Real Thing or Knock Off? Referrals?

[Sarah]

You're not guilty Tammy, just convicted of being helpful! I think the poll is a great idea for this thread. Thanks

[LCBride2007]

I like the idea of the poll as well - good addition! For those of you that have ordered "custom" made dresses, how long to they really take? She's telling me I need to make up my mind SOON because they take 6 mos. - but I just started looking! Though buying used would work for me too ... I emailed one girl from www.preownedweddingdresses.com!

[NABUMBAH]

AKH if you go to the knot, the gal who is the bio of the week is wearing this gown. gorgeous!

[gkashmira]

I second the eBay idea after some serious research. Can the dressmaker give you references of other brides who have used her? If her rasting is 100% that's pretty good - just make sure she's done a lot of them.

[JPMO]

Ann I say go for it! I am

When I found the option on ebay and then read reviews or saw pics there was no way that I could pay full price again. I am picking between 2 dresses right now but I don't think the seller is the same. I think you'll be very happy with the end result... keep me posted

[deleted]

The woman who did my alterations also does custom made knockoff dresses. Her work is AMAZING -- I saw several of her works-in-progress during my fittings. She has even done dresses for brides without ever meeting them in person, just by getting measurements and a photo of the original.

 

She also did a Lazaro knockoff for a good friend, that is how I found her. The dress was flawless.

 

However, she is not cheap. I think she was making a $4K dress for like $2,800. But seriously, it was SO GORGEOUS, and it's tailored to your body, so no $$ needed for alterations.

 

She doesn't have a website and basically gets all her business via word of mouth.

 

Her name is Terry. She lives in Wilmington, DE. PM me if you want her phone number, okay?

[[email protected]]

I fell in love with the Melissa Sweet Lia dress but it's WAYYYY out of my budget. I love the modified mermaid but wanted a corset or lace up back. I found several Marisa 726 (the designer knock off) that were used for $1550-$2500. I also look terrible in white b/c of my pasty white Irish (as my grandmother calls us) skin and light red hair. All of the pictures of me in white make me look sick!

 

The ivory also varies so much it can look yellow some times. So I decided I wanted a champagne.

 

After much research, I bit the bullet and purchased a knock off from www.peridress.com A chinese company that makes knock off dresses. I received it in about a month but it was far from perfect. A little small but I did get my color perfect and the lace up back. The dress was more a-line than mermaid but the fabric was a nice bridal satin (the Melissa is silk but the Marisa is satin) with good lining.

 

I've done the alterations myself (thanks to my seamstress grandmother teaching me well!) and now it's my dream dress!

 

The dress cost $104.99

The alterations from a seamstress would have cost $450 including adding the bustle.

 

So for less than $600 (actually $104.99 DIY) I got my dream dress in the right color far cheaper than I could have found it anywhere else. By the way, except for reselling it after the wedding, who's reading the label?