Lyla Dejesus
There are several online and physical stores that allow you to sell your old wedding dress. Borrowing Magnolia, for example, is an online platform that connects buyers and sellers of second-hand wedding dresses. Similarly, Stillwhite, the largest global marketplace for pre-owned wedding dresses, allows you to sell your dress online for a small one-off fee. You can also sell your wedding dress on consignment at a bridal shop, which means the shop will sell your dress for a percentage of its original retail price, and you will split the sale with them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Online marketplaces | Stillwhite, Nearly Newlywed, Facebook Marketplace, Offer Up, Mercari, eBay, Poshmark |
| Online listing sites | The Knot |
| Consignment shops | Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal, local consignment salons, thrift stores |
| Specialist services | Gillian Million |
| Vintage stores | Happy Isles |
| Donation | Emma & Eve Foundation |
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What You'll Learn
Online marketplaces and specialist services
There are several online marketplaces and specialist services that can help you sell your wedding dress. These include:
- Nearly Newlywed: This platform connects dress buyers and sellers, helping both save money. It offers a quick and easy application process and handles all buyer interactions and shipping. Sellers submit measurements, a description, and photos of their gown. According to Nearly Newlywed, a used wedding dress in great condition and under two years old can typically sell for 50% of its original retail price.
- Happy Isles: This vintage bridal salon in New York City offers a unique collection of one-of-a-kind wedding dresses from the 1930s to the early 2000s, focusing on designer labels.
- Stillwhite: This platform allows you to set your selling price and receive messages from buyers while keeping your contact details private. It offers fraud monitoring and expert assistance for a one-off fee with no commission, ensuring you keep all your sale proceeds.
- Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal: Located in South Jersey, this bridal shop serves brides in the Philadelphia and New Jersey area who are looking for pre-owned designer gowns. They accept wedding gowns of all shapes, sizes, and colours and offer a 60/40 or 50/50 split on sales, depending on the dress's age.
- Facebook Marketplace, Offer Up, or Mercari: These platforms allow local buyers to physically inspect the dress, increasing their confidence in the purchase.
When selling your wedding dress, it is essential to ensure it is in pristine condition. Consider having it professionally cleaned and properly stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Provide detailed descriptions and include high-quality photographs from various angles to showcase the dress's current condition and how it looks on a person.
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Local consignment shops
One such consignment shop is Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal, a bridal shop in New Jersey that sells pre-owned wedding dresses. They serve brides-to-be in the Philadelphia and New Jersey area who are looking for their perfect pre-owned designer wedding gown. If you sell your wedding dress on consignment at Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal, they will sell it for approximately 30% less than its original retail price. Once it's sold, they'll split the sale 60/40 with you. Or 50/50 in the case of an older dress (2 to 4 years old).
Another option is Blue Sky Bridal, a bridal consignment store with locations in Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. They offer a safe, easy, and inexpensive way to resell your wedding dress. They take brand new, floor samples, and previously worn dry-cleaned wedding dresses. There are no upfront costs or listing fees, and they send you 50% of the final sale price once your dress sells.
Consignment Bridal & Prom LLC in North Andover, MA, is another shop that provides consignment options for those who wish to sell their once-loved gowns. They offer a sustainable business model that benefits both the environment and consumers by creating a circular economy for bridal and formal wear.
To sell your wedding dress, it's important to ensure that your dress is in pristine condition. Consider having your dress professionally cleaned by a trusted dry cleaner immediately after your wedding to prevent any stains or marks from becoming permanent. Packing your wedding dress away properly is also essential—store your dress in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, and in a breathable garment bag or acid-free box to prevent discoloration and maintain its shape.
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Thrift stores
If you're looking to sell your wedding dress to a thrift store, consignment shops are a great option. Consignment stores are shops that sell second-hand goods on behalf of the owner, and they can help you find a buyer for your dress. To find a consignment shop near you, search for ones in your area with a fashion focus, as they will be more likely to take your gown and attract customers who are looking for a wedding dress.
One consignment shop that buys wedding dresses is Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal, a bridal shop in New Jersey that serves brides-to-be in the Philadelphia and New Jersey area who are looking for a pre-owned designer gown. If you sell your wedding dress on consignment at Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal, the shop will sell it for approximately 30% less than its original retail price. Once it's sold, the sale will be split 60/40 with you, or 50/50 if the dress is older (2 to 4 years old).
Another option is to sell your wedding dress online. Stillwhite.com is the largest online wedding dress marketplace in the world, where you can list your dress for a small one-off fee and connect directly with buyers. Other online marketplaces where you can sell your wedding dress include Nearly Newlywed, OnceWed, and Facebook Marketplace.
