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How to Sell Your Wedding Dress: A Handy Guide

When did you decide to get rid of the dress? We have collected everything you need to know about this topic right here.

The issue "Where else can I sell my bridal gown?" is one we get quite often. Your wedding day may have come and gone, and you may no longer wish to wear your wedding dress. Alternatively, you may be engaged but unhappy with the dress you've chosen. Or maybe you've felt compelled to delay the wedding. In no time at all, and for whatever reason, you'll be presenting your gown to its newfound owner with the help of our guide.

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Sometimes, the bride's "yes" to the gown is the defining moment of the entire wedding planning experience. Although many brides do keep their wedding gowns, others donate or sell them after the big day.

There is a lot of emotion attached to the bride's decision of what to do with her bridal gown after the reception. Some ladies put it in a box for safekeeping to ensure their future financial stability. However, a few people would rather not have it taking up more room, especially if they can recover some of their initial investment.

Modern brides are quite practical. The idea of buying a dress that someone else has worn for only a few hours and saving thousands of dollars appeals to many of them. Sometimes the stars are aligned, and we have the designer dress the bride has been dreaming of in her size at a fraction of the cost.

The sentimental value attached to the bride's role in the dress's creation or selection causes some to keep their bridal gowns. But other brides are cashing in on the dress's popularity and selling theirs to ensure that the following frugal bride can get a good deal. When trying to buy or sell a previously worn wedding dress, it can be tempting to check online. You may find a better deal and more convenient service for this highly specialised purchase on a website that caters specifically to the selling of pre-owned bridal dresses.

selling your wedding dress

Table of Contents

Tips for Listing Your Wedding Gown

When brides contact us about consignment, it's often because they've discovered their dream dress but it's beyond of their financial range. These ladies may go much above their set budget if they are determined to obtain their money's worth from the dress. In principle, it makes logical; nevertheless, before entering your credit card information, there are several things to consider.

Do many brides actually wear dresses of the design and size you're picturing?

Think about the dress in the context of the wedding's concept and decor, and whether or not it will still be appropriate a year from now. That goes double if you want to have your ceremony in the forest, take photos on the beach, or do anything else outside the norm for a wedding.

Would you be available to get the gown dry washed before you travel off on your romantic getaway? Numerous ladies have misplaced their wedding gowns in the shuffle to get ready for the honeymoon.

Can you tell me how serious you are about selling your wedding gown? Time management skillz are a requirement. Perhaps you're the carefree type that thinks problems will disappear if they're ignored for long enough.

If you have your heart set on an extravagant gown for your big day, make sure you can afford it even if you don't sell it after the ceremony. Dresses don't sell because people pour red wine on them, they get ripped to shreds, the dry cleaners mess up, and so on. Do you feel comfortable losing the full asking price of the dress if you're unable to sell it? We have compiled a list of Melbourne Wedding Dress Shops to make the search as easy as possible for your perfect gown.

Where to Sell Your Wedding Dress

Marketplaces on the Internet

After reading our tips on how to sell a wedding dress, get started immediately by registering up for an online marketplace. Because each site runs slightly differently, it is important that you become familiar with its policies on selling fees and commision.

In Australia, there are more than 50,000 bridal gown listings, albeit some of these are from ready-made stores rather than individual sellers. Gumtree has been around for a while, and in that time it has amassed a user base of about 15,000. (not stores). While keeping the full sale price is a major perk of selling on such sites, potential buyers will likely want to visit your home in order to try on the garment. If a possible buyer wants to try something like that on, you'd better ensure they're around the same size as you are and that nothing is on it.

Online Shop

The majority of these marketplaces just need sellers to pay once to list an item, which is ideal if you don't plan on making any further transactions in the coming years. In any case, familiarise yourself with the firm's rules before registering, and then make use of the tips we've provided to boost the possibility that your outfit will be purchased.

We made it easy to find a reputable second-hand wedding dress seller by producing this list. The knowledge you need to find a gently used wedding dress is abundant in these internet communities. Either buyers and sellers might find a wealth of opportunity there.

One of our favourite methods to cut costs on the wedding is by buying and reselling used items online after the fact. Although selling your bridal gown online may help you recuperate some of your costs, the process is not quick, easy, or convenient. The advantages and disadvantages of using each of these sites will change depending on how much work you want to put in yourself.

handy guide to wedding dress selling

Bridal Secondhand Stores

Therefore, you might approach a shop that offers previously worn wedding dresses about buying yours. Know that every shop is different and dress accordingly. Some stores may offer to purchase the dress outright the day you take it in, whereas others will sell it for you and take a commision off the market price, while some will only work with brides on an individual basis.

If you'd rather not keep the dress, you may always give it to a charity boutique.

You might also try selling your wedding dress at one of the numerous local secondhand shops. Your wedding dress could be purchased through a regular clothing consignment shop.

You can also ask about at local bridal shops if they have a consignment area where you can sell your wedding dress.

When using a consignment shop to sell an item, keep in mind that you will have to share the profits with the shop. The consignment market lacks a universally accepted system of commissions. Commission rates of 10% are commonplace. Some, though, might add on an extra 30% - 50%.

