When did you buy your dress and did you have to pay a rush fee?

Both shops I went to so far quote a 6 to 8 month timeframe from the date of order to date of delivery of your dress. This was for both Demitrios and for a salon that features Essence gowns. I do know that if they don't have a dress in stock that you want to try on they will located one and borrow it from another retailer. That cost is $100.00 but deducted if you order that dress. I would guess in the case of a rush order it could be really pricy.

July 2016 for my May 2017 wedding.

December 2016 for my September 2017 wedding. I also bought mine off the rack and left with it that day as it was a close out store of a small boutique.

I bought my dress on Easter and it's supposed to be here July 31st. My wedding is September 9th and my first fitting isn't until August 12th; I'm nervous about getting everything done in time. I think like 8 or 9 months would b good.

I ordered in September 2016 for July 2017 wedding. No rush fee.

Hi Kelly! I advise that brides start trying on dresses 10-12 months in advance, and purchase their wedding dress 9 months in advance. Lots of wedding dresses can take up to 6 months to come in, and the average bride has 3 alterations appointments before the wedding. You want to make sure you have enough time for all of that!

WW Dress Shopping Guide

I just bought my dress April for a June wedding no extra fee.. thankfully

I got mine in January for my December wedding- went just to look, fell in love with my dress, and it was on sale, so I got it a little early. Was told it would take 12-16 weeks to come in, and it came in in about 2 weeks, so I feel like I've had it forever! But I'd be worried that 6 months could be a rush.

Bought my dress in November and it arrived in March. My dress shop advised me that many of the designers outsource the manufacturing of gowns to China. Depending upon when you order your dress, Chinese New Year can delay it. I had never heard of such a thing but they advised having a time buffer just in case.

My store recommended 9 months out. I ordered in September for my August wedding and the dress arrived in march

I bought mine 9 months in advance and it took 7 months to come in. I don't know if waiting to visit your family is the best reason to spend unnecessary fees but you may be able to find a place that can get your dress there sooner without fees (like David's Bridal).

I bought my dress in the beginning of December, it is scheduled to be here end of June,some dresses can take up to 9 months to come in and that's not including the 8-10 weeks you should have for alterations

Mine was an October Purchase for a May wedding, arrived end of March, final fitting May 1... cut it kinda close but all will be well!

@Kelly - I went dress shopping with a friend whose mom lived out of town and couldn't make it, I had her on my phone doing FaceTime so she could see her daughter in dresses and even see her try on "the one". I know it's not ideal but it might help.

I got my dress in December 2016 for my March 2018 wedding. My designers turnaround time is roughly 16 weeks, but many are much longer. I wouldn't wait 6 months, I'd go maybe a year

I think it depends on the designer. I purchased my dress in September 2016 and it won't be in until June 2017 (similar time frame with the first dress I purchased and ended up selling - May 2016, came in January 2017). I would give yourself 9-10 months just in case you fall for a designer that takes longer.

I ordered mine a year out. They told me to expect 6-8 months. It came in 4 and the bridal shop was shocked at how quickly it came. My lesson from that was sooner is better than later, because you just never know.

My dress took six months to come in. Then you have to get the dress, get it altered, etc.

I ordered mine in March 2016 for my March 2017 wedding. The shops I was looking at (I had browsed in December 2015 when visiting my family) were suggesting ordering 10 months out (6 months average for the dress to come in, leave 2 months for alterations, add on an extra 2 months in case the dress takes longer to come in). March 2016 (12 months in advance) was the closest I could schedule another visit to my family and the area of the country where we got married without intruding on that 10 month buffer the shops were recommending. I did not have to pay a rush fee.

Thanks so much for all the responses, this is very helpful! It seems like my dress timeline is foolishly short, which is funny because I already took care of most of the big ticket items months ago.

@catlady Thanks, those rush fees are very useful and pretty reasonable! I actually wouldn't be bothered by an extra couple of hundred bucks to make sure my dress is there in time (even though based on this thread I think I'm going to plan an earlier trip home).

@Katie unfortunately I'm close to a thousand miles away and my mom hates to travel although she will be traveling for the wedding.

@Madeline That would be a great idea but I recently moved to a new city/ state for a job and only know FH, who is certain he doesn't want to see the dress before the big day. And I don't want him to see it either, haha. So to have any hope of shopping with anyone I know, I have to travel pretty far.

I just ordered mine for my wedding next year (but I also work in fashion, so getting a dress was pretty high on my priority list). Mine is taking 8 months for them to make, and then time for fittings as well. I should have some time left over, which I like.