey enzymes to "actively" exfoliate the skin. You may feel a slight tingle!
Step 2: Lightly splash your face with warm water and begin to "physically" scrub in small circular motions.
Concentrated exfoliations (physically with a device or done actively) are not recommended to be done daily. However, our Island Konjac sponge, with its soft vegetable fibres, is gentle enough to use on the face every day, twice a day.
Everyday exfoliating Island Konjac sponges:
After an intense facial workout, a nice cool drink of hydration is always needed. The final step in achieving perfect wedding-day skin is the cool-down phase—something to soothe, hydrate, and boost radiance.
A perfect hydrating mask:
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What do you think of Artifact’s skincare tips? Is there anything special you’re doing to prepare your skin for your wedding day? Let us know in the comments below!
This post's feature photo is by Koyahni Photography. Model Sierra Lundy is wearing our Thetis top.
]]>For over 20 years, Rocky Mountain Bride has been one of North America’s premier bridal publications in print and online. While they focus on Rocky Mountain regions from B.C. to Utah to New Mexico, there’s something so naturally majestic and captivating about their work, it’s been an endless source of inspiration for brides all over the world.
This spring-inspired shoot, by the talented Koyahni Photography, took place in Beacon Hill Park in our beautiful hometown of Victoria, right here on Vancouver Island.
In Koy's words:
“This styled bridal session was inspired by Spring on Vancouver Island. A modern day romance. Where the camas flowers bloom in fields of purple by the sea. Where the mountains meet the ocean; where wind catches your hair, blowing it across your face as you smell the freshness of Spring.”
The shoot featured stunning florals from Ingrid Rose Floral Artistry, hair by Danielle Bennett, makeup by Melanie Baird, and the lovely Sierra Lundy modelling our favourite two-piece wedding dress (be sure to check out our tips for styling Thetis).
Congrats to Koy on having her work featured, thanks to everyone who participated in the shoot, and thanks to the fine folks at Rocky Mountain Bride!
View “Spring-Inspired Modern Day Bridals” at Rocky Mountain Bride
Photos by Koyahni Photography // See more photos at Rocky Mountain Bride
]]>Today marks another major milestone, as minutes ago we officially launched our 2019 wedding dress collection. This collection is a natural expansion of our first, featuring all new silhouettes and explorations into freedom, femininity, equality, and independence.
We made a focused effort with these seven styles to provide a wide range of options for modern brides. Each gown is lightweight and easy to wear, characterized by minimalism and freedom of movement, while offering defining features and characteristics that set it apart and speak to the personality of each bride.
Designing these dresses, we continued to be inspired by the moody sceneries of our west coast landscape. We delved into the mystic wilds right here in our backyard: the old-growth forests, the ocean and stars. We picture these dresses in nature, which is why we photographed them in beautiful East Sooke, on Vancouver Island's southwest coast.
We're proud of this collection and look forward to debuting it at new retailers across North America and Europe. As always, the gowns are also available for purchase here in our online store. If you have any questions, please drop us a line. We would love to hear from you.
Thank you for reading, and thank you for following us on our journey!
If you’re the kind of bride who's into separates and playing with the look of a dress, read on for some tips on how to wear and style this dream two-piece wedding gown!
The Thetis top can be worn tucked into the skirt for a cinched look that naturally accentuates the waist—or, if you’re feeling romantic, we recommend layering the top over the skirt and tying the satin belt (included) around the waist. We’ve constructed an inner mesh bodysuit hidden under a French lace overlay for a perfect combination of support and fluidity.
We imagine a loose, half-hair-updo with brushed-out curls to complement the look.
Blue sapphire and opal ring | Dear Rose with Love
Still looking for an engagement ring? This blue sapphire and opal ring —or any ring featuring stones of different colour and texture—can be a wonderful match for the two-piece Thetis. What we love about this ring is its vintage flair and poetic shape.
We love the Thetis top tucked in at the waist for a more defined look. We recommend hair down, brushed-out curls, and gold obelisk earrings to complete this romantic, yet contemporary look.
Tablescape with gold candlesticks and ferns | Luiza Smirnova Photography
The tablescape pictured above is enchanting and simple, with gold candlesticks and ferns for a perfect mid-summer wedding—a lovely complement, in our opinion, for the Thetis gown and your gold accessories.
