Buying a Resale Wedding Gown

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed Something Blue. Sound familiar? This is one of the most common traditions that brides have continued using in America for decades upon decades. A bride would never dream of borrowing or using another persons wedding gown, it's just unheard of. Or is it? You would be surprised to learn that many brides have used this budget savvy tip and no one has known, hence the shock and awe effect you are experiencing now.

Wedding dresses are no doubt of great importance to the brides.

What? How? Where? When? Who? Are these thoughts running through your head right now? I was asking the exact same thing when I first learned that my co-worker was buying a resale wedding gown she found on e-bay. Ever heard of someone who was going to get married and called off the wedding like a week before? Ever wonder what the brides do with the dress they bought? You cannot take it back to the store you purchased it from, and heaven forbid they sold it at a garage sale for the bargaining prices that people try to hound you down to. Most dresses end up in bridal resale shops and on the internet closet of e-bay. She got the dress for $250.00 and it was a one of kind designer creation. The dress had its original price tag and sale receipts to prove how much the dress was. Obviously this was one former bride to be that just wanted to get the dress out of her life. The dress was originally $5000.00; what a deal! It is a rare find, but it can be done. You just have to be open to look around and not think of these dresses as hand-me-downs, but rather 'someone's trash is someone else's treasure.'




If you are considering buying a resale wedding gown, remember that there are some things to look for before you take the giant leap. Consider sizes of different designers run differently. You will want to take your measurements at a tailor prior to purchasing a dress online. Ask the owner of the gown to list the measurements and any alterations that were done to the gown, because most gowns have been tweaked to fit the body of the previous owner. Be sure to learn about the cleaning of the dress. If the dress was one that has not been worn to the actual event, like our cold feet bride above, there could still be body oils on the gown from the previous owner and you want to make sure to inspect the gown. Most dry cleaners have special cleaning techniques they use on bridal gowns due to the delicate and intricate designs of them. Whatever the case, make sure you know before you commit to purchasing a dress that you can only see pictures of.



Ask what the return policy is. This can be the case at a resale bridal shop or online. Be creative. Once you get the gown home, look for places on the dress that you can jazz it up. Add a beautiful silk sash to the waist line in one of your wedding colors; add a broach to the gown; add Swarovski crystal straps to an otherwise strapless dress. Use your imagination, and what was once someone else's bridal gown can now be your resale wedding gown masterpiece.Cheap wedding dresses do not mean bad quality but a big budget.