Rhiannon Hendricks
There are many options available for those looking to sell their used wedding dresses. The ethical fashion movement has gained traction, with more brides choosing to wear sustainable wedding dresses. Websites such as Stillwhite, Nearly Newlywed, Borrowing Magnolia, and Poshmark are some of the popular choices for selling pre-owned wedding dresses. Local consignment salons or thrift stores are also an option for those who are not digitally savvy or are willing to forego a commission.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Online marketplaces such as Stillwhite, Nearly Newlywed, Borrowing Magnolia, and Poshmark
Stillwhite is an online marketplace that accepts wedding dresses of all shapes, sizes, and colors. They do not charge a commission or monthly fees, but there is a small transaction fee for payments made through PayPal. Stillwhite also offers a mobile app for convenient management of sales and interactions with buyers.
Nearly Newlywed is a specialized online marketplace for pre-owned wedding dresses. They save sellers time and effort by handling all buyer interactions and shipping. The application process is simple and involves submitting measurements, a description, and photos of the dress.
Borrowing Magnolia is a transparent platform that makes shopping for second-hand dresses online easy and affordable. They offer a wide range of styles, colors, and silhouettes, with dresses available at a fraction of the original price. Borrowing Magnolia charges a flat fee of $25 per listing.
Poshmark is another popular online marketplace for selling used wedding dresses. They take a 20% commission on sales of $15 or more. Poshmark allows users to sell bridesmaid dresses in addition to wedding gowns.
When selling a used wedding dress on these platforms, it is important to create informative and appealing listings. This includes providing detailed descriptions, accurate measurements, information on alterations and wear and tear, and high-quality photos from multiple angles.
Should You Show Your Fiancé Your Wedding Dress?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Local consignment salons or thrift stores
If you're looking to sell your wedding dress locally, consignment salons or thrift stores are a great option. These stores specialize in buying and selling pre-owned wedding dresses, and they can offer you a convenient and hassle-free way to sell your dress.
One such consignment salon is Blue Sky Bridal, with locations in Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. They accept wedding dresses on consignment within the past three years and in ready-to-wear condition. They accept brand new, floor samples, and previously worn dry-cleaned wedding dresses. Consigning your dress with them is safe and easy, and they will send you 50% of the final sale price.
Another option is to look for local bridal resale shops or places that buy wedding dresses. These stores will appraise your dress and may buy it directly from you to add to their inventory of used wedding gowns. The Knot Vendor Marketplace, for example, can help you find a bridal salon near you that specializes in consignment wedding dresses.
If you're looking to sell your dress quickly and don't want to deal with the process of listing it online, local consignment salons or thrift stores are a great choice. You can walk into the store with your dress, and their professionals will guide you through the process. They will also be able to advise you on the resale value of your dress.
Additionally, if you're not comfortable with online selling or are concerned about making a commission, local consignment salons or thrift stores are a more suitable option. You can hand over your dress to them, and they will take care of the rest, including any buyer interactions and shipping.
Make the Bride's Dress Shopping Dreamy and Delightful
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$14.99 $31.99
Donating to charity
If you're looking to donate your wedding dress to charity, there are several organizations that accept donations. Here are some options to consider:
Brides for a Cause
Brides for a Cause is a nonprofit organization that 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 have showrooms in Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, and Sacramento. You can mail in your dress or drop it off locally. Brides for a Cause has collected over 40,000 wedding dresses and donated over $3,000,000 to charities across the country.
Brides Against Breast Cancer
Brides Against Breast Cancer resells gently used wedding gowns to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and early detection. They accept dresses that are less than four years old and in wearable condition.
The Brides Project
Based in Michigan, The Brides Project raises money for programs and services at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. They accept gently used and new dresses and distribute them to those in need.
Adorned in Grace
Adorned in Grace, with locations in Oregon and Arizona, sells wedding dresses and other formal attire, using the profits to support efforts to prevent and raise awareness about sex trafficking.
Cherie Sustainable Bridal
Cherie Sustainable Bridal in Maryland accepts donated gowns to support Success in Style, a nonprofit that provides professional clothing and interview skills to clients in crisis. They accept designer gowns less than five years old and do not require professional cleaning before donation.
The Emma and Evan Foundation
The Emma and Evan Foundation transforms donated wedding dresses into infant burial gowns, known as Angel Gowns. These gowns are offered free of charge to hospitals, birthing centers, funeral homes, and grieving families. The organization is dedicated to providing comfort to families experiencing the loss of a baby.
When deciding where to donate your wedding dress, consider the mission and values of each organization to find one that aligns with your own values and interests. Donating your dress can be a meaningful way to support a cause that is important to you while also helping someone in need.
