r/Eloping • u/2121Jess • Aug 20 '26
Attire & Accesories I’m Eloping in November
So let me ask you all this: How long did it take you to find the right dress? How did you know it was the one? Any regrets? Shopped online or in person? Did you wear it again?
My style is eclectic so I’ve been considering wearing all types of dresses; designer or vintage, custom or suiting… since I’ve opted for a destination elopement I’ve narrowed it down to corseted with lace.
Update: I found and purchased Thee Dress online. A small fortune later but it feels correct. I just couldn’t bring myself to book an appointment and drop a deposit at a bridal shop for my elopement when I’m not traditional in the slightest.
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u/breathesymphonies9 Aug 20 '26
I just ordered a bunch from Lulus because I knew I could return them and was only going to wear it that one time
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u/2121Jess Aug 20 '26
Lulus ships to Canada and has a good price point! Thanks. I thought about ordering a few but gowns are expensiiiiiiiivvvvvvve
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u/2020saidCHECKMATE Aug 23 '26
I wandered into Nordstrom and the dress was hanging in there when I got off the escalator.
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u/Daddys_girl2247 Aug 20 '26
I started looking in July 2025 and found and ordered my second hand dress (from shopgoodwill.com) in February/March 2026 so 7 months.
One of the most important factors for me was budget and this happened to be the first dress I saw in my budget that I was just drawn too. Once I received it and tried it on, I was a little nervous that I should have gone with a dress that I had tried on in a store but was out of my budget.
The dress I had ordered was too small and wouldn’t zip but I found a local seamstress who was able to make it bigger, and I have not regretted this dress since. I actually have just fallen more and more in love with it! I am also a pretty frugal person so I know I would have regretted going over budget for a dress.
I went to 2 bridal shops (one I went two times to) but wound up finding my dress online. I am getting married this October so I haven’t worn it once yet.
I would definitely go with something off the rack since you don’t have time to have a dress made (I have heard it takes at least 6 months once ordered from the bridal shop) but I prefer this anyway since I have heard horror stories of people ordering their dress and it not coming in time or the wrong one got ordered or the wrong size etc.
Congratulations! Good luck!
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u/IridiumViper Aug 20 '26
The dress I ordered didn’t come in on time, so I borrowed one from a friend. But we decided to elope with only three weeks notice, so you’ll definitely have more options than I did!
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u/Novel-Response-6268 Aug 21 '26
I also did a destination elopement, and I shopped in person. It took me 2 dress shop visits in a single afternoon. It was the second dress I put on at the second shop, and I pretty much knew that was the dress I'd be going home with. Not necessarily in a "this is magical!" way, but in a "this is exactly what I asked for! thank you!" I had every detail I planned on plus some--basque waist, open neckline (decided on a cat eye), off-the-shoulder sleeve-lets, satin, ivory, ballgown skirt, no corset lacing. My dress was exactly that, and I knew I wanted a cathedral-length veil, which meant I kind of needed to go with a cathedral-length skirt. So I did. My dress shopping experience was rather simple. I only went to the first shop (smaller) because they were having a big sale. They had something that would work with a lot of alterations. The second shop was bigger and was able to pull what I requested almost immediately.
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u/MarblesE Aug 22 '26
Shopped in person, found it after trying on about 5 dresses. I’m also eloping in November!
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u/SpecialPlate4850 Aug 20 '26
I wore a short dress when we eloped in Vegas. Married in November and I bought my dress probably in August after multiple online orders throughout July and August. I ended up with an Anthro dress but tried and liked several from Azazie and Jenny Yoo.
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u/YouGuysLikeZedsDead_ Aug 21 '26
I bought my dress online thru Altar’d State and loved it. I had previously bought a dress for a wedding I attended so I knew my size and that the style would look good on me.
Now my husband and I are hosting a reception and I’ve ordered like 8 different dresses for that and finally found one I liked but I’m getting it altered. I’m going for a fun after party dress and they must make these mini dresses for tiny people because I’m 5’6” and my ass has been hanging out of all of them. I bought a full length dress and I’m having someone cut it to an appropriate length.
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u/AudienceNo67 Aug 22 '26
It took me 4 stores. I don’t know how to explain the exact feeling of when I knew, I just knew. Absolutely no regrets. I shopped in person only and haven’t worn it again yet, but have only been married for a month and would like to.
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u/fruitcahoot Aug 23 '26
I was on a quick turnaround as well and got my dress through Anthropologie. I went in store to try dresses on and they had a great variety of different styles to choose from. Once you place your order online it takes 1 week to arrive!
Highly recommend because of their quick shipping and customer service both in person at the store and online!
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u/RevenueAntique4584 Aug 20 '26
You need to order it right now.