FAQ

You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers!

We’ve compiled a list of the most common asked questions to help you learn a little bit more about us, our wedding dresses, accessories, and shopping tips.

If you don’t see your question below, please drop us a quick note here.

Why The Last Minute Bride?

We’re budget friendly! Whether you are planning a $50,000 wedding or $5,000 wedding we can help you find the dress of your dreams. Who wouldn’t want to feel beautiful and save on their wedding dress? We like to think of it as leaving extra room in your budget for a fabulous pair of shoes!

  • Instant Gratification! Don't wait 6-12 months to order your wedding dress when you can have your rush order wedding dress delivered by The Last Minute Bride in a matter of days.
  • Need a wedding dress fast? We’ve got a wedding dress for you! All of our wedding dresses and accessories are in-stock and ready to ship within 24 hours.
  • Unique Styles! Our inventory comes from bridal gown designers and bridal boutiques all over the world, just like a wedding dress sample sale online we give you access to styles and price points outside of your region.
  • It’s Easy! Order from the comfort of your home, your office, or your best friend’s living room. Browse our collection at your leisure, and then let us deliver your wedding dress or accessories to your door. We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • No Risk Returns! We understand purchasing your wedding dress online can be stressful, and we offer a very flexible return policy to make sure your get the wedding dress of your dreams.
Where do you get your inventory?

We deal directly with top bridal gown designers, manufacturers and authorized bridal salon retailers throughout the country. Our 10+ years in the industry has allowed us to build an amazing network of bridal industry professionals we work with on a regular basis.

Each wedding dress in our inventory has been hand-selected for its unique characteristics and charm. We firmly believe there is a bride for every wedding dress and do our best to bring you an extensive variety of styles at amazing prices!

Are your wedding dresses 100% authentic designer couture bridal gowns?

Yes, all of our wedding gowns are 100% authentic designer bridal gowns. We do not sell knock-off or imitation dresses. They have either come to us directly from the designer or from an Authorized Retailer. All authenticity is verified when a dress arrives in our studio.

Are your wedding dresses brand new, or have they been worn?

Each wedding dress listing will disclose the condition of the dress: New with Tags or Sample. We do not sell “shop worn” samples. All dresses that may have been a sample have been professionally cleaned and are ready to walk down the aisle. Our dresses come ready to wear and do not require any repairs and show no signs of damage.

What is the price range of your wedding dresses?

Our wedding dresses range in price from $199 - $2,999 at up to 85% off retail. we strive to keep our wedding dresses affordable and inexpensive with the majority of our wedding dresses priced between $300 - $1,200.

How do I know what size to buy?

Wedding dress sizes are based on a completely different size chart then what you find on the clothes you purchase for everyday wear (i.e. Macy’s, Nordstrom). It is important to keep this in mind when looking at the size listed on the designer's label. We carry a variety of sizes including plus size bridal salon sizes.

All of our wedding dress listings include the Bust, Waist & Hips measurement based on the wedding dress designers size chart. We recommend checking out our Measurement & Sizing Guide to get information on how to take your measurements for comparison.

How do I take my measurements?

We always recommend our brides get measured by a professional in the appropriate undergarments when evaluating the correct size for their wedding dress. See our Measurement & Sizing Guide for additional details and suggestions for measurements.

Do you provide alterations?

We do not provide alterations, however we have relationships with seamstresses throughout the United States and would be happy to provide a referral if available.

Where is The Last Minute Bride located?

All of our dresses ship out of our bridal studio in beautiful Northern California, just a short drive from San Francisco. We also have a second bridal studio located in Southern Ohio where we process incoming and outgoing shipments of dresses. 

Can I come and see your wedding dresses or accessories in person prior to purchasing?

At this time we do not have a retail location for our brides to come and look at our wedding dresses or accessories in person. We are strictly an online e-boutique. This allows us to keep our prices very competitive without the overhead costs of a store front and additional staff. Our set up also ensures our wedding dresses stay in top condition and are not consistently tried on by brides or used as “try on samples” daily.

Is it safe to order online?

We understand purchasing your wedding dress or accessories online can save you a significant amount of money, but can also become stressful. We’re here to make your shopping experience as easy as possible. We inspect our wedding dresses at the time of the listing and prior to shipment. We do our best to disclose as much information as possible in the description and with photos of the dress to assist you in finding the perfect dress. If you are dissatisfied with your purchase, contact us immediately via email (within 24 hours of delivery). All sales are final after 24 hours of delivery. We will discuss your situation and at our discretion, will consider options for exchange, store credit or refund. Items returned without authorization are refused and sent back to the sender. For additional information review our Return Policy.

How do I pay for my wedding dress or accessories?

We process all of our payments via PayPal. You may choose to use any major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover), your PayPal account, or your checking account.

