My wish is that this page will offer insight into vintage clothing, as well as what AVWToo can offer brides-to-be and those looking for formalwear, little black dresses, or various vintage fashions and accessories.
Our policies are in-place for a reason, and I am always available to answer questions. Always. I will do everything that I can to make your 'vintage' day as special and wonderful as you've envisioned...just as I've done for over 25 years now....
Our policies are in-place for a reason, and I am always available to answer questions. Always. I will do everything that I can to make your 'vintage' day as special and wonderful as you've envisioned...just as I've done for over 25 years now....
IMPORTANT:
These are VINTAGE, one-of-a-kind items; although we do carry an assortment of more modern, non-vintage gowns as well. The vast majority of our inventory is vintage, and ALL are only available in the size/style/colour shown.
If you find an item (or many) that you are interested in, and I certainly hope that you do, please contact me to compare your measurements to the gown/dress!! <--- I cannot stress the importance of this enough!
It's imperative that your exact measurements are carefully compared to ensure a good and proper fit. Vintage clothing was cut and sized quite differently ~ please view the vintage clothing comparison chart to see the considerable difference between past and more-present-day clothing sizes ~ not to mention (although I AM) that any clothing item, particularly bridal gowns, could've been altered, therefore a size tag would be completely useless and moot. Measurement comparison is the only way to ensure a good & proper fit.
Remember that this is NOT your local neighborhood bridal salon! Each of these gowns and dresses are the ONLY ones available for purchase. They cannot be ordered in a different size, or tailored to fit you, which is why measurement comparison is so vitally important.
These are VINTAGE, one-of-a-kind items; although we do carry an assortment of more modern, non-vintage gowns as well. The vast majority of our inventory is vintage, and ALL are only available in the size/style/colour shown.
If you find an item (or many) that you are interested in, and I certainly hope that you do, please contact me to compare your measurements to the gown/dress!! <--- I cannot stress the importance of this enough!
It's imperative that your exact measurements are carefully compared to ensure a good and proper fit. Vintage clothing was cut and sized quite differently ~ please view the vintage clothing comparison chart to see the considerable difference between past and more-present-day clothing sizes ~ not to mention (although I AM) that any clothing item, particularly bridal gowns, could've been altered, therefore a size tag would be completely useless and moot. Measurement comparison is the only way to ensure a good & proper fit.
Remember that this is NOT your local neighborhood bridal salon! Each of these gowns and dresses are the ONLY ones available for purchase. They cannot be ordered in a different size, or tailored to fit you, which is why measurement comparison is so vitally important.
For Purposes of This Site and These Items, the Following Definitions Apply:
An·tique
/anˈtēk/
noun
a collectible object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its considerable age.
*An item should be at least 100 years old to be defined as an antique.
Vin·tage
/ˈvin(t)ij/
adjective
denoting something of high quality, especially something from the past or characteristic of the best period of a person's work.
*Generally speaking if the item is not older than an antique (100 yrs) and not less than 20 years, it falls under the term 'vintage'.
Ret·ro
/ˈretrō/
adjective
imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past.
*For purposes of this website, if an item is not truly 'vintage' (over 20 years old, but less than 100 years old), but is made to resemble a vintage item, then it is considered to be 'retro'.
Dress
/dres/
noun
a one-piece garment for a woman or girl that covers the body and extends down over the legs.
*For purposes of this website, if an item is NOT floor-length or longer (train), then it is considered to be a dress.
Gown
/ɡoun/
noun
a long formal dress, typically having a close-fitting bodice and a flared or flowing skirt, worn on formal occasions.
*For purposes of this website, if an item is floor-length (ankle-length) or longer (train), then it is considered to be a gown.
An·tique
/anˈtēk/
noun
a collectible object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its considerable age.
*An item should be at least 100 years old to be defined as an antique.
Vin·tage
/ˈvin(t)ij/
adjective
denoting something of high quality, especially something from the past or characteristic of the best period of a person's work.
*Generally speaking if the item is not older than an antique (100 yrs) and not less than 20 years, it falls under the term 'vintage'.
Ret·ro
/ˈretrō/
adjective
imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past.
*For purposes of this website, if an item is not truly 'vintage' (over 20 years old, but less than 100 years old), but is made to resemble a vintage item, then it is considered to be 'retro'.
Dress
/dres/
noun
a one-piece garment for a woman or girl that covers the body and extends down over the legs.
*For purposes of this website, if an item is NOT floor-length or longer (train), then it is considered to be a dress.
Gown
/ɡoun/
noun
a long formal dress, typically having a close-fitting bodice and a flared or flowing skirt, worn on formal occasions.