Find Dreamy Prom Dresses at David's Bridal
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$27.89 $44.99
$14.99 $19.99
Professional cleaning before selling
Wedding dresses are often made from delicate fabrics and materials such as lace, embroidery, and silk. This means that, despite being one of the most cherished items of clothing a person will ever own, they can be prone to staining and discolouration.
Professional cleaners are trained to spot the unseen, and can create a treatment plan for each type of stain. They will also be able to advise on the best solvents to use, as some of those used for regular dry cleaning may contain impurities that can re-deposit onto the fabric of the dress and leave a strange smell.
Even if your dress looks good at first glance, it could benefit from a professional clean before selling. A professional cleaner will be able to remove any scuffs on the hem or stains from celebratory spills, and a dress that has been professionally cleaned will sell twice as quickly as one that hasn't.
If you do decide to clean your wedding dress yourself, it is important to know the material of your gown, as various compositions impact how a gown is cleaned, what solvents can be used, and the extent of the cleaning. You will also need to be very careful, as the way you approach the cleaning process could be the difference between ensuring it stays in pristine condition and accidentally destroying it.
There are several online marketplaces where you can sell your wedding dress, including Stillwhite, Nearly Newlywed, and Preowned Wedding Dresses. These sites allow you to connect directly with buyers, and some offer additional services such as handling buyer interactions and shipping.
Addressing Wedding Invites: The Ultimate Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$49.99 $66.99
Popular wedding dress designers
When it comes to wedding dress designers, there are many popular options to choose from, each with their own unique style and appeal. Here are some of the most renowned wedding dress designers known for their exquisite creations:
Pnina Tornai
Pnina Tornai is a world-renowned designer known for creating stunning gowns with optimal comfort and structure. Her designs are focused on accentuating the natural beauty of a woman's body, highlighting their best features. Pnina's craftsmanship is exceptional, and her gowns are often sought-after for their ability to flatter different body types and bustlines gracefully.
Carolina Herrera
Carolina Herrera is an iconic American luxury designer who launched her first wedding dress collection in 1987. Her gowns are known for their perfectly tailored silhouettes, exquisite lace, bows, and floral appliqués. Carolina Herrera dresses are a popular choice among celebrities, with famous names like Caroline Kennedy, Olivia Palermo, and Idina Menzel choosing her designs for their weddings.
Casablanca Bridal
Casablanca Bridal has become one of the most popular wedding dress designers, offering a diverse range of styles to suit different body types, wedding themes, and budgets. With three distinct labels—Casablanca Bridal, Beloved by Casablanca, and Amare Couture—the brand caters to brides seeking everything from fairytale ball gowns to effortless chiffon dresses for a beach ceremony.
Hayley Paige
Hayley Paige has become a household name in the bridal industry, with her wedding dresses featured on TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress." Her designs are known for their modern romantic aesthetic, incorporating flowing skirts, flattering necklines, and flirty hemlines. Hayley Paige gowns offer a wide range of styles and are known for their ability to showcase the unique personalities of the brides who wear them.
Oscar de la Renta and Vera Wang
Oscar de la Renta and Vera Wang are two highly acclaimed designers whose wedding gowns are considered highly valuable even when pre-owned. Their designs are often sought-after and can retain a significant percentage of their original retail value, even when sold on the secondhand market.
These designers represent just a fraction of the diverse and talented pool of creators in the bridal fashion industry. Each brings their unique vision and craftsmanship to the world of wedding dresses, ensuring that every bride can find the perfect gown that reflects their style and personality.
Attending a Wedding in a Green Dress? Try These Styling Tips
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are several online marketplaces that specialize in selling used wedding dresses, including:
- Stillwhite
- PreOwned Wedding Dresses
- Poshmark
- BravoBride
- Wore It Once
- Ruffled
- Weddingbee
- Nearly Newlywed
Consigning a wedding dress means bringing it to a local bridal shop that will market and sell the dress for you. This option may be preferable to selling online, as it saves you from having to take pictures and videos of the dress, editing them, posting them, writing captions, arranging meet-ups with potential buyers, etc. However, the bridal shop will take a cut of the profits. Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal in South Jersey is one example of a shop that consigns wedding dresses.
It's important to be aware of scams when selling a used wedding dress. It's also unlikely that you will make more than 50% of what you paid for the dress, unless it is a particularly sought-after style. To increase your chances of selling your dress, be sure to include as many details as possible in your listing, such as the designer, style name/number, alterations, fit, height, measurements, and any special features (e.g. pockets).
