When every girl dreams about their wedding, there is one thing that they spend more time and effort imagining, in detail, than the rest – the dress! Besides the betrothal itself, the wedding dress is one of the most important things of the day. You want it to showcase your unique personality and individuality on one of the biggest days of your life. It’s no wonder that it can be a little stressful to find your dream elopement dress.

Before saying yes to the dress, there are some important things to take into consideration. Let’s take a look at them, and then we will dive into the fun stuff – where and how to find an elopement dress that is the perfect fit.

How are you going to transport your elopement dress?

First and foremost, the ideal elopement wedding dress needs to be easy to transport and easy to move around in, after all it is an elopement, and you most likely will be taking a plane. You might be thinking: How do I fly with a wedding dress? You will want a dress that you can easily take with you as a carryon item, as there are not many wedding dress fabrics that will do well with being shoved in a suitcase. It’s best to keep it in a dry cleaning bag, and then in a garment bag, preferably high quality and water-resistent. It is of the utmost important that you DO NOT check or ship the gown. You run the risk of it arriving late, or even worse, not arriving at all and getting completely lost in the Bermuda Triangle.

Almost all airlines will allow you to carryon a garment bag with your wedding dress. Check the website to verify information regarding “unusual” carryon baggage, and if in doubt, give them a call or chat with them online to make sure you are good to go with your garment bag, though it should be no problem.

What is the destination like?

Of course, with any wedding dress, you should consider the location – both in terms of the vibe of the scenery and the weather you will be dealing with.

It’s super important to consider the climate of your elopement destination and the types of weather you will be up against. If you’re eloping in a colder climate, you might want to think about layers—a cozy shawl or fur to keep you warm while still looking amazing. For warmer climates, go for something breathable and lightweight to keep you cool and comfortable, and if you’re somewhere it might rain, like many of the mountainous locations in the northwest USA, consider a dress that dries quickly or doesn’t get too heavy when wet.

Not only should you consider the weather, but also the style you are going for. For a beach elopement, you might want something light and airy, whereas, in the mountains, you might want a more bohemian style lace dress. Either way, it is important that it feels comfortable to move and walk around in. Soft, breathable fabrics like chiffon are great for that. There are many types of chiffon though, silk chiffon, cotton chiffon, rayon chiffon, etc. They all have slightly different properties, for example, silk chiffon is more shimmery and cotton chiffon is more matte. Additionally, silk chiffon will be more breathable than rayon chiffon, though also more expensive. Talk with the designer or someone knowledgeable about wedding dress fabrics to decide if it will be suitable for the location and climate you will be going to, and also make sure it is the style you are looking for.

How to add style while also thinking about convenience?

Just as with the concept of elopement, elopement dresses tend to be a bit more low-key, relaxed, and versatile, though that is not to say that you need to compromise on style. In fact, eloping means you’re throwing out the rule book, so don’t feel pressured to wear a traditional wedding dress if that’s not your vibe. Wear whatever makes you feel beautiful and confident. Your wedding should be about you, and your dress should scream YOU! Do you love color? Go for a bold red or a soft blush gown. Obsessed with vintage fashion? Rock that tea-length dress or puffy sleeves. Want something non-traditional? Go ahead and try a jumpsuit.

If you are someone who wants drama, but you are not sure how to achieve that without big bulky ball-gown dresses that will be hard to transport, try to find a dress with fun details, like a unique neckline, fun beading or lace, or even a bit of sparkle. Or you can also wear a simple dress and have fun with the accessories! A flower crown, colorful shawls, statement earrings, or a cowboy hat can elevate your look and show a bit of your personality. And don’t forget about your bouquet—it can be as wild and free as your elopement plans!

One of the most important accessories is the shoes. If you’re going to be walking through fields, climbing rocks, or traipsing through the city, make sure your shoes are up to the task. For a hiking elopement, you will need hiking boots. Whether you decide to wear them in your photos, or change into something more dainty is completely up to you. You will just have to carry them with you. Depending on the location, you could also just go barefoot, especially for beach or shore elopements.

Where can I get an elopement wedding dress?

Now on to the fun stuff – where to buy an elopement dress. There are a few options, and you should look at as many of them as you feel necessary to find the dress of your dreams. Here are some good places to start your search.

Traditional Wedding Dress Boutiques

Because of the unique requirements of an elopement dress, it might be difficult to find at a traditional shop, though that is still a great place to start looking. Tell the dress assistant what you are looking for in terms of breathable fabric, flowy and easy to move in, etc., and they are sure to help find dresses to fit that bill. The best part about shopping in person is you can try it on before you buy it.

Discount Department Stores

Think of TJ Maxx but the department store version. You can find high quality, name brand dresses for a discounted price. Some of the best for wedding dresses are Nordstrom Rack, Saks of Fifth, Neiman Marcus Last Call, and Bloomingdales The Outlet Store. They have in-store versions, but there will be more variety online.

Online Shops

In the age of the internet, everything is at our fingertips. Why not the wedding dress of your dreams? There are so many wedding dress shops online. Here are some of my favorites.

Etsy:

One of my absolute favourite places to shop for pretty much anything I want to be unique and one of a kind is Etsy. From dog clothes, to décor items, and even wedding dresses, you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for on Etsy. If not, you can often reach out to the sellers to see if they can make you a custom elopement wedding dress. Though, as with every online shop, it is important to check the reviews of the seller.

Anthropologie:

The Anthropologie website has lots of gorgeous dresses, jumpsuits, and matching sets, so you can really find something to fit your personality and style. It also offers a great range of plus size options, as many of the wedding dress styles are available in plus size up to size 26 – though the jumpsuits and sets are more limited in sizing.

Reformation:

This online dress shop offers a slightly more affordable alternative to Anthropologie. The only issue is that the size options are quite limited. Though they do have plus size options in their regular dresses (not wedding gowns) so that is always a good place to look as well, as some of those gowns are stunning and would work quite well for an elopement wedding dress.

Lulus:

This is another very popular online shop to find extremely affordable wedding dresses. This is the place to look if you are on a very slim budget. All of the dresses are around $150, but some even go on sale for around $40! They do not offer plus sized options on all styles, but they have a decent selection of styles that go up to a size 3XL, though, still not quite as good as Anthropologie’s selection.

Rental Dresses

Another budget friendly option that also happens to be eco-friendly is to rent a dress. There are many rental dress boutiques online. You can go to websites like Dare and Dazzle (where you have the option to rent or buy), or you can search on Instagram, as some dress rental companies are IG only. Another option is to reach out to your elopement photographer to see if they have any rental companies they have worked with for recommendations.

Eloping is all about celebrating your love in a way that feels true to you. Your dress should be no different. So, take your time, try on lots of options, and go with what makes you feel your best. I hope this guide has given you some great options for where to buy an elopement wedding dress and what to consider when shopping. Whatever you choose, you’re going to look absolutely stunning, and you are going to make amazing memories with the love of your life!