There are many ways of cutting costs on your big day, but would you buy a cheap wedding dress off eBay? Is it safe? Will you get the wedding dress you want? Every bride wants to look fabulous on their big day, and with eBay it is possible to buy a designer wedding dress that retails for many hundreds of pounds that is selling for $100 or less.

You could consider having a dress specially made for you by a designer who advertises their services on eBay, or you could even get your hands on exactly the right vintage wedding dress you’ve always dreamed of. The question is, how sure can you be that buying the dress on eBay is going to get you the right dress delivered in the right timeframe?

The pros of using eBay to save money on your wedding dress include:

• There are hundreds of designer dresses to choose from, both new and used.
• If you lose one dress, you’ll soon find another similar one.
• You can search for a specific designer and see what's available.
• You have the whole world as your marketplace.
• Easy to find bespoke, tailor made offerings.
• Sell-out sales by wedding dress retailers.
• You get some security by choosing Power Sellers and reviewing the feedback of other buyers.

But beware, there are cons as well. Here goes:

• Photos may be catalogue photos and not the actual dress.
• You can't inspect the dress, so you're buying as seen.
• Clothes sizes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer so the dress may need altered when you get it home.
• Sellers may not point out any or all flaws in used wedding dresses such as stains, tears or other damage.
• The “designer” dress may be a copy rather than an original.
• Shipping costs may be high because of packaging costs and insurance.
• New dresses that have been stored may be age-dusty and require professional cleaning.

Although you will never be 100% certain that the dress you buy from an eBay seller is as good as it seems until you actually see it and are able to try it on, there are some things you can do to decrease the possibility of disappointment.

• Feedback! There’s a reason why eBay has a feedback section. Make sure your seller has at least a 99% positive feedback rating. Read the comments to see what other buyers have to say about the seller. This is especially important if you are tempted into buying a custom-made dress.
• Measurement. Your wedding dress must fit perfectly. Make sure that you have yourself accurately measured. Use these measurements when finding a cheap wedding dress.
• Contact. Your wedding dress may not be the most expensive item on your budget, but it’s going to be something that you want to be perfect so don’t be afraid to ask the seller questions before you make a bid. One thing you must make sure about is whether or not the seller has a returns policy so that you can send the dress back and have your money refunded if you’re not happy with it.
• Features. If you are buying a designer dress, learn what the original designer uses as their signature features and ask the seller to describe (without telling them) those particular parts of the wedding dress where a signature feature should be seen.
• Timing. When bidding on a wedding dress make sure that you leave enough time to send the dress back and find another just in case the dress isn’t the same as you expected it to be.

Ebay is a great place to find a cheap wedding dressand it’s more than possible to get a great deal on the perfect dress. So would you buy your wedding dress off eBay? Take care to follow the advice and there’s no reason you won’t be able to find the dress of your dreams within a budget you can afford.