An Etsy custom made dress? Or Nah?

What shop is it and what is their return policy?

The shop is Hollie x Kate and custom orders are non refundable

Hmm. Nonrefundable always makes me nervous. 110 reviews is decent but I haven't ordered my dress yet so I'm just not sure. It sounds like they've been really helpful so far! If it were me, I'd probably take the plunge but that doesn't necessarily mean you should. How much room for error is there in your budget?

Their photos aren't really professional and that bothers me. There's a baby in the background in one. I know it's just a photo but wtf? Find a space to take awesome pictures of your product to show you care. For some this wouldn't be an issue but for me more effort is needed.

ETA but there are good reviews so ...

LOL yeah when I saw the baby I was like ummmmm maybe you should've retook that photo. And I wish I could visit them but they're in Canada so that looks like a no go.As far as my room for error budget.....at the moment the price quote for what I want is $850. I do have a seamstress that used to make wedding dresses. She is a family friend and she's retired from the custom side of things however she did tell me that when I do receive the dress she will do whatever alterations that need to be done. Now what I have been doing is hitting up the people that have left reviews on their page to see if they could send me pictures of their finished dresses and asking them different questions as well

Oooof $850? That's a big risk to take. I think it's a good idea to ask other reviewers about their experiences (and to make sure they're real) but still, I can definitely understand your hesitation. I don't know if I could take that chance though. Have you talked to local seamstresses and asked them how much their alterations would normally be? It might end up being worth it to get a dress you know is quality and then have them alter it down

Yeah I was thinking about just buying a dress. This dress by Allure is beautiful I just want gold embellishments

Ooooo I love the bottom of that dress. And the buttons down the back are to die for. I've heard good things about preownedweddingdresses, I think you'll have more luck there. Most of the women on there post tons of pics, and will send you more pics and info if you ask

FWIW, my dress was a custom design from an Etsy shop and I absolutely adored it. It was perfect; the workmanship was impeccable. Truly my dream dress! The shop was called Theodora James. I highly recommend her.

I ordered mine off Etsy too and it's amazing! I recommend getting your measurements professionally taken. I got mine though LaceBridal and I couldn't be more happy!

@melissa B I saw their dresses and yes the workmanship is truly beautiful. Do you have any pictures of your dress that you can post also @mauiwowie do u have pics that u can post as well?And yes I am most definitely going to get my measurements done by a professional because these hips don't lie and neither does this booty lol

I'm getting mine off Etsy and one of my friend's did as well and hers was GORGEOUS. I'm using her seamstress so I'm not too worried since she had zero problems. I would talk to your seamstress about some of your concerns though - what if the dress doesn't fit? What if it's damaged when it arrives? What if it's not as described? Nonrefundable might only apply to "I decided I didn't like the dress" and not to issues that are directly their fault. The main thing is to do your research. Read their reviews! Also remember "too good to be true" is a thing - if the prices are drastically cheaper than what it should be, then it's probably too good to be true. Custom made, by a proper seamstress, will actually be more expensive instead of cheaper. It's worth it for your one of a kind dream dress, though!

Ieie Bridal is on Etsy, she has a WW site with hundreds of good reviews and a real website. I've emailed with her and she is very responsive and informative!

@missiepanda what's the Etsy shop name?

I like the dress in the picture. My gown is by Vera Wang and I am having a lot of things added so basically it is custom. I would be to scared to let some one I don't know that far away handle it. But do what feels right to you!

A Creative Atelier! I was also looking at RaraAvisAngeEtoiles. RaraAvisAngeEtoiles has the most gorgeous dresses but I decided against it since there were only a couple reviews. :'(

I seriously considered it as first but ultimately thought it was too risky.

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Hey! I know this is reviving a kind of old thread, but I would love any further thoughts you have on Theodora James! The sequined work and casual attire looks great, but from Etsy and Instagram photos, I haven't been totally convinced by the construction of the more formal dresses...

View Quoted Comment The construction of my dress was impeccable, including a structured top with bust cups. Truly professional workmanship. My dress was a tea length sheath style, so the skirt was fairly basic, but the top was a full unlined lace back with a dramatic cowl.

Honestly, Portia (that's the designer's name) was just a pleasure to work with. We sent no less than 75 messages back and forth, and her response time was on point. She also sent me fabric swatches and lace samples. I knew it was a risk to order online, but she made me feel pretty confident.

In the end, I regretted one of my design choices, and she allowed me to send the dress back to be altered even though the problem was completely my fault. I couldn't have had a better experience with an Etsy designer.

Hope this helps. Good luck finding your dress!

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Thank you so much for your detailed review It helps a lot. I guess I will definitely have to keep her in mind when the time comes! I wish she had more of her wedding designs on Etsy and Instagram to see.