It is important to read the tiny print of any consignment store listing agreement before signing it.

Each new garment that arrives is inspected to ensure it is in perfect condition. When a bride walks into our shop, we don't want her to feel like she's in a thrift store; we want her to have a beautiful, well curated variety of gowns to choose from.

Smart brides will only accept dry cleaned dresses that are not more than three years old, in excellent shape, and do not take up a lot of space. You will not be concerned about strangers calling you or entering your home to try on your clothes, which are both advantages. The service is helpful, but it has a price in the shape of a percent of the final sale price.

Check our Top Wedding Dress Shops In Melbourne for your list of some of the most exclusive dress shops.

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How to Sell Your Wedding Dress Online

If you're not that sentimental kind or are just financially astute, selling your secondhand bridal gown is a simple method to recuperate some of the dollars you spent on your wedding. If the dress is in good condition, consider selling it online rather than donating it to a second hand store so that you can reach a wider audience.

Roughly speaking, this is the formula for contemporary dresses: if the dress is not more than three years old and has previously been used, charge half the selling value; if the garment has not been worn, charge seventy-five percent. Used wedding dress prices might range widely for a variety of reasons. If your gown is vintage, you may be eligible for a discount of 10% to 20%. In theory, you should be able to recoup what you initially invested in a vintage outfit, but actual returns will vary widely according on current market conditions. If you intend to sell something online, you'll need to drastically lower the price, even if you acquired it from a high-end vintage store.

You can't expect anyone to view your post if the photo is blurry and awkwardly cropped. You should take the images in a well-lit area, using your best camera, and you should get full-length shots of the front and back of the dress as well as close-ups of any details. Having a friend photograph the pictures or act as a model is a fantastic idea, as is including one of your own wedding pictures that prominently showcases the dress.

When selling a dress from a designer collection, timing is everything. You can get your money back on the dress within three years if you sell it to other brides who saw you in it but couldn't afford to buy a new one. Keeping tabs on the eras that are currently fashionable may be useful if you want to sell classic dresses in the future, as dresses from the 1970s are selling well but the styles of the 1980s will not make a comeback for some time.

Include as much detail as you can when discussing your dress, such as the designer, model, number, fabric, and care instructions, as well as any wear or cleaning the garment may have had. The ideal phrases to use in the description are the ones you would type into a web browser if you were looking for a gown like the one you are describing.

  • Honesty requires me to tell you that you probably think about your wedding day often. If you want to find a buyer for your clothing, you must provide an accurate description of its condition. Please be upfront about any faults, such as holes, rips, stains, or fading, and don't forget to include them in your description. The marketability of your clothing will decrease as a result, although perhaps not to the extent you fear. If the prospective buyer intends to have the gown shortened, for example, they may overlook a minor stain at the hem.
  • There are three criteria that need to be met, and they are size, colour, and build. To the best of your ability, please include as much specific information as possible. Specify the size and colour (choose from cream, white, pink, etc.)
  • Quickness is appreciated when making posts. As you get older, you'll have more leverage when haggling over clothing prices. Since trends come and go so swiftly, it's recommended that you sell it no sooner than two years following your wedding.
  • You can never have too many pictures of the dress, so don't hold back. Shoot candid photos from all directions. Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer and show off the item while you're wearing it.
  • Think about the kind of people who would be interested in purchasing a previously worn wedding gown, and use that information to set a reasonable price. This person is probably in a pinch, therefore they can only pay for a small, low-key ceremony. So, they won't be shelling out a lot of money for a used dress. Don't try to gouge customers with the price of your clothing, as modern consumers are knowledgeable enough to research comparable items and identify price increases.

It's possible to sell your bridal gown in a number of different settings. Professional consignment businesses and do-it-yourself web markets are just two of the many venues where you can sell your wedding dress.

CONCLUSION

While some brides choose to keep their wedding gowns, others choose to give or sell them. Several people like the concept of purchasing a dress that has been worn for only a few hours by someone else. There are online marketplaces dedicated solely to the purchase and sale of previously worn wedding gowns. More than 50,000 bridal gowns are listed on Australian websites. Policy on selling fees and commissions can vary from site to site, so it's crucial to do some research before making any purchases.

By compiling this directory, we hope to facilitate your search for a reliable vendor of pre-owned wedding gowns. Depending on how much effort you're willing to put in, the pros and cons of using any of these sites will shift. Some shops may make you an offer to buy the dress the day you bring it in, while others may offer to sell it on your behalf. Only dresses that are less than three years old, in pristine condition, and do not require a lot of storage space will be accepted by discerning brides. As an alternative to donating the dress to a thrift store, you could try selling it online if it's in good condition.

Timing is crucial when selling a wedding dress from a designer collection. Within three years, you can recoup the cost of the garment by selling it to future brides. Whether an item has holes, rips, stains, or fading, please be honest about it. A wedding dress can be sold in a variety of markets. There are a plethora of options, including professional consignment shops and do-it-yourself online markets. Because fashions change so rapidly, experts advise waiting at least two years before selling your wedding dress.

FAQs About Wedