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.
What To Do With Your Wedding Dress After The Wedding
After the confetti settled, the flowers withered, the gifts unwrapped, the thank you notes sent, and thecrackling excitement of the wedding day finally simmered down to a warm glow, thestunningly pretty wedding gown still hangs in your closet, telling the tantalizing tale of a day which will forever be remembered with adoration and the whispers of memories which will live on forever and a day. However, as pretty as that dress is, you have to decidewhat to do with it now. Do you want to hold on to it and pass it down to your daughter or granddaughter one day? Do you want to donate it to a bride in need?Do you want to sell it and get some precious bucks back in your wallet? Or do you want to refurbish it into a classy cocktail dress instead and carry your wedding day magic into every event that you would choose to wear it to?The options are inexhaustible!
Get Your Dress Professionally Cleaned
According to Nearly Newlywed, wedding dresses that have been professionally cleaned sell up to twice as fast and have a lower rate of return. So if youre planning on selling your used wedding dress, the investment of having it cleaned is well worth it. There are even online companies that make the process a breezetheyll send you a shipping kit so you can send your gown directly to them and will ship your dress back once its in pristine condition.
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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.
The Top Sites To Sell Your Wedding Dress Online
If youre looking to make some money by selling your wedding dress, check out the websites below. Many of them are specifically targeted toward brides looking to buy secondhand wedding-related items and save cash.
Some of these websites also offer wedding dress consignment options if thats something youre considering.
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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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Sell It For The Right Price
It can be hard to know how much to sell your wedding dress for, but here at Hitched wed recommend you follow these rough guidelines
- If your dress is less than three years old and has been worn once, charge 50% of the RRP.
- If your dress is less than three years old but has not been worn, charge 75% of the RRP.
- If your dress is older than three years old, youll want to drop a further 10-20% off those recommended percentages.
If your dress is vintage, in theory, you should be able to sell it on for the price you paid for it. That said, if you choose to sell your wedding dress on eBay or similar, you might want to reduce the price to attract your buyers.
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Tips For Selling Your Wedding Dress Online
Whether you aren’t the sentimental type or you’re just savvy, selling your used wedding dress is an easy way to recoup some money from your wedding. If your dress is in good condition, consider listing it online over selling it to a thrift store, where the piece will reach a greater volume of potential buyers and can be more easily shared and promoted.
A used wedding dress in great condition and under two years old can usually sell for 50 percent of the retail price. And, if your dress is by a more recognizable brand like Oscar de la Renta or Vera Wang, you could make closer to 60 percent of its retail value. Some consignment websites also offer tools to help you decide what to charge.
Since there’s a great demand for all kinds of secondhand wedding dresses, a designer label doesn’t necessarily mean your dress will sell faster. But the presentation does matter. Put your best foot photos forward to show off how amazing the garment really is. And consider getting it professionally cleanedNearly Newlywed, a leading used wedding dress resale site, says it could sell twice as fast.
Be thorough in describing your dress – give the correct measurements , name the designer or brand, the model name or number, and the fabric, and mention whether it’s been worn and/or professionally cleaned. Keywords are important for anyone Googling and searching dress sights for particular dresses, so keep in mind what you’d be searching for in your description.
Understand The Real Value Of Your Dress
One of the most important factors that can influence whether you successfully sell your wedding dress is the price you ask for it. However, it can be tough to know exactly how much your dress is worth.
Here are some guidelines.
Wedding dresses bought in the last couple of years typically sell at between 50% to 60% of the price you paid for it. This assumes the dress is in like-new condition. Considering wedding dresses are generally only worn once, this is usually the case.
As dresses get older, the amount you can sell it for generally decreases. This is especially likely if the style of your dress isnt in demand. Dresses from high-end designers may keep their value a little longer than non-designer dresses.
When valuing your dress, look at posts on the sites listed above to find ones similar to yours. Consider setting your price at the going market rate. But you should be aware that just because a dress is listed at a certain amount doesnt mean it will sell for that price.
You could also consider using a wedding dress value calculator like the ones onPre-Owned Wedding Dresses orStillwhite.
If you really have no idea how much your wedding dress is worth, then consider using a consignment store or a service like Nearly Newlywed , which will take care of the selling process for you.
Finally, consider dry-cleaning your dress It can add a small amount of value to the total price.
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Make Sure To Include Photos
The most important thing you can do to market your dress is to include quality photos, advises Richardson. Include photos from your wedding so brides can see how it photographs and envision how it might look on their own big day. Plus, most gowns look better on a body than they do on a hanger. If you dont feel comfortable showcasing your wedding photos, make sure to include some shots of the dress on your body so other brides can get an idea of how the fabric lays.
What’s Your Wedding Dress Worth
Want to share your gorgeous dress with another bride? We can help you determine what it is worth.
“PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com provided the most qualified buyers quickly.”
Wall Street Journal
…I purchased a designer wedding dress I never would have been able to afford otherwise…
Sara L
…I purchased a designer wedding dress I never would have been able to afford otherwise…
Sara L
“PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com provided the most qualified buyers quickly.”
Wall Street Journal
…Another woman will enjoy my wedding dress as much as I did…
Rebecca H
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Donate Your Wedding Dress
If you would like to see your wedding dress getting a second outing, but arent 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 Dublins 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 theyre working on, and dont 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 !
How To Sell My
. This site currently holds the #1 ranking in Google for used wedding dresses, which means it gets tons of traffic. For your purposes, this increased traffic translates into a vastly larger pool of potential buyers
The more views, the more likely your dress will sell.
If your dress gets 2,000 or more views on PreOwned Wedding Dresses, chances are that it will sell in 70 days or less. Of course, theres a catch: This platform charges a one-time of $25 for every dress it posts.
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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.
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.
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Where Can I Sell My Wedding Dress Locally
An alternative to selling your gown online is to sell it locally. You have several different options here as well. You just need to ask yourself, do I want to sell my wedding dress to a store near me or directly to a buyer. From there on, you can try your luck either at a local second-hand shop or find customers via Internet platforms.
How Much Is A Used Wedding Dress Worth
There are over two million weddings every year in the USA. While it is possible to have a small and quiet ceremony, most weddings have lots of expenses and costs. One of the most significant is the wedding dress. The bride will be front and center of every wedding picture, so it is important that she looks and feels great.
The average cost of a wedding dress is $1,631. So, you may feel reluctant to have your wedding dress gathering dust in a closet.
If your wedding dress is under two years old and in great condition, you can usually expect to sell it for approximately 50 percent of its retail price.
If youre looking to sell a wedding dress from a more recognizable brand, you may be able to recoup closer to 60 percent.
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The Best Places To Sell Your Wedding Dress Online
More about Stillwhite: Stillwhite.com is the worlds largest wedding dress resale marketplace. Sellers have already earned over $20 million through the platform.
I love how easy it is to list your dress. It only takes a few minutes and youre guided through the entire process. With the in-built messaging system, buyers and sellers can chat and exchange photos safely without sharing personal contact details and worrying about scams. When youve found a buyer, simply connect your PayPal account for secure payment. The best bit is you get to keep 100% of the sale when your dress sells unlike some of the other sites.
Selling wedding dresses is easier than you think with Stillwhites simple flat fee of $20 for a standard listing! So join thousands of newlyweds and turn your once-loved wedding gown into another brides something borrowed by posting it on Stillwhite.com.
More about Nearly Newlywed:Nearly Newlywed is definitely our favorite destination for selling your wedding dress online. Not only is the site incredibly inspirational, but its also super user-friendly, transparent, and makes the process oh-so-simple! NearlyNewlywed.com saves you time and hassle by fielding messages from potential buyers as well as handling the shipping. Its the modern, on-the-go brides go-to hack for reselling your wedding dress.
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