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You have been flipping through the magazines, cruising the internet, and spent weeks trying on countless wedding gowns, all in the hopes of finding that one dream dress. And then you finally do, only to discover that it is much more expensive than you had anticipated. The sad truth is that brides who are in love with a designer gown can fall victim to discounters who are not able to deliver on their promises. This is how to sort through all of the options to decipher which wedding gown discounts are legitimate, and which are nothing but scams.

Rule number one: do not buy a wedding gown online from an unknown company. This goes double for an overseas company. That fly-by-night website promoting Vera Wang gowns at half the going rate is almost certainly selling cheap knock-offs. The counterfeit gowns will bear only the smallest resemblance to the real thing when they arrive – if they arrive at all.

This is not to say that good prices on great gowns can not be had online, just as can be found for accessories like bridal jewelry sets. They can, from companies like J Crew who offer simple silk gowns with the usual benefits of ordering from a catalog (and who have bridal specials to assist you). When ordering from a legal company, you know that you will have the option to return the dress if it does not look like the picture, it turns out to be unflattering, or if you simply do not care for it in person. This can be a great option for brides who need their gowns in a hurry, as well (Vegas, anyone?).

Buying a bridal gown from an individual through a private sale can be a great way to get a super deal or it can lead to disappointment. Every day in newspapers are ads for unworn gowns from canceled weddings. If you can get past the bad karma attached to the dress, you may find a hidden gem. Craig's list is another resource that might have good deals on good dresses, but it can also be a source for scams. Never buy a gown sight unseen in a private sale! This rules out eBay completely. While there are certainly plenty of designer gowns that have been discounted for a legitimate reason on the auction sites, there are also plenty of counterfeit or mis-represented wedding dresses. It simply is not worth the risk.

The one way to know for certain that you will be getting the top name gown you order is to work with a bridal shop who is an authorized retailer. A very simple way to determine this is to visit the website of the designer whose gown you covet. Going through an authorized retailer will not get you rock bottom prices, but it will get you the gown you want. In the end, it is worth it.

There are a few tricks to getting the best price on a designer gown through a reputable shop. The bridal store will not be allowed to discount under normal circumstances, however, they can offer a deal during designer trunk shows, usually on any dress from the featured brand, even if the dress is not part of the truck show selections. Sample sales are the best way to get a fine designer gown for as little as 50% of the original price. Most salons will hold sales on the floor samples at least twice a year. Plan to shop the first day for the best selection. Another idea? If there is no discount available on the gown you covet, ask the shop owner if it offers a deal on the accessories like veils, headpieces, and sets of bridal jewelry with a gown purchase. You may be able to save at least a little on those other things to help make up the difference if you go over your budget budget.

Remember that shopping for a wedding gown is like anything else: if the deals seems too good to be true, it probably is. Do not allow your emotions to overwhelm your head, and you will be able to suss out the best deal on a genuine designer gown without falling prey to a wedding dress scam.

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Source by Laura Firenze