Buyer FAQs for Nearly-New Wedding Dresses
Encore Bridal is excited to offer brides a way to purchase an unforgettable bridal gown at an enviable price. Saving money here will allow you to spend more in other areas. Go ahead…get the honeymoon suite, book your favorite band, or buy a piece of furniture for your new house.
1. Why Encore Bridal?
Encore Bridal, LLC is a business, not an individual seller selling one wedding gown. We want each and every bride to be thrilled with their purchase and we want you to tell your friends how they too can purchase the discounted designer wedding dress of their dreams. Our business is reliant on making brides happy and we strive to make every bride's shopping experience consistently excellent. At Encore Bridal you will experience...
*Breathtaking designer wedding dresses that are unexpectedly affordable.
*The convenience of shopping in the comfort of your own home from a secure and beautiful online boutique.
*Bridal gowns that have been hand-selected and are guaranteed to be authentic and ready to walk down the aisle.
*"Last chance" wedding gown styles no longer available at retail salons.
*A generous Return Policy unlike most other online or retail stores.
*A way to homage to the environment - "upcyling" wedding dresses helps the global effort to reduce the use of the earth's natural resources.
*Women supporting women - we donate a portion of each sale to charities that support cervical cancer research and education.
2. Have all of your dresses been worn?
No, we offer a vast selection of sample wedding dresses and pre-owned new wedding dresses, in addition to gently used wedding dresses.
3. Why buy a nearly-new wedding dress?
When you buy a nearly new wedding dress you have the opportunity to share in the love and joy with another bride, engage in an earth friendly practice (reuse and recycle!) and of course, save money.
4. Why buy a “couture” high-end designer wedding gown?
Beside thoughtful cutting-edge designs, high-end designer wedding dresses are usually made of high-quality silks, which have a look and feel completely different from the synthetic fabrics that are used for other designer wedding gowns. In addition, the craftsmanship of these gowns is remarkable, frequently including double lining, built-in petticoat, built-in corset, invisible zipper, and perfectly straight French seams.
5. What is the price range of your gowns?
Our gowns range in price from $1000-$7000 with the average price being $2000. The prices of our gowns reflect a 30-70% discount off the retail price.
6. How do I know what size to buy?
In the title of each gown we've noted whether the size of that gown is a "designer size" or a "casual dress size". "Designer Size" means that the dress has not been altered and the measurements are those of the designer's. In some cases we've included the designer's measurements in the dress description, or you can look at the size chart for that designer. Have someone take your measurements and compare those to the measurements of the dress (see "how to" under measuring). Designer sizes usually run 1-2 sizes smaller than customary sizing. "Casual Dress Size" is the customary sizing of today's clothing. It is what size dress you would purchase off the rack at a department store. Most dresses which list the casual dress size have been altered (but not all). We've attempted to include the seller's bust, waist, and hip measurements when able.
7. In what condition are your bridal gowns?
All of our gowns are EBI inspected and certified. As a part of this certification process, all items are thoroughly inspected prior to accepting them for consignment to ensure that there is minimal evidence of wear and damage, and that worn gowns have been professionally cleaned. We also inspect items prior to shipment to confirm that the condition at time of shipping is consistent with the written description. Most of our samples have been cleaned (a $300-$400 value), but some may require cleaning. We've noted this in our description of the gown under "condition". To find out more about our condition ratings and the EBI inspection process visit our Condition Guidelines Page.
8. Where do you get your inventory?
The gowns on our site have been hand-selected and thoroughly inspected by us. Some of our gowns are brought to us by brides who are looking to pass on a gown they loved and recoup some of their costs. We also receive sample gowns from upscale bridal boutiques that need to open-up space to allow for new inventory, or straight from the designers themselves. We have turned down many requests to sell gowns on our site because we are committed to bringing you only the most worthy gowns.
9. I live in the Northern California Bay Area, can I see your gowns in person prior to purchasing?
We are committed to bringing brides luxury brands for less. In order to keep our prices as low as possible, we offer couture wedding dresses through the e-Boutique.
As an e-Boutique we are able to keep our overhead lower and pass the savings on to you. We understand that Northern California Bay Area brides may want to see a gown in person prior to purchasing or may want to avoid shipping fees. We are happy to make an appointment with you at our San Francisco showroom. Please fill out our style consultation form and we will respond within 24 hours with dress suggestions and open appointment times.
10. Is all of your online inventory also in your showroom?
No, many of the accessories you see in our e-Boutique are for online purchase only. All of the wedding gowns listed are currently in our e-boutique.
11. Is it safe to order online?
Yes! We use highly secure SSL technology to keep your information safe. If you do not feel comfortable purchasing an item through our online store, you may complete a telephone order by calling 310.545.1409.
12. Do you provide alterations?
We do not have a seamstress on staff, however, for your convenience local seamstress, Laura Hazlett, will meet EB brides in our showroom for alterations. Don't live in the bay area? Please refer to the alterations page for other recommended alterations shops.
13. I don’t see the specific gown I’m looking for, will you contact me if you receive it?
Yes, just tell us the gown you’re looking for, and if it comes in, we will contact you first, before posting it to our catalog. We also post New Arrivals to our site bi-weekly.
