Sell Your Wedding Dress Or Save By Buying My Dream Wedding Dress
We have hundreds of preloved and second hand wedding dresses from leading designers to choose from, with more listed every day and all at a great price. Our secure site and step-by-step guides will help you buy with confidence and save money. Packed with second hand wedding dresses, preowned gowns, bridesmaids dresses, mother of the bride outfits, and more.
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.”
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…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
Facebook Buy And Sell Groups
Another local option to sell your wedding dress is on Facebook Buy and Sell groups or through the Facebook Marketplace.
These groups will sell almost anything, so you wont be marketing to brides only. The upside is that the buyers are local, so you dont have to worry about shipping your dress.
Include lots of photos, a good description, and a competitive price when listing your dress. You may have to negotiate on the final price, so leave some bargaining room.
Itll probably take you longer to sell your dress via Facebook, but there are no fees to create a listing.
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Finding The Perfect Wedding Dress
When you have the big day ahead of you, you’ll want to find the right wedding dress that will help you look and feel beautiful. There are various styles of wedding dresses available on eBay, and many of them are used but in great condition. Going with a used wedding dress can allow you to get more for your money.
What silhouettes do wedding dresses have?
Wedding dresses are unique in that they come in many different shapes, or silhouettes. Here are some of the choices you’ll see for new or used wedding dresses for sale:
- Ball gown – eBay wedding ball gowns have fitted bodices and full skirts. The sillouette makes the waist look smaller and is quite elegant.
- Sheath – This type of dress follows your body’s shape. The dress has long and straight lines that can give you an appearance of greater height. Many sheath dresses are modern and minimalist, but there are also some eBay used wedding dresses with classic embellishments.
- Mermaid – The mermaid dress with an hourglass shape has a slim fit from the bodice through the hips. Then, it flares out at the bottom, either at the mid-thigh or around your knees.
- A-line – A-line dresses are classy, with a trim fit on top and a skirt that gradually widens. It’s a popular look among women trying to find eBay wedding dresses.
- Short – Tea-length dresses are whimsical, fun, and more casual than the others. Those interested in cheap used wedding dresses will have better luck looking in this category.
Wedding dress fabrics
A Dream Dress To More Than One
A wedding dress might be one of the most expensive and special garments that youll ever buy. So why confine that beautiful dress to your closet?
We’ll help you list & sell your gown fast for one flat fee. No commissions. No hidden fees.
An easy choice for selling, Borrowing Magnolia has cost savings in mind for both sellers and buyers. Your search ends here!
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What To Know About Buying Used Wedding Dresses
Finding a wedding dress is such a personal process, and it can take time. The same goes for buying a second hand or used dress, too. Go into the process knowing that it may take some time and patience before you find the one is important. Rest assured knowing the perfect dress for you is out there it just may take a little digging.
WGM Says: Before you start shopping, create a Google Sheet or Excel spreadsheet that allows you to keep track of dresses you like. Include the designer, style number or name, price, size, and link as well as any shipping costs.
Frequently Asked Questions And Answers
What are people saying about bridal in Portland, OR?
This is a review for bridal in Portland, OR:
“I had to find a dress last minute because I was supposed to wear my grandmother’s dress but it turns out that the restoration will not be done in time. Since it is all samples and used wedding dresses, you can walk out with a dress that day! No need to wait 4 months for your dress to come in.They had so many beautiful dresses and the staff was so supportive and helpful. They also did a wonderful job of keeping everything sanitized and people distant, it made me feel really comfortable about shopping here.”
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Why Do I Need A Wholesale License
A wholesale license is different than a federal tax ID number or business license. Yes, youll need those too once you launch your wedding dress business, but you wont necessarily need those things to buy your stock. Not only is it illegal in some states to retail items without a wholesale license, but you might find it hard to buy wholesale wedding dresses without it.
Your sellers permit will signal to wedding dress wholesalers that youre not planning to buy their dresses for a cheaper price only to resell them at slightly more expensive wholesale prices in direct competition with that wholesaler. Wholesalers have records to prove theyre selling below retail cost just as youll have records to prove youre selling it at retail cost. They may not sell to you without the proper permit because they wont want to risk the competition.
Go To A Wedding Trade Show
Wedding trade shows are a big business. They don’t just help hopeful brides find their vendors they can help you find designer wedding dresses to buy wholesale. For example, wedding website The Knot hosts the Knot Couture Show every year, which connects designers to buyers . A quick web search will likely turn up a number of wedding expos and trade shows in your area.
References
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Some Tips For Buying Online
Measurements: Talk in terms measurements rather than dress sizes. I saw a seller selling a Davids Bridal Gown in a size 10, street size 8. This means nothing! I wore a Davids Bridal gown at my wedding and I found the sizes to run large not small. At the very least ask for hips, waist and bust measurements.
