AW Bridal vs BHLDN for March 2023 | Best Wedding Dress Stores

Item: AW Bridal vs BHLDN
Rating: 3
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Tuesday, March 21st

2023 Wedding Dress Store Reviews

AW Bridal

Save 5% on your first order with email signup
30-day return policy
Custom tailoring for free

Just because AW Bridal has the word "bridal" in their name doesn't mean they are very helpful when it comes to finding a wedding dress. They have a good selection of beautiful, timeless bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride dresses and accessories, but they only have 19 wedding dresses to choose from. Their prices are fair, and they do have very positive reviews from customers, but you won't find a lot of variety. Bridal gowns are custom tailored to ensure the perfect fit before shipping out, so it will take around 3 weeks for you to receive your order. Overall AW Bridal is a great retailer, but we can't guarantee you'll find a wedding dress style you like since there isn't much to choose from.

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BHLDN

Free shipping with email subscription
30-day return policy
Over 100 wedding dress styles

BHLDN (pronounced "beholden" ) is a high-end retailer that specializes in formal dresses. The company is owned by Anthropolgie and they say they "cater to the bride in search of unusually beautiful things." BHLDN sells extravagant and elegant dresses for brides, bridesmaids, flower girls, mothers of the bride. Initially they look like an enticing place to find a wedding dress, but customers would beg to differ. Not only are prices sky high, but some customers complain of damaged items or orders that never arrive. Trying to get a refund and work with customer service is reportedly a major hassle and often proves fruitless. Unsurprisingly, BHLDN has a "D" rating from the Better Business Bureau. Despite their appealing inventory, we are not impressed with this company.

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The 10 Best Wedding Dress Stores

Where is the Best Place to Buy a Wedding Dress?

It may be one of the most important pieces of clothing a woman will ever buy. As something that many girls dream of from a young age, it symbolizes one of the most memorable days of her life. Every bride wants to feel beautiful, confident, and special in her wedding dress - finding the right one is a big deal!

However, finding the right wedding dress is no easy task. Brides want their dress to reflect their style and remain attractive since it will be memorialized in wedding photos for years to come. In short, it has to feel perfect! No bride wants to wear a wedding dress design that many other women have worn, so it's helpful to find a retailer with hundreds of styles to choose from. It may take weeks or even months to settle on "the" dress, but the hunt will be well worth the time.

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Wedding Dress Store FAQ

I just said "YES"! When should I start shopping for the dress?

Congratulations! You can start looking for your dress whenever you like, but a good rule of thumb is to have your date and venue arranged first - so that you'll have an idea of the season, look and theme for your wedding. (For example, a beach wedding in August requires a very different dress from a cathedral wedding in January!)

How much does a wedding dress cost?

Most off-the-rack dresses will fall somewhere in the $500-$3000 range, but you can find options priced much lower and much higher. You'll likely need alterations as well, so don't forget to factor in those costs (which will depend on which service you use).

Why would I buy a wedding dress online?

In today's world, you can buy anything on the web - including a wedding dress! In fact, as many as 20% of brides in the US get their dresses online. If you've had a hard time finding one that you love locally, the internet may be your best option. Online retailers of wedding dresses make it much easier to find the right sizes, hottest trends, and all of the accessories to match.

How do I know which size to order?

That can be tricky, but almost every single online wedding dress store has a helpful sizing guide. You can usually reach out to the store's customer service team for extra help in taking measurements and finding several dresses to choose from that should be a good fit. Keep in mind that wedding dresses tend to be sized differently from regular clothes, often 1-2 sizes higher than what you wear day-to-day. (So unfair, we know!)

Is shipping expensive?

For wedding dresses, it's usually free. (Good luck finding anything else about your wedding that will be!) A few retailers have a minimum order requirement, but let's be honest: with as much as you'll spend on a wedding dress, you probably won't have a hard time reaching that amount!

My dress arrived. It doesn't fit (or I hate it). Can I return it?

That's probably the biggest fear brides-to-be have when buying their wedding dress online, but rest assured that most stores let you send it back - as long as it's still in new condition with all tags attached (no wearing it for your big day and then returning it!). Make sure you read the return policy of any store you're considering for your purchase, though: some don't accept returns under any circumstances!

What else do I need besides the wedding dress?

When budgeting and planning for wedding attire, many brides forget that it's not just the dress. You'll need shoes, any desired accessories like a veil, gloves, and/or jewelry, and suitable undergarments!

How do I preserve my dress after the wedding?

Great question, because without preservation your dress may yellow or oxidize, experience mold or mildew, or be permanently creased in the wrong places. You can pay a professional to preserve your wedding dress; expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $700 for the service.

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Shopping online not only makes it convenient to find thousands of unique wedding dress styles, but it also allows you to find the best prices. Wedding dresses can easily cost a few thousand dollars, and being able to compare prices between retailers can save you hundreds of dollars! You can view multiple dresses at once and do easy comparisons to make the decision process as stress-free as it can be. You'll also save yourself hours by not having to drive to and from different wedding dress retailers .

As you browse different retailers for wedding dresses, there are some essential things to keep in mind:

Selection: Are there plenty of designs and styles that fit your taste? Are most wedding dresses in stock? Or will you have to wait weeks or months for them to ship?
Quality: Are customers able to leave unfiltered reviews and include photos of themselves in the wedding dresses purchased from the retailer? What does the Better Business Bureau say about the reliability of the company?
Return Policy: There is no messing around when it comes to having your wedding dress fit perfectly and be top quality, especially when you're not trying it on before you place your order. If a dress arrives and doesn't meet your standards, can you send it back for free alterations or a full refund? Make sure the retailer stands behind their wedding dresses 100%.

TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best wedding dress stores available online. We hope this information helps you find the wedding dress of your dreams for your big day!