Ready-to-wear

Nearly all bridal depatrtments and boutiques will offer an alteration service. If they are reputable they won't charge a fortune for this or confuse you into thinking it's made-to-measure. This service is "made-to-fit" and that should be reflected in the price! Be really sure what you are being offered. You can find beautiful dresses among these ranges, and a few with top-ten bridal designer labels. The lesser known labels are where you need to exercise caution; for some inexplicable reason you have to pay a lot more for a ready-to-wear bridal gown than a ready-to-wear ball gown of similar design and fabric. You can pay several hundreds of Euros more for a plain machine sewn cream or white gown with a train. It may even be made of a cheaper fabric than a traditional gown. As with the made-to-measure gowns, examine the garment close up and witha a critical eye. If it looks cheap it is; don't waste your money.