The Thetis skirt has us dreaming of ballroom valses with our beau! Defined at the waist, the Thetis circle skirt is made of gathered chiffon, falling elegantly in front and tiering at the back for a cascading, waterfall effect. It’s available in two colours: Ivory and light nude.
Midsummer, woodsy wedding venue | Victoria Carlson Photography
Looking for the perfect backdrop for your Thetis gown? We recommend a midsummer woodsy wedding with lights strewn on the leafy forest ceiling for a truly enchanting experience.
]]>Just got engaged, or still on the hunt for your wedding dress? If you're looking for something romantic, easy, and lovely to wear, we'll be coming to your town to show off our 2018 wedding dress collection at a series of trunk shows this spring.
To try on one of our gowns, please connect with the boutique in your city to book your appointment. We can't wait to see you there!
Vogue Sposa has been beautifying brides from the heart of Toronto's vibrant Danforth neighbourhood since 1988. They're pros at providing one-of-a-kind bridal designs by independent designers from around the world. We're excited to be hosted by them!
If you're a T.O. bride looking to try one of our gowns, contact Vogue Sposa directly!
Click to book an appointment
Phone: 416.466.8884
Address: 304 Danforth Ave
Run by a sister duo offering a no-fuss, relaxed bridal experience, Delica Bridal is all about helping you find the dress that suits you best. Every gown in their boutique is meticulously hand-picked to bring you a wide array of choice! Whether it's Boho, romantic, or class you desire, these ladies have something for you.
Interested in trying on a Lavictoire gown in Edmonton? Please contact Delica Bridal Boutique directly to book an appointment!
Click to book an appointment
Phone: 587.401.6327
Address: 2951 Ellwood Dr SW
Named for two sisters, this family team pioneered Regina's bridal boutique for cool girls looking for something new, fresh, exclusive, and unique. These ladies love to entertain, adore people, and want to make the search for your dress an incredible part of your wedding journey. They're excited to walk you through our collection in their beautiful boutique located in an old warehouse building built in 1926!
Want to try on one of our gowns? Contact Sweet Pea & Noelle to book your appointment. We're so excited to see you there!
Click to book an appointment
Phone: 306.584.7762
Address: 2100 Dewdney Ave, 2nd Floor
Our fleur du jour is the Anthurium, a heart-shaped flower originally from the Americas. With strong architectural form and luscious—if a bit scandalous!—shape, we get why this flower was a favourite among the Victorian crowd. It's available year-round in a bunch of colours (pun intended) and is easy to pair with other blooms. We especially love the peachy-blush-coloured anthuriums.
If you're as enchanted by these provocative beauties as we are, read on for a few ideas about how they can add some textural flourish to your wedding arrangement.
Photo by Mansur Gavriel
Traditionally reserved for tropical destination-wedding bouquets and table centrepieces consisting of other tropical blooms and foliage, anthuriums are making new flower friends. As of late, many florists have begun including anthuriums in arrangements with roses, ranunculus, orchids, and even pampas grass. Since anthuriums are available year-round, they make a perfect addition to any seasonal arrangement.
Photo by Dayla Mckee Photography, Hair by Grace Beauty Co
Wondering how to style your hair for the wedding? Throwing in a flower or two is always a good idea! Lately we’ve seen many variations of arrangements including flower crowns. While we love big and small flower crowns, sometimes a single flower does the trick. In this look, we love the loosely pinned top knot with an anthurium flower tucked in at a slight angle. Simple.
Photo by Boutierre Girls
Flower arrangements and bouquets can get expensive. While anthuriums can be pricier than most flowers, incorporating one stem per bouquet makes for unusually lovely arrangements. For a simple, affordable bouquet, try picking just a few of your favourite stems and a preferred colour theme. Keep the total number of flowers under 10. What we love about this simple arrangement by the Boutierre Girls is the tonal cream and light acidic greens of the anthuriums and orchids paired to the Golden Mustard roses.
Photo by OVEROSE
A good centrepiece can add so much aesthetic value to your reception tables. Anthuriums are special in that they make a lovely statement on their own or paired with other flowers. Their waxy petal adds a textural feature that lends well to more object-based centrepieces, making them a natural pairing with elements such as metals and marble. In the example above, we love how the gold and rose marble blend with the aesthetic of the anthurium.
What flower has you swooning at the moment? Let us know in the comment section below so we can feature it in a future Flower Fervor post!
