Yes, You Can Totally Find the Wedding Dress of Your Dreams Secondhand

For to-be-weds looking to add a little "something old" to their wedding ensemble, shopping for used wedding dresses just makes sense. But tradition isn't the only reason why one might choose to go the pre-loved route. As the ethical fashion movement continues to gain traction, more brides than ever are choosing to wear sustainable wedding dresses (And seriously, what's more sustainable than giving a gown a second life?). On top of that, used wedding dresses can help free up room in your wedding budget—whether you choose to buy one at a discounted rate, or earn some cash from the one you already have by selling it. We chatted with Lily Kaizer, owner of the beloved vintage bridal salon, Happy Isles, to learn all about buying and selling secondhand wedding dresses. Keep scrolling to get the rundown, then decide for yourself: Is a used wedding dress right for you?

In this article:

• Tips for Selling Used Wedding Dresses
• Tips for Buying Preowned Wedding Dresses
• Where to Buy and Sell Used Wedding Dresses Online

Tips for Selling Used Wedding Dresses

According to data from Nearly Newlywed, a used wedding dress in great condition that's under two years old can typically sell for 50 percent of its original retail price. Gowns from popular wedding dress designers, like Oscar de la Renta and Vera Wang, could even make closer to 60 percent of their retail value. To help you earn the most from your look, we've rounded up a few helpful wedding dress resale tips.

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How to Prep a Used Wedding Dress to Sell

Before selling your wedding dress, you should be sure that it is in the best condition possible. While it may look good at first glance, most (if not all) gowns could benefit from a professional wedding dress cleaning. "We often see gowns that people have put away thinking they're in perfect condition, only to discover a scuff on the hem or a stain from a bit of celebratory spilled champagne," Kaizer reveals. According to data from Nearly Newlywed, preowned wedding dresses that have been professionally cleaned can sell twice as quickly as ones that have not. Pro tip: Wedding Dress Preservation by the Knot has a Wedding Dress Cleaning Only package is an easy and affordable way to get your gown ready for resale.

How to Sell a Wedding Dress Online

When it comes to selling your wedding dress online, resale platforms like Ebay and Poshmark might be the first to come to mind. But did you know that there are websites that specialize in buying and selling wedding gowns online? Nearly Newlywed and Stillwhite, for instance, are a couple of the top destinations for to-be-weds on the hunt for pre-loved looks. Both platforms allow you to buy and sell wedding dresses with just a few clicks of a button.

Bear in mind that selling a wedding dress online is a lot different than selling it in person. Because prospective buyers don't have the benefit of being able to see the dress upclose, the way it is presented online is very important. We recommend putting your best photos forward to show off how amazing the garment really is. How do you go about doing that? Start by hanging your dress up in a well-lit environment and make sure to get clear, full-length photos of it from every angle. If there are intricate details on your gown (like antique buttons, beaded straps or 3-D floral embellishments), be sure to take some close-up shots of those. You may also want to include some photos of yourself wearing the dress (if you're comfortable with that), so that potential buyers can get a better idea of how it fits. Perhaps the most important step in the process of selling your wedding dress online, however, is to provide a detailed description of the garment, including accurate measurements and information on any wear and tear.

Selling a Used Wedding Dress Near You

If you're looking to sell your wedding dress fast, and don't want to deal with the waiting game that comes with listing it online, you might consider turning to your local bridal resale shops and other places that buy wedding dresses. You can browse The Knot Vendor Marketplace to find a bridal salon near you that specializes in consignment wedding dresses. Here, you'll be able to chat with professionals about the resale value of your look, and you might have the opportunity to sell it directly to them to be added to their inventory of used wedding gowns.

Tips for Buying Preowned Wedding Dresses

Stumbling upon the used dress of your dreams is a lot like finding buried treasure. But don't get us wrong: Buying a secondhand wedding dress doesn't have to be nearly as hard. With these expert tips you'll be well on your way to finding your look for less.

How to Shop for Preowned Wedding Dresses

While it might sound counterintuitive, Kaizer's best piece of advice for finding the preowned wedding dress of your dreams is to make an appointment at a traditional wedding dress salon first. "Even if you're confident you'd like to go the vintage route, going to a traditional bridal appointment will help you learn your likes and dislikes when it comes to silhouettes and styles, that way, when it comes time to shop secondhand, you'll know what you're looking for," she says. Narrowing down the type of dress that you want will help give you a better sense of direction as you begin to browse vintage dress shops and consignment stores.

What to Look for in a Preowned Wedding Dress

According to Kaizer, when browsing secondhand wedding dresses, you should pay close attention to the condition of each garment. "Condition is always a personal choice for brides when selecting a vintage gown—while one bride might be dissuaded from a gown with a small stain on the sleeve, another bride might think nothing of it," she explains. "The important thing for brides to understand is that vintage gowns have all had a previous life (whether that's from a showroom floor or someone else's big day), and its condition tells a part of its larger story." That being said, you'll need to determine whether a gown's imperfections are merely cosmetic, or if they interfere with its structural integrity. When it comes to vintage dresses made from delicate fabrics like organza and lace, Kaizer warns brides that they may only have a few more wears left in them before they will need to be retired, but for many brides, that makes them all the more special.

Does Buying a Used Wedding Dress Save You Money?

"Vintage wedding gowns often come at a fraction of the price of made-to-order styles," says Kaizer. According to The Knot Real Weddings Study, the average wedding dress cost is about $2,000, while resale dresses can cost anywhere from 50–75% less than that. It is important to note, however, that used wedding dresses often come with additional expenses, whether that be professional cleaning, repairs or alterations. Still, in the long run you will likely save money by going the secondhand route (assuming you don't choose an ultra-rare designer look). Be sure to factor the total amount you're willing to pay for your gown into your wedding budget. (Psst: Our wedding budget tool is a free and easy way to get vendor pricing estimates and learn what real couples are spending.)

Possible Drawbacks to Be Aware Of

When shopping for a resale wedding dress, you should be aware of some of the potential drawbacks. Shopping secondhand doesn't give you access to the latest wedding dress trends, so, if you're a to-be-wed with a specific vision in mind for your attire, it can be difficult to find exactly what you're looking for. Likewise, options in each style are limited, so there's always a chance you'll find a dress you love that's not in your correct size (Nothing a bit of tailoring can't fix, right?). The key to finding the dress of your dreams secondhand is to keep an open mind. While you may not find the exact gown you were eying in a catalog, you just might find something you love even more.

Photo: Stocksy

Where to Buy and Sell Used Wedding Dresses Online

If you're wondering where to sell a wedding dress after you've worn it, or buy one that's pre-loved, you have both online and brick and mortar options. What's the best choice for you? It depends on the buying or selling experience you want. If you hope to see your preowned wedding dress in person before you buy, we suggest perusing local consignment salons. Similarly, if you're selling your pre-loved gown but you aren't the most digitally savvy or concerned with making a commission, consider giving your dress to a local consignment salon or thrift store, or donating it to charity. However, if you're looking to browse a huge selection of gowns or give your preowned wedding dress a new life and make some cash, an online marketplace is your best bet. Below, we breakdown the pros and cons of the most popular sites to buy and sell used wedding dresses.

Nearly Newlywed

Part used wedding dress boutique, part inspirational blog, Nearly Newlywed saves sellers time and stress by handling all buyer interactions and shipping. The application process is quick and easy: Sellers just submit their measurements with a wedding dress description and photos of their gown. If their listing is approved, Nearly Newlywed takes it from there, answering any buyer questions and shipping the dress directly. So, sellers can sit back and relax while the website's experts do the grunt work. Bonus: The website also sells wedding-related jewelry and accessories. Why do we love Nearly Newlywed so much? This innovative marketplace makes putting used wedding dresses for sale (and buying them!) as seamless as possible. If you're purchasing a used wedding dress, the thorough authentication process ensures you're paying for the real deal and not a counterfeit wedding dress. And if you're selling, once your application is approved, your work is done. Be aware that this website charges a $20 listing fee, and once your dress is sold, you'll earn 70% of the final price.

Stillwhite

A marketplace specifically for used wedding dresses, Stillwhite may not look as fancy as other preowned wedding dress websites, but it offers a wide range of used wedding dresses. The over 60,000 listings (yes, you read that right) feature preowned wedding dresses from basically every designer of note—from Vera Wang and Pronovias to Essense of Australia and Maggie Sottero. This straightforward website lets users browse by dress condition, taking the mystery out of the secondhand wedding dress buying process (after all, a sample dress is usually more worn than something brand new). Sellers can create a listing for $25 or upgrade to a premium listing for $35—that means their dress will be promoted on the site. While it's an initial fee to create a listing, the website takes no commission, meaning sellers keep pretty much all of their sales. You know what we call that? A wedding fashion win.

Happy Isles

Happy Isles is the premiere destination to shop vintage and used wedding dresses in store. Their unique collection offers one-of-a-kind pieces from the 1930s to the early 2000s with a focus on the designer labels you love. Their bridal salon locations in Los Angeles and New York attract thousands of brides each year, but the good news for brides located outside these cities is that there is still opportunity to get in on the action online. While they do not post dresses online in a traditional e-commerce fashion, Happy Isles shares new styles to their Instagram story weekly (@happyisles_salon). From there, customers can inquire about a garnet via direct message, and will be sent an invoice to their email address if they do decide to purchase it. The best part? Happy Isles offers worldwide shipping on each gown.

Borrowing Magnolia

Like other resale wedding dress sites, Borrowing Magnolia lets you shop for used wedding dresses, or list the one you've already worn. The brand believes that brides with similar styles have the unique opportunity to be able to help one another save money. After all, every used wedding dress has the potential to be somebody's dream dress. Their dress value calculator can help you determine what your dress might be worth to another bride. From there you can upload photos to create a listing for your look. To-be-weds looking to purchase a gown can browse through listings like they would on any other online retailer's website. What sets Borrowing Magnolia apart is that they also allow you to buy and sell bridesmaid dresses on their platform as well.

Poshmark

Poshmark is a marketplace for secondhand fashion, beauty and home decor that also has a smaller selection of used wedding dresses for sale. The listing process is simple: You snap photos of your used wedding dress and write product description yourself—no listing fees or approval process. For sales of $15 or more, you keep 80% of your sale and Poshmark's commission is 20%. Buyers also cover your shipping costs, and Poshmark sends sellers a prepaid shipping label once the sale of their dress is finalized. While this is a hassle-free approach for sellers, it also means buyers don't have the built-in security of an authentication process and could end up with a counterfeit garment. Buyer beware: All sales are final on Poshmark. However, a buyer may open a case with Poshmark if they don't receive their item or the item they receive is not as described.

Vestiaire Collective

A fashion-forward website geared toward designer brands, Tradesy offers a streamlined interface with a quick listing process. The website is curated like a high-end retailer site (Think: NET-A-PORTER or Shopbop for preowned wedding dresses and other brand name items). Users can search used wedding dresses by label, size, style and more. Tradesy takes roughly 20 percent commission on sales, and promises prompt payment. They also cover shipping and return costs. If you're buying, Tradesy comes with a money back guarantee if wedding items are inauthentic, taking some of the worry out of the used wedding dress buying process.