Will I have any additional charges?

Purchases made by brides in the United States (except California) will pay in full the price of the wedding dress and shipping/handling at the time of purchase. There will be no additional charges at the time of delivery. California sales tax will be added to all shipments within the state of California.

Purchases made by our International Brides will be responsible for any duty/customs/taxes incurred during the shipment of your dress or accessories. Buyer is responsible for all import duties, taxes and charges imposed by your country’s customs & imports office when your order enters your country. These fees and taxes are not included in the price of the item purchased or shipping charges paid.  Payment is usually collected at the time of delivery by the shipping company. Any delay in arrival as a result of your shipment being processed or help by customs & imports is not the responsibility of The Last Minute Bride

International Brides are encouraged to contact their local customs office for an estimate of additional charges, if any, will occur. We cannot refund any purchase amount or shipping fees if you do not pay any taxes or duty assessed by your country, resulting in your order being returned to us or orders confiscated by your local customs office for lack of payment.

How soon will I receive my wedding dress or accessories?

All of the wedding dresses in our inventory are ready for immediate shipment. Unless otherwise noted, we will ship your wedding dress or accessories within 3-5 business days of receipt of payment.

When will I receive tracking information for my order?

After placing your order you will receive an order confirmation email. Please be sure to check your junk mail folder and promotional folder in case your email gets sorted. A second email will be sent to you when the shipping label is created. This will include the tracking information for your shipment and estimated shipping day. Once your order has shipped please allow one business day for the respective shipping company’s website to update with the estimated delivery information.

Where do you ship?

We are pleased to ship to brides all over the world. Please send us an email with your location to confirm availability. International shipments may incur additional duty/customs/taxes, which are the responsibility of the buyer.

What shipping methods do you use?

Standard shipping is FedEx Ground for all shipments within the USA. For International Shipments we use Priority International Mail via the USPS. All dresses are shipped insured with a signature required for delivery. Accessories are shipped insured with tracking information (insurance and signature requirement are an additional charge).

Can I cancel an order after it's been placed?
Once an order has been received it cannot be cancelled or modified without a 15% restocking fee. You are also welcome to initiate a Return or Exchange for an item after it has been received. 
Can I add to my order after it's been placed? 
If your order has not been shipped we would be happy to combine shipping with a second order of items. Please reach out to us to coordinate and to confirm if this option is available. 
Will the gown be safe getting to me?

All wedding dresses are shipped with insurance provided by the shipping company.  We also require a signature for delivery to ensure that your wedding dress will not be left unattended at the time of delivery.

Your items will be packaged with expert care to ensure a safe arrival. Should your wedding dress get damaged during shipment, please take a photo before opening. If your wedding dress or ordered items are also damaged please get in touch by email to hello@thelastminutebride with your name, address, order number, details of the damage and attach a photo to your email. All cases of damage will be handled on an individual basis and must be submitted to us, via email in writing, within 24 hours of delivery. We are unable to assist with damaged items after 24 hours or if they show signs of wear/tear or use.

I don’t see the specific wedding dress or accessories I’m looking for; will you contact me if you receive it?
Absolutely! We would be happy to help. Send us a Gown Inquiry Here (INSERT FORM) with information on the wedding dress or accessories you’re looking for. We’ll do a search in our database to see if we can locate a wedding dress or accessories for you. We’ll also keep you on our “Priority Watch List” and gladly notify you if it becomes available, at a later date, prior to listing it on our site.

Your wedding dresses are gorgeous! Do you sell anything else?

At this time we only offer wedding dresses and select accessories: belts, veils and jewelry. Our buyers are busy sourcing amazing deals on wedding related items, so let us know what specific dress and accessories you want to see! We are always happy to get suggestions from our brides to add to our store.

What happens if I refuse a delivery?

Refunds for the product cost and shipping cost are non-refundable for undelivered packages or refused deliveries. This includes shipments returned to us for non-existent addresses, marked undeliverable by the shipping company  or un-paid duty and tax assessed by your country’s customs & import office, or confiscated by your country’s customs and import office for lack of payment. Only orders that follow our Return & Exchange policy will be eligible for a return or exchange.

What is your return policy?

We want you to be thrilled with your wedding dress or accessories and beaming from ear to ear when wearing it. After receiving it, you must notify us within 24 hours of receipt of the wedding dress or accessories if you feel it isn’t the one for you and would like to return it. Please review our complete Return Policy for additional information. All sales are final if a return authorization has not been requested and issued by us within 24 hours of delivery. Items returned without authorization are refused and sent back to the sender. All shipping and handling charges are non-refundable. Our return and exchange policy only applies to dresses purchased directly from us off of on our website thelastminutebride.com Dresses purchased on any other listing/marketing site are subject to that sites return policy and are final sale.