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If you are “bride to be,” you know how hard and time-consuming finding your dream dress can be. Add to that the fact that the conventional route of booking appointments with one bridal shop after the other is more challenging in this new era of ours - many shops have had to close and many are harder to access under various state guidelines; however, there are more convenient alternatives to getting the wedding dress of your dreams--especially if you are looking for something unique, handmade, and custom-made just for you!
Etsy is a great platform to buy your wedding dress because it features hundreds of wedding dress shops with dresses that are handmade from scratch to finish by talented designers and artisans who really know their craft and can even customize your dress to your preferences.
If that sounds good to you and you are looking for the best and most established stores to buy your dress from, here are our top 12 picks:
The Best Handmade Wedding Dress Shops on Etsy
This Canadian-based shop is probably among the top 5 most popular wedding shops on Etsy with over 24K sales since 2009 when they first opened their Etsy shop. The shop is renowned for its exquisite, luxurious, and simplistic designs when it comes to wedding dresses and while they do not have a wide range of styles, if you are looking for something simple, airy, and romantic, they are still a good option. In addition to bridal dresses, they also have a wide range of bridal accessories and extras such as veils, capes, belts, bridal lingerie, bridal jewelry, and hairpieces.

Romantic Flowy Ivory Tulle Bridal Skirt from Davie and Chiyo on Etsy
Processing and shipping time: All their pieces are made-to-order and so the general processing time will take several weeks, with 20 weeks being the maximum processing time. Therefore, make sure to place your order with them at least 4 months before the date of your wedding to get your dress on time.
Return policy: Due to their wedding dresses being custom-made, all sales are final, and the shop does not accept returns. Returns though may be taken for unworn bridal accessories.
A Chinese designer shop that specializes in creating custom-made dresses based on various styles and themes: boho, romantic, vintage, elegant, chic, and many others. Their styles marry ideally the old with the modern, so if your dream dress is something in-between, browse through their stunning collection and choose the “one” that clicks with you. Prices of wedding dresses vary but a wedding dress costs on average $450.

Unique Unique Summer Wedding Dress with Feather Abstract Appliques by Lace Marry on Etsy
Processing and shipping time: most orders take 4-8 weeks to fulfill (from the day of placing the order). The seller also accepts rush orders following special inquiries. Shipping is also free for all dresses.
Return policies: seller accepts cancellations and returns in special cases provided you contact them first and ship back the items within 7 days. Exchanges are not accepted.
An online wedding dress that truly reflects its name “stylish,” featuring over 200 wedding dress styles designed and made by hand by Ukranian designer Yana. The two-piece styles (top and skirt) especially steal the show with their sublime lacing details and lavish fabrics like tulle, silk, and chiffon. The prices are also quite fair, with the average cost of each dress being $500.

Freya Dress with Lace Overskirt 4 piece set by Stylish Bride Accs on Etsy
Processing time: Most dress orders take 3-4 weeks to fulfill; however, the seller accepts rush orders following contact. Shipping costs around $30 for most countries.
Return policies: The shop accepts returns in case the item is damaged or the seller has accidentally sent the wrong size, color, or style. However, there are no returns for custom-made dresses and for other random reasons, e.g., client changing their mind or returning the item after wearing.
A leading online dress boutique based in Brooklyn, U.S, with the mission to offer affordable, memorable, and unique custom-made styles inspired by other romantic eras. The shop started as a mother and daughter business but soon grew to host other talented American designers and dress-makers, ready to handle both fixed and custom-made orders that suit the client’s own individual style and vision.

Boho Vintage Inspired Wedding Dress by ieie on Etsy
Processing and shipping: Orders for wedding dresses take 8-10 weeks, and shipping may take an extra 1-2 weeks, depending on the order’s destination locations.
Return policies: The shop accepts returns within 3 days following contact and 7 days after delivery. No exchanges are accepted.
An exclusive Etsy boutique that is not just like the rest--the designer not only uses herself and friends to model her dresses, she goes a step beyond and mixes unique color shades and elements according to the personal style of her clients. Her shop features both one-piece dresses as well as individual bridal pieces like veils, skirts, and bridal tops.

Dolores bohemian wedding dress by Wardrobe by Dulcinea on Etsy
Processing and shipping: Processing time takes up to 10 weeks, and shipping of orders may take an extra 5-7 days.
Return policies: Due to the dresses being custom-made from scratch, the seller does not accept any returns or refunds; however, they are willing to make alterations in case it’s their fault, e.g., wrong size, color, or faulty item.
A one-of-a-kind Etsy boutique aimed at free-spirited brides that genuinely know how to honor their femininity and individuality at the same time. Among the many styles of wedding dresses in this shop you can find bohemian dresses, hippie wedding dresses, beach wedding dresses, and Indie wedding dresses. The dresses of WearYourLoveXO in a few words, feel and look feathery light and dreamy. The shop owner and designers take extra care to use only quality and mainly organic fabrics with special attention to details that add that special “oomph” to the dress.

