Girls Formal Dresses Canada

If you've lived in the GTA long enough, you know that children's formal wear simply cannot be found in malls. The Bay doesn't have it, walking around Yorkdale is a waste of time. Holt Renfrew used to carry children's clothing, but they cut that line. If you want to buy a flower girl dress, you have to make a special trip.

Online there are many choices but also many hassles. There are tons of shops on Etsy Canada selling flower girl dresses, with prices ranging from tens to hundreds of dollars. The cheap ones might be factory-made, while the expensive ones claim to be handmade. Before buying, you need to check reviews, look at buyer photos, and see how long the shop has been open. Those with a Star Seller badge are relatively more reliable.

US stores shipping to Canada require waiting. There's one called Mia Bambina where custom orders take two to three months to wait. If you need it urgently, you can only buy ready-made stock, which limits your choices. Shipping costs are separate, about twenty-something US dollars. Returns are even more troublesome—the shipping cost might be more expensive than the dress itself.

Some people also buy second-hand. Facebook Marketplace often has listings for thirty to forty dollars, noting "worn once." That's how it is with flower girl dresses—worn once and then stored away, so there are quite a few people reselling. Second-hand children's clothing stores like Once Upon a Child might have them too, but selection depends on luck.

Dress rental has become a thing in recent years, with Rent the Runway starting a children's project. Not everyone accepts this though—some families feel that baptism gowns and such carry meaning, and renting won't do. Traditional Catholic families sometimes have gowns that have been passed down for generations, making renting even less of an option.

You need to buy flower girl dresses in advance. You should start looking three to four months before the wedding. Custom orders require waiting, ready-made stock needs trying on, and if it doesn't fit, you need to exchange. Waiting until the last month is too rushed.

Color depends on the wedding theme. Traditional is white to match the bride, but now some weddings have a main color scheme, with flower girls matching the bridesmaids' colors. Pink, light purple, and blue are all popular choices. For First Communion, there's no choice—it can only be white.

Accessories are bought separately. Headpieces, shoes, small bags, shawls—specialty stores sell all of these. A complete outfit costs more than just the dress.

Ontario has the most options, with specialty stores concentrated in the GTA. Other provinces basically rely on online shopping. Parents in Vancouver or Calgary either order online or buy when they happen to be visiting Toronto.