Bridal Gowns - Pick Of The Best Designer Wedding Gowns on Amazon

Hunting for a fairytale wedding gown is every bride's joy and worst nightmare. Designs you've seen in the glossy pages of Vogue and Tatler look beautiful on the models, only for you to notice the dreaded price tag. With a heavy heart you retreat into a world of cut outs and clippings of your favourite dresses.

The venue is booked, the jewellers have your rings ready for collection and the race has started to decide between a meringue shaped dress, a delicate lace column dress or something in figure hugging satin....

Once you get to the bridal store there's the fittings - endless hours of being pinned and tucked into swathes of white tulle, cream silk, lace and taffeta, and there's no guarantee your made to measure dress will look exactly how you first thought it would. Then you will endure the cost of having your dress carefully cut, pinned and stitched, and the countless after work trips to the boutique for more fittings, which can go on for weeks until your dress fits perfectly.

Designer Wedding Dresses Without The Expensive Price Tag
Finding your dream wedding dress doesn't have to mean spending thousands of pounds of hard earned cash on a made to measure gown, especially since you are only likely to wear your dress once on your special day. The credit-crunch has made us more aware of bridal collections in High Street stores, such as Monsoon, M&S, Debenhams and House of Fraser, and while these dresses look pretty, nothing beats the fit and cut of a beautiully designed couture bridal gown.

Designer wedding gowns add magic and sparkle to a fairytale day and it's always charming to meet a coterie of designers who greet you and your bridesmaids with champagne and smiles. The sheer elegance and amazing service from boutiques such as Vera Wang, Amanda Wakeley, Beverley Lister and Caroline Castigliano is worth all the effort. However, digging deep into your pockets for a dress you are likely to wear just once will cause a certain amount of angst.

I love Beverley Lister's vintage designs and romantic lace chic (especially the tiered laced Flamenco dress for hippy chicks - see right), and I adore the classical elegance of a Caroline Castigliano column gown from the Opulent Collection, made in taffeta and lace. However, for many brides, the economic downturn doesn't permit designer prices, especially if you are hoping to hold a lavish wedding reception in a country house or hotel. I've known friends who are longing to buy a designer gown, but who instead opt for a high street dress and wonder right up until their big day whether they have made the right choice.

Fear not. If you still want to find a couture gown, then I recommend looking on Amazon. Initially, this might sound like a no frills, impersonal way of discovering your dream gown. Granted, it's not as exciting as walking into a boutique and trying on exquisite dream dresses in the hope of finding the one, and even though here are no designers welcoming you with smiles or champagne, it's still a good, economical way of tracking down a dress shape and design that you know will be suitable. I'm not trying to launch into a huge sales pitch, but it honestly works. Although this is not a particularly romantic way of discovering your dress, I can vouch for friends who have found their perfect gown online. Amazon and EBay have sellers who stock gowns and prom dresses at affordable prices and what's more, some of the Chinese and Thai designers take your measurements online and fit you for a dress. One of my friends buys all her evening dresses in this way and the cut of the fabric looks perfect. The dress may need slightly altering around the bust or neckline, but a skilled seamstress can put that right, providing you buy one size above your usual dress size. The best designers offering this service are: www.aphrobridal.com. Please make allowances for fabric colour and texture.

Looking through Amazon's pictures of evening gowns and prom dresses is worth it. Many of them are stunning, like dresses by Jonathan James (shown above). Very often, you will pay less than half the price for an eye-catching dress. However, you must be certain of your measurements. If you are unsure about your size, read the seller's size chart details very carefully. I must emphasise that if the sizes aren't clear, then it's vital to buy one dress size above your usual size. That way a good seamstress will be able to sew darts and tucks into your dress. If a dress is too tight you will either be looking at sewing in panels or worst case scenario, being unable to wear your gown.

Knowing what suits you is vitally imporant when buying online. Try on some high street evening gowns to see what cuts favour your figure and only order a dress you know will work. There is always a leap of faith involved when ordering a wedding dress in this way, so only order online when you are absolutely sure the dress is what you are looking for. A good seller will provide details about the dress fabric, the cut, the design, measurements and details. Always read the small print.

Whatever you do, I hope you find your fairytale wedding dress.

Fiona Lister

Classic, contemporary designs, such as Mori Lee Blu, specialise in timeless elegant gowns.  This wonderful tulle dress (right) with ruched bodice, featuring a crystal motif on one side has a full skirt and detachable train for easy wear. This dress has not been worn, but is of sample stock condition.