Low Back Lace Sleeve Wedding Dress by Wear Your Love XO on Etsy
Processing and shipping: The typical time it takes to fulfill your dress order is 10 weeks, and shipping in the U.S may take an extra week to arrive at your hands.
Return policies: The seller has a no return or exchange policy; however, they are willing to tackle any order issues that are maybe their responsibility e.g., wrong item sent.
A Russian designer that has managed to earn the likes of brides and the Etsy community quickly because of its stunning wedding dresses that specially cater to brides wishing to look and feel like goddesses in every sense--they are feminine, elegant, sensual and nearly everything that a woman wants in her wedding dress. The shop currently has 6 bridal collections with different themes, e.g., tender love. euphoria. The prices are also quite reasonable considering the designer quality of the dresses, with wedding dresses costing $850 on average.

Wedding dress 'LEONI' Luxury mermaid bridal gown by Alex Veil Bridal on Etsy
Processing and delivery: The seller can fulfill orders in as little as 3 weeks; however, some custom orders may take a couple of weeks more. Once their dresses are ready, they are shipped using an express courier or national postal service.
Return policies: The shop does not accept any refunds or exchanges unless there are problems with the order, e.g., not arriving at all or wrong item sent.
An established Chinese designer boutique selling super affordable wedding dresses without sacrificing the quality and the attention to details that the bride needs when choosing her wedding dress. There is a wide array of styles to choose from--from dreamy ball gowns to sensual and figure-hugging mermaid styles with fine lacing and embroidery details. If you are a bride on a budget but don’t want to settle for something too simple and boring, this shop is an excellent choice.

High Quality Italy Lace Wedding Dress by Guci Designs on Etsy
Processing and shipping: Processing time is quite fast, as most orders take anywhere from 1-3 weeks to be made. Shipping from China may also take another 2 weeks to reach its destination.
Return policy: The shop does accept returns and exchanges but only for fixed items and not items that are custom made. If you have any other issues with your order, you may contact them for a suitable solution.
Boutique Lustre is a Canadian-based Boutique that caters to brides who wish to wear a simple, classic, and timeless dress on their big day. The range of the dresses is not extensive, but there are dresses of all lengths and materials as well as pieces, e.g., bridal tops sold separately. Custom-made measurements are accepted in all dresses.

C'est le temps de l'amour all lace backless wedding dress by Boutique Lustre on Etsy
Processing time: The time to get your dress done is 6-8 weeks, and that includes shipping time as well, in case your dress will be shipped to Canada or the U.S. International orders though may take a bit longer.
Return policy: The seller accepts refunds or returns only if the item is faulty, wrong, or damaged. There are no refunds issued for custom-made orders; however, you may contact the seller in case you are not completely satisfied with your dress measurements or fit, and it needs minor alterations.
A Canadian designer specializing in creating one-of-a-kind bridal dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and gala gowns in over 200 styles to choose from: sweetheart trumpet dresses, mermaid dresses, flowy beach wedding dresses, lace wedding dresses, and many more. Similar to the majority of wedding dress shops on Etsy, the seller accepts minor customization options, e.g., custom measurements and lengths.

Lace V Neckline with low back mermaid wedding gown by Lucent Bridal on Etsy
Processing and shipping time: the average processing time for all dresses is 4-6 weeks. Shipping to Canada or the U.S may take extra weeks, and international orders may take up to 3 weeks to arrive following processing time.
Return policies: Because the dresses are made on demand, and there are basic customizations options, the costs are not refundable. Cancellations can only be made within 2 days after placing an order. Any other order issues should be solved by contacting the seller first.
A UK-based offline and online boutique that sells sample wedding dresses made of vegan, eco-friendly, and ethically-sourced materials. Also, one of the few wedding dress shops on Etsy where the customer can design her own dress and send it to them for a totally customized and unique experience. This option costs over 2K but if none of the designs you’ve seen in this store (or others) did it for you, it’s still an excellent opportunity to get your wedding dress exactly as you’ve dreamt it to be.

Long sleeve boho wedding dress by Luna Bride on Etsy
Processing & shipping time: sample dresses take anywhere from 9-14 weeks to be completed. Shipping from the U.K can also take 1-2 weeks for U.S customers.
Return policies: Seller does not accept any returns and cancellations, but exchanges are allowed in case the customer has received a wrong or faulty item.
Conclusion
The amount of Etsy shops to buy your wedding dress is quite overwhelming, but we have made your “hunt” for the perfect handmade more accessible by choosing 12 shops that are renowned for their handmade and unique designs as well as their stellar customer service.
Getting a dress made just for you without the fuss of traditional shopping couldn't get any easier!
This post was originally published on February 2, 2021.
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