Before selling your wedding dress, it's important to ensure that it's in pristine condition. Consider having your dress professionally cleaned by a trusted dry cleaner immediately after your wedding to prevent any stains or marks from becoming permanent. Properly storing your dress in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and in a breathable garment bag or acid-free box will also help to prevent discolouration and maintain its shape.
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Donating to charity
Donating your wedding dress to charity is a great way to give back to the community and help those in need. Here are some benefits of donating your wedding dress:
Benefits of Donating
- More closet space: Donating your wedding dress will free up valuable closet space, especially for such a voluminous garment.
- Tax deduction: In some countries, donating to a registered charity can result in a tax deduction. Be sure to check your local regulations.
- Helping others: Donating your dress can help someone in need, whether it's another bride who couldn't otherwise afford a dress or a charitable cause that can sell the dress to fund their work.
Charities to Consider
Several charitable organizations accept wedding dress donations. Here are some options to consider:
- Brides for a Cause: This nonprofit organization collects and resells wedding dresses to raise funds for women-focused charities. They accept new and once-worn dresses up to five years old and operate showrooms in Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, and Sacramento.
- Brides Against Breast Cancer: This organization resells gently used wedding gowns to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and early detection.
- The Brides Project: Based in Michigan, this charity raises money for programs and services at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. They accept both new and gently used dresses.
- Brides Across America: This nonprofit provides free wedding dresses to military and first responder brides at Operation Wedding Gown events twice a year. They ask that donated items be less than four years old and in wearable condition.
- NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown program: This program accepts wedding dresses to be remade into infant burial gowns, also known as Angel Gowns, which are provided free of charge to hospitals, birthing centers, funeral homes, and grieving families.
Preparing Your Dress for Donation
To ensure your wedding dress is ready for donation and will be useful to the charity and any future brides:
- Have your dress professionally cleaned by a trusted dry cleaner as soon as possible after your wedding to prevent stains or marks from setting in.
- Store your dress in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Use a breathable garment bag or an acid-free box to prevent discolouration and maintain its shape.
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Selling platforms
There are several options for selling your old wedding dress, including online marketplaces, consignment shops, thrift stores, and specialist services.
Online Marketplaces
If you're looking to reach a wider audience and have a large selection of gowns to choose from, an online marketplace is a good option. Websites like Stillwhite, Nearly Newlywed, and preownedweddingdresses.com connect buyers and sellers of wedding dresses. Stillwhite, for example, allows you to set your selling price and receive messages from buyers while keeping your contact details private. They also offer tools such as fraud monitoring and expert assistance for a small one-off fee. Nearly Newlywed, on the other hand, handles all buyer interactions and shipping for a listing fee of $25 for a basic listing or $35 for a premium listing, with no additional commission.
Consignment Shops
Consignment shops are another popular option for selling your wedding dress. This option allows you to collect some of your investment back while getting your gown into the hands of another bride. Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal, for instance, sells pre-owned wedding dresses and offers a 60/40 or 50/50 split on the sale price, depending on the age of the dress. Consignment shops with a fashion focus are more likely to take your gown and attract bridal customers. If your dress is 20 years or older, you may also consider consigning it with a vintage store.
Thrift Stores and Specialist Services
For those who are not comfortable with online selling or are not concerned with making a commission, local thrift stores or consignment salons are an option. You can also consider specialist services, such as bridal stores, which will handle the sale for you in return for a commission.
Additional Tips
Regardless of the platform you choose, it is important to ensure your dress is in pristine condition to help it find a new home. Professional cleaning and proper storage can help maintain the dress's condition and increase its resale value. High-quality photographs and detailed descriptions, including any flaws or stains, are also essential for attracting potential buyers.
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Frequently asked questions
Some online marketplaces to sell your wedding dress include Stillwhite, Nearly Newlywed, Facebook Marketplace, Offer Up, Mercari, eBay, and Poshmark.
You can sell your wedding dress at local consignment shops, thrift stores, or bridal boutiques such as Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal or Happy Isles.
Ensure your dress is in pristine condition by having it professionally cleaned immediately after your wedding to prevent stains or marks from becoming permanent. Store your dress in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, in a breathable garment bag or acid-free box to prevent discolouration and maintain its shape. Take high-quality photographs of the dress to attract potential buyers.
Include photos of the dress, a description, and the price you choose. If you can remember your measurements at the time you wore the dress, include those as well. Be honest about the flaws and document them as accurately as possible.