*For purposes of this website, if an item is floor-length (ankle-length) or longer (train), then it is considered to be a gown.
FAQ's:
Vintage items will have flaws!! While I pride myself on offering vintage items that are in 'very-good-plus' to 'excellent' condition (for their age) ~ flaws, of some sort, are simply the nature of the vintage beast and are to be expected. Please do not expect a new, flawless gown, even with the non-vintage items. If you do, then you will, more likely than not, be disappointed. All items have detailed descriptions & photographs and are priced accordingly. Any flaws are listed within each items' description. All gowns will most likely need to be dry-cleaned before wearing (except for extremely old items, which cannot, and should not, tolerate modern dry-cleaning methods and chemicals). Please do not hesitate to ask questions if you are in doubt.
Can I Order a Larger/Smaller Size? No, these are all one-of-a-kind! I am NOT able to 'order' any size or colour variations, certainly not the vintage items, for obvious reasons, but not with the newer items either. All are sold 'as is', as they are either new old stock, store samples, gently used & unsold inventory, discontinued styles, etcetera. These items are in very-good-plus to excellent condition, and when purchased, are shipped to you in the same, or better, condition as when I received them, meaning that missing beading or sequins may have been replaced, if available and applicable, and/or the gown has been spot-cleaned.
Why Online Only? A Vintage Wedding Too is INTENTIONALLY an online-only store and has been for over 25 years now (since 1997). Reason? Because these vintage items should not be kept 'on the racks', so to speak, to be repeatedly tried-on, pulled, stretched, soiled, dry-cleaned, washed. Being an online store means that your gown or dress has been carefully inspected, measured, and stored, then shipped to you in the same condition as, or even better than, it was received.
Do You Do Alterations? It would be impossible for me to provide alteration services via long distance, but I have provided a 'Seamstress Directory' page and do hope that you'll reach-out to one of the sewing professionals in your area, should you wish to make alterations or require consultative expertise.
Do You Dry-Clean the Gowns? As a general rule, I do not. Dry-cleaning every item would simply be too time-consuming and not at all cost-effective for the buyer. Not to mention, modern dry-cleaning chemicals can destroy many vintage & antique clothing items. If appropriate, we have, and do, spot clean items (with professional dry-cleaning fluid & techniques). While I have certainly had some items dry-cleaned, that is not the 'norm' and I leave any further cleaning and alterations up to the buyer, unless otherwise stated in the items' description (also see 'Refreshed' below).
Do You Repair the Clothing? Since we strive to sell only those items that are in 'Very Good Plus' to 'Excellent' condition, we usually do not need to 'repair' clothing; however, I have certainly sat for hours re-beading or hand-tacking a small/loose area on a gown (also see 'Refreshed' below). If anything has been done to improve the item, it will be clearly noted within the items' description. Likewise, if there are any issues with the gown, that is also clearly and candidly described within each listing. No surprises, if at all possible.
What Does a 'Refreshed' Gown Mean? Since the purpose of this business/website is to give wonderful vintage items a second chance, and since I DO accept donations, I occasionally receive gowns that are stained or yellowed from age. Depending upon the fabric content and age/fragility/delicacy of the item, I will occasionally 'refresh' a gown (condition and fabric content dependent). That means that the item has gently been hand-washed in order to lighten or remove the staining and 'refresh' the fabrics softness and/or colour. Not all gowns can be refreshed, as it's a very time-consuming process; however, if a gown has been refreshed, it will be noted within the items' description, along with our little green leaf emblem.
Vintage items will have flaws!! While I pride myself on offering vintage items that are in 'very-good-plus' to 'excellent' condition (for their age) ~ flaws, of some sort, are simply the nature of the vintage beast and are to be expected. Please do not expect a new, flawless gown, even with the non-vintage items. If you do, then you will, more likely than not, be disappointed. All items have detailed descriptions & photographs and are priced accordingly. Any flaws are listed within each items' description. All gowns will most likely need to be dry-cleaned before wearing (except for extremely old items, which cannot, and should not, tolerate modern dry-cleaning methods and chemicals). Please do not hesitate to ask questions if you are in doubt.
Can I Order a Larger/Smaller Size? No, these are all one-of-a-kind! I am NOT able to 'order' any size or colour variations, certainly not the vintage items, for obvious reasons, but not with the newer items either. All are sold 'as is', as they are either new old stock, store samples, gently used & unsold inventory, discontinued styles, etcetera. These items are in very-good-plus to excellent condition, and when purchased, are shipped to you in the same, or better, condition as when I received them, meaning that missing beading or sequins may have been replaced, if available and applicable, and/or the gown has been spot-cleaned.