]]>We're excited to announce trunk shows at three amazing Canadian bridal boutiques. These shops, listed below, offer an array of unique, contemporary, and refined gowns in charming, welcoming locations. They specialize in personalized appointments, focusing on your individual needs to help you find the dress of your dreams.
They're pros in the industry and are excited to welcome our collection!
If you’re interested in trying on one of our Lavictoire gowns, please connect with the boutique in your city to book your appointment. We hope to see you there.
Union Bridal, situated in the heart of Gastown, is a bridal boutique offering contemporary and unique gowns for the carefree, stylish, and non-traditional bride. The ladies who run this lovely shop want your dress shopping experience to be fun and comfortable. They give their full attention as they work with you to find your perfect dress. If you’re a Vancouverite and interested in booking an appointment to try on a Lavictoire gown at Union Bridal from March 16-18, head to their website or give them a call!
Email: hello@unionbridal.com
Phone: (604) 620 6662
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Norde Bridal, located in the ByWard Market in Ottawa, is a boutique that focuses on a curated collection of wedding dresses and accessories created by Canadian and American designers. Their collections include effortless gowns that are modern, elegant, and personable. They value handmade details, customization, and sustainable production. If Ottawa is where you call home, the ladies over at Norde Bridal would love to welcome you for an intimate and personalized appointment to help you try on our collection from April 5-16.
Email: info@nordebridal.ca
Phone: (613) 695-8247
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The Modern Bride is a contemporary bridal boutique with old school Canadian charm, based in the Petrie Building in downtown Guelph. They offer a selection of gowns that are sleek, fresh and fun, defined by fine fabrications. This ultra beautiful boutique provides you with undivided attention while you find your dream gown. For the ladies living near the 6, this boutique is looking forward to guiding you through our collection from May 11-14!
Email: info@tmodernbride.com
Phone: (519) 822-0909
“You transfix me, quite."
Today is a special day for us. It marks the launch of our online store and inaugural wedding dress collection. We've put in so much work to get to this point—designing, developing, pattern drafting, sewing, and everything else that goes into building a successful bridal collection—and we're so excited to show it off. So first off, thanks for stopping by!
The quote at the top of this post is from one of our all-time favourite books, Charlotte Brontë's classic novel, Jane Eyre. From the earliest conception of this collection, we were inspired by Brontë's themes of female equality, independence, and belonging. The novel was published in 1847, but its themes feel ultra-contemporary and relevant to today's bride.
Designing these wedding dresses, we were heavily inspired by Jane Eyre's moody scenery and tempestuous love story. The gowns are characterized by minimalism, freedom, and romance. Aesthetically, you'll find elements of the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau movements, both of which came a few decades after Brontë's time—in some ways it's a perfect pairing, given that she was a woman ahead of her time.
In this post, we'll share a few words about each of this year's styles and the details that make them unique. For a more comprehensive look, be sure to check out our 2018 Lookbook. And don't hesitate to let us know what you think in the comments below!
The Solange gown is defined by its spirited and adaptable nature. We are in love with its two-strap system featuring satin spaghetti straps overlaid with lace flutter straps, which can be lowered for a more playful, sensuous look. This wedding gown is designed for flirtatious brides looking to move fluidly on their wedding day.
The Union gown is our classically inspired wedding dress with a bohemian flair. "Effortless" is a word that came up a lot while we were designing and developing it. A few of our favourite features include the front skirt overlap, deep "V" neckline, and open back. It's a natural fit for the romantic boho bride.
The Victoria gown is an ornate wedding dress inspired by the opulence of La Belle Epoque. Pictured above is the long-sleeve version; it's also available with short sleeves. Both offer a choice of ivory or light nude colours. We spent a lot of time perfecting the fit of this dress, designing it to hug the body for an intimate feel. It's a perfect choice for visionary brides looking to make a statement.
Thetis is a two-piece wedding dress with top and skirt offered separately. It calls to mind whimsy and enchantment, not to mention versatility. Its lovely lace top can be worn tucked in or secured with a belt over the gathered chiffon skirt. The skirt is available in ivory or light nude. This combo wedding gown is intended for the romantic bride looking for wedding-day adaptability.
The Rye gown is dreamy, magical, and an ideal choice for sweet and intimate ceremonies. Our favourite features include the open neckline and lightweight gathered silk tulle skirt. If you're a bride looking to add a bit of magic on your wedding day, this is one you'll want to check out!
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