Be Realistic About The Value:
The most crucial factor that will influence if you can sell a wedding dress is your asking price. While you may have extremely fond memories of your big day, a potential buyer is not so emotionally attached.
Bear in mind that if your dress is a couple of years old, you can expect 50 to 60% of the original retail price. However, the dress must be in a like new condition.
If your dress is older, the value will decrease. This is more likely if there is less demand for your style of dress. For an idea of an approximate price for your dress, look at current listings. Alternatively, sites such as Stillwhite and Preowned Wedding Dresses have calculators to get an approximate value.
How To Sell My Wedding Dress
Photography by Benni Carol Photography
If you have a wedding dress thats been hung in a wardrobe for years, boxed away under a bed, recently partied in or even yet to be worn… youve come to the right place. It couldnt be easier to sell your wedding dress through our Recycle My Wedding platform, here’s how to do it in just three easy steps.
Is It Bad Luck To Sell Your Wedding Dress
Are you contemplating selling your wedding dress but worried it might be bad luck? There are quite a few differing opinions around this matter on both sides some say yes, while others say no. Most brides could never imagine selling their wedding dress at first thought, especially if they have yet to wear it. However, others may see it more of an investment that once the fun has been had and the memories have been made, they are then willing to part with their dress.
Whether you are thinking of selling your dress or know you want to keep it forever, its really up to you as to whether or not YOU think its bad luck to sell your wedding dress.
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Other Websites To Buy And Sell Used Wedding Dresses
Tradesy: 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 . Users can search used wedding dresses by label, size, style and more.
Review: Tradesy takes roughly 20 percent commission on sales, and promises prompt payment. Be aware Tradesy covers shipping and returns for most fashion items, but used wedding dresses are not included. 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.
Still White: A marketplace specifically for used wedding dresses, Still White may not look as fancy as other preowned wedding dress websites, but it offers a wide range of used wedding dresses, from Vera Wang and Pronovias to Essense of Australia and Maggie Sottero.
Review: This straightforward website gets down to the nitty gritty and lets users browse by dress condition, taking the mystery out of the secondhand wedding dress buying process . Sellers can create a listing for $20 or upgrade to a premium listing for $30that 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.
Want to buy or sell in-person? Search for local consignment salons in your area.
Tips For Selling Your Used Wedding Dress Online
When looking to sell your wedding dress, there are a few factors to consider. First of all, make sure your dress is in good condition without any tears, stains, or other damage. Since youve likely only worn the dress once, its probably still in good condition.
Also, keep in mind that photos sell. The more photos you can include from all different angles, the better.
You can include both photos of you in the dress and the dress on a hanger, but make sure to show any important details such as beadwork or a special lace design up close.
Provide all relevant information such as size, exact color , petticoats, and so on. If the dress was altered in any way, try to describe the alterations with as much detail as possible.
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How Long Will It Take To Sell My Wedding Dress
The time it will take to sell your wedding dress depends on various factors including the brand, style, size, and condition. Also, keep in mind that the popularity of the marketplace or store you select to use for your listing will play a role in how much traffic your dress gets and how quickly it sells.
On average, expect your dress to sell within 60 to 90 days of listing provided its a popular brand and style, in excellent condition, and no more than a couple of years old. Dresses that are an older style, not in good condition, or are a lower-demand size may take longer to sell.
Find A Reputable Site
Next, its time to research how youll sell your used wedding dress online. There are several services out there, each with its own pros and cons. Our top pick is Nearly Newlywed, a service that handles most of the legwork for you. All you have to do is send in wedding dress information and photos, and once your gown is approved, theyll take care of working with potential buyers, payments, shipping, and returns. Note: There is a $25 listing fee, and Nearly Newlywed charges 40 percent commission. You might also choose to sell your wedding dress on a site like Tradesy or even on Craigslist, but we recommend going with a site that specializes in wedding dress resale.
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Donate Your Wedding Dress
If you would like to see your wedding dress getting a second outing, but aren’t too concerned about making money yourself from it, a wonderful thing to consider is donating it to a charity shop to sell on to another beautiful bride.
While Irish charity wedding dress stores actually get most of their stock directly from designers and bridal boutiques, they can also take donations from patrons directly.
Three to consider are: Barnardos Bridal Rooms in Dublin’s Dun Laoghaire and in Carlow and Oxfam Bride which has shops in Dublin and in Bangor, Co. Down and St Vincent de Paul on Terenure Rd North, Dublin.
Angel Gowns for Angel Babiesis another very worthy place for your wedding dress to be passed on to. Run by a team of seamstresses, the Shannon Angel sisters transform old wedding dresses into tiny gowns for premature babies and those tragically stillborn. The Shannon Angels currently have several dresses they’re working on, and don’t need donations immediately, however if you keep an eye on their Facebook page you can find out when they require any more.
*Have we missed something? It happens. Let us know how you sold your wedding dress on over on !
Give A Detailed Description
Make sure the description which accompanies the photos of your wedding dress is as detailed and thorough as possible.
Give the correct measurements , and make sure you name the designer, the dress number or style, the fabrics and describe any details. You will also want to mention how many times your wedding dress has been worn, dry cleaning instructions , and whether there are any marks or stains on it.
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Find Or Take Professional Pictures
The best way to make your gown stand out to potential buyers is with great photos. Professional, full-length shots of you in your dress are ideal, blurry photos of you trying on your gown in the salon less so. You can also provide photos of your dress on a hanger to show its current condition, but those shouldnt be the primary images for your listing. Buyers prefer to see how a dress looks on a human, not a hanger.
We Use Stripe To Protect Sellersfrom Fraud
It is our priority to make sure that you can sell or buy a wedding dress safely, securely and with peace of mind. We use Stripe, one of the safest, most secure online payment systems in the world to manage any money transfers, protecting you wherever possible from fraud.
As part of our commitment to fairness and quality, all payments will be held as a deposit until the buyer receives the dress and confirms they are happy with it. Once this has happened, the money will be released to the seller. Should there be any disputes, such as a loss of wedding dress in the post, then we have effective support systems in place to help all parties.
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Be Honest About The Condition
Take clear pictures of your dress so buyers know exactly what it looks like. You need to be completely upfront about any damage, including tears or stains. Pictures sell products, so be sure to include different angles, close-ups of unique design patterns, and even pictures of you in the gown. Good lighting is critical to getting good photos, so try to find a place with great natural light when taking photos of the dress.
Tips For Selling Online
Selling online offers many benefits and can be a lot easier than selling in person. You have access to a nationwide audience, which increases the chance of someone liking your dress and buying it for the price you want.
Online sites also offer selling and shipping assistance and seller protection. Some sites even handle any refunds that may happen if the dress is returned and let you keep the money you earned from the sale.
The disadvantage of selling online is that competition is stronger. Because there are more dresses for people to choose from, it may take longer to sell your dress. You also usually wont meet your buyer in person, so they are more likely to return your dress and request a refund if it doesnt fit or look right.
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How Long Will It Take To Sell
Again, depending on all the details, your dress may sell right away, or in a few months. This is because what brides are looking for changes seasonally, and can depend on the designer, price, size, and style of your gown. Most of the online platforms dont require that you re-list your gown, so you are free to wait as long as it takes to sell!
So Youd Rather Donate Your Wedding Dress
Photo by Christine Grace Photography via Bridal Musings
Search specifically in your local area for any bridal shops that run off dress donations. While local thrift stores are a great option, places like Brides For A Cause sell donated dresses and raise funds for women-focused charities. While they may have specifics that they do or dont accept, its a great way to clear up space in your own closet.
With multiple locations on the west coast, they accept most gently loved gowns within the last 5 years. Dont live nearby? They accept gowns shipped in, too! About 80% of their net profit raised is donated to local and national women-focused charities. Theyll take care of cleaning for you, and provide you information for tax deductions as well.
They boast an exquisite, hand-selected collection of unique and designer pieces as well as rare and vintage gowns. About 30% of proceeds from each sale goes toward charities that empower women and end child marriage. So youre contributing to a more sustainable climate, and also sustainable change.
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Sell Your Wedding Dress Today
For many brides, their wedding dress is the most expensive piece of clothing theyll ever buy and wear. It makes sense to want to recover even part of the cost of the dress.
Hopefully, this guide to selling your wedding dress has been helpful to you and given you plenty of ideas.
Planning to sell your wedding dress soon? Which of these options look most interesting to you? Tell us in the comments!
Selling Your Wedding Dress Conclusion
All in all, selling your wedding dress online should be your first choice. If you are unsure on what to do with old wedding dress than internet resale stores are the way to go. They enable you to reach so many more potential buyers and improve your chances of selling for a better price. Plus, they let you make quick cash right from your sofa. They are convenient and, in some cases, a much safer option.
Did you know that you can get tons of fantastic tips for earning money easily and quickly? Thats right! Here, at Pro Money Savings, we publish fresh content all the time, and you can get our expert advice right into your inbox.
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How To Price & Care For Your Dress
If your gown is new you can sell it for about 50% of the original price tag. This is because newer gowns are being searched by brides looking for these hot styles. If your gown comes with a designer name, or even a popular indie tag then you could even price it a little higher.
Second-hand wedding dresses can range from designer labels to highly sought-after indie designs that have been discontinued. Do some quick research on the web and see what other similar gowns are selling for. Depending on the platform you choose, they will help you pick a good selling price as well.
Consider getting your gown professionally cleaned. It will cost you a few hundred dollars but will ensure that your gown is in its best condition and is much more desirable for the bride making the purchase. And since some retail sites offer return periods, it will ensure that theres less of a chance that someone will want to make a return.
Where To Sell Or Donate Your Wedding Dress
In This Article
If youre considering selling or donating your wedding gown after the big day, or youre looking to purchase a pre-owned dress to cut down on costs, youre not alone. Theres a vast marketplace for second-hand wedding dresses, so weve asked expert Erin Richardson to share her tips and insight.
Meet the Expert
Erin Richardson is the General Manager of Weddings at A07 Online Media .
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You Pay No Upfront Fee To Advertise Your Wedding Dress
The old traditional method was finding a bridal salon or consignment store to sell on consignment. This cost nothing upfront takes no ongoing time commitment, and you have the comfort of having a personal relationship with the reseller. They earn 50% of proceeds so if the dress sold for 50% of retail then you get 25% of what you paid). Unfortunately, stores selling wedding dresses on consignment shops are decreasing and not all are run very well. I am told about 50% of dresses will sell as there is also a markdown period.
Over the past 10 years, a few wedding dress rental companies emerged and disappeared. The premise is that you could have your gown rented out 2-4 more times and recover up to 50% of the retail price. Major clothing rental companies, such as Rent the Runway, are not strong with wedding dresses as they dont allow altering which is a MUST for wedding dresses.
You can list an ad on classified websites like Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace. Like with paid web listing sites the odds of selling are less than 20% over 12 months.