Why Online Only? A Vintage Wedding Too is INTENTIONALLY an online-only store and has been for over 25 years now (since 1997). Reason? Because these vintage items should not be kept 'on the racks', so to speak, to be repeatedly tried-on, pulled, stretched, soiled, dry-cleaned, washed. Being an online store means that your gown or dress has been carefully inspected, measured, and stored, then shipped to you in the same condition as, or even better than, it was received.
Do You Do Alterations? It would be impossible for me to provide alteration services via long distance, but I have provided a 'Seamstress Directory' page and do hope that you'll reach-out to one of the sewing professionals in your area, should you wish to make alterations or require consultative expertise.
Do You Dry-Clean the Gowns? As a general rule, I do not. Dry-cleaning every item would simply be too time-consuming and not at all cost-effective for the buyer. Not to mention, modern dry-cleaning chemicals can destroy many vintage & antique clothing items. If appropriate, we have, and do, spot clean items (with professional dry-cleaning fluid & techniques). While I have certainly had some items dry-cleaned, that is not the 'norm' and I leave any further cleaning and alterations up to the buyer, unless otherwise stated in the items' description (also see 'Refreshed' below).
Do You Repair the Clothing? Since we strive to sell only those items that are in 'Very Good Plus' to 'Excellent' condition, we usually do not need to 'repair' clothing; however, I have certainly sat for hours re-beading or hand-tacking a small/loose area on a gown (also see 'Refreshed' below). If anything has been done to improve the item, it will be clearly noted within the items' description. Likewise, if there are any issues with the gown, that is also clearly and candidly described within each listing. No surprises, if at all possible.
What Does a 'Refreshed' Gown Mean? Since the purpose of this business/website is to give wonderful vintage items a second chance, and since I DO accept donations, I occasionally receive gowns that are stained or yellowed from age. Depending upon the fabric content and age/fragility/delicacy of the item, I will occasionally 'refresh' a gown (condition and fabric content dependent). That means that the item has gently been hand-washed in order to lighten or remove the staining and 'refresh' the fabrics softness and/or colour. Not all gowns can be refreshed, as it's a very time-consuming process; however, if a gown has been refreshed, it will be noted within the items' description, along with our little green leaf emblem.
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This item has been Refreshed!
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What is the Return Policy? There is a strict no return policy. Why? To minimize excessive wear & strain on these older gowns ~ being stretched, damaged, soiled, and then possibly returned to go through it all over again. If measurements are properly compared, your gown/dress will fit very well and, therefore, should not need to be returned. Which brings us to the ONLY acceptable reason for a return (for customers within the USA) ~ that the gown absolutely, positively does not fit (and measurements have been carefully compared prior to purchase!). If that is the case, then there must be notification within 24 hours of original receipt of the item, advising that it does not fit & why. The gown must then be returned within 24 hours of that notification. A full or partial refund is NOT guaranteed and will be entirely dependent upon the condition of the returned gown when received & examined. These are not rental clothing items (nor are they available as such) and are not to be purchased, worn/used, then returned. If it is determined that a gown has been worn or damaged and then returned, a refund will not be issued. Shipments to all other countries are always a final sale - no exceptions.
Shipping Fees? For more information, please see the 'Purchase & Shipping Info' page. If purchasing multiple items, please use our PayPal shopping cart. If the actual cost of shipping is less than the total shown on our PayPal shopping cart, you will be refunded the difference (if that difference is greater than a $1.00).
International customers, please contact us prior to your purchase for calculated shipping fees to your particular country. Thank you.
Disclamer! Unless the exact age and/or history (provenance) of an item is provided upon arrival into our inventory, the ages given are educated guesstimates. We look at the fabrics, styles, sewing methods, labels, sewing accessories (zippers, buttons, etc.), as well as numerous other factors in order to determine the general age of an item.
If there is any provenance provided with a gown or dress, we happily share that information, as we feel that the history of an item adds immeasurable value!
Shipping Fees? For more information, please see the 'Purchase & Shipping Info' page. If purchasing multiple items, please use our PayPal shopping cart. If the actual cost of shipping is less than the total shown on our PayPal shopping cart, you will be refunded the difference (if that difference is greater than a $1.00).
International customers, please contact us prior to your purchase for calculated shipping fees to your particular country. Thank you.
Disclamer! Unless the exact age and/or history (provenance) of an item is provided upon arrival into our inventory, the ages given are educated guesstimates. We look at the fabrics, styles, sewing methods, labels, sewing accessories (zippers, buttons, etc.), as well as numerous other factors in order to determine the general age of an item.
If there is any provenance provided with a gown or dress, we happily share that information, as we feel that the history of an item adds immeasurable value!
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