Alterations Ask if the dress has been altered to fit the Bride? Then ask what the measurements are.
Big Sizes or Little SizesIt is easier to take in a dress than let it out. You may have to get your used dress cleaned and fitted. If youre going to get alterations anyway, go for a dress slightly bigger rather than smaller.
Bustles: Bonus Buy: Ask if the dress has been bustled and if the bustling is still intact. If the dress is once worn and has a train, it is likely bustled. If it was never worn, you are looking at paying a seamstress to bustle it Buying a bustled dress could easily save you $100 or more.
Dry Cleaning Has the dress been cleaned already? If not, how long since the wedding? Champagne and clear liquids may not show up immediately, but can stain a wedding gown over time if not properly cleaned. If the dress was worn recently but not cleaned and you will be taking it to a cleaners, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! Talk to other bride or get recommendations from other vendors about who can handle wedding dresses properly. You do not want your dress ruined by a dry cleaner who doesnt typically handle wedding gowns.
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.
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Prices And Where To Buy
Mother of the bride dresses can range from $20 to almost $5,000. Affordable gowns that are below $100 can be found at Nordstrom, Macy’s, David’s Bridal or the Dress outlet. They even have a “Mother of the Brides Dresses” section on their websites. For dresses between $100 and $500, you can look at Nordstrom, Macy’s, and David’s Bridal as well. When you feel like splurging over $500, Nordstrom and David’s Bridal will have what you’re looking for.
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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What To Look For In A Used Wedding Dress
If youve fallen in love with a pre-owned gown, there are still a few things to check for prior to purchasing. First, youll want to know the alterations history and make sure that it can still be modified to fit your body during fittings. Check to see if extra fabric, beading, rhinestones, etc. will be provided. Also, inspect for any damage, rips, holes, stains, or other flaws you want to avoid.
As far as sizing goes, try to shop for dresses within your size range, or above. Its relatively easy to make a dress smaller and to conform it to your body. However, making a dress larger, adding fabric or taking out seams can be a bit more complicated so try to avoid that.
Its always a good idea to take photos of the dress to your preferred seamstress or tailor as well. That way you can make sure they are confident working with it. Youll also want to try and get an estimate of how much alterations will cost. While you may be saving on the price of the dress, having to do $700 worth of alterations may end up costing you more.
Regardless of where you choose to shop for your pre-owned or second hand wedding gown, rest assured that if you shop smart and take your time, you can definitely still end up with the dress of your dreams.
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Be Smart About Shipping Costs
A vintage piece on Etsy or eBay can feel like a great dealuntil you realize its shipping from across the country or another continent. When faced with tariffs or a hefty FedEx fee, Wellington asks herself two questions:
If the answer is no to both, and the item can be substituted with something else, its likely best for your budget to do just that.
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Sites With Secondhand Wedding Dresses For The Sustainable Bride
These resale websites have secondhand wedding dresses including designer gowns in a wide range of styles, sizes, and price points.
Your wedding dress is one of the most special outfits youll wear in your life, but that doesnt mean you want to give up a significant portion of your savings for a gown youll wear once this is why secondhand wedding dresses are a perfect choice.
You can find gorgeous dresses made with exceptional quality at a fraction of the price when shopping pre-owned from one of these resale marketplaces. Plus, you can also decide to resell your wedding dress afterward to the same marketplace to make back a portion of the money you spent.
Not to mention this circular approach to buying and reselling dresses is far more sustainable as well. Investing in a pre-loved wedding dress is a more sustainable, conscious, and affordable option for your upcoming wedding and these websites have incredible selections including options from many top wedding dress designers so that you can find your dream wedding dress.
Selling A Wedding Dress Locally
Selling your wedding dress to a bride near you seems like a good idea. Namely, because you dont have to deal with shipping. Unfortunately, there are other challenges involved in selling a wedding dress locally.
If you dont want to take the online route to sell your wedding dress, consider a local resale store. You might think it would be easier to just drop your gown at a consignment shop and collect payment. Unfortunately, thats not how it works. It could take much longer to sell your wedding dress than youd like. Most importantly, youll probably get less money for a used wedding dress when selling locally. Due to lower competition in a local market, there wont be any urgency for a bride to spend more.
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The unfortunate reality is that you probably wont find stores that will buy your dress for cash to resell it. Its uncommon to find shops that will buy wedding dresses upfront at all. Its more common for shops to hold gowns in their stores and take a commission on the sale price. The other possible option would be that a shop would give you the small commission on the wedding dress resale, keeping the lions share of the purchase price for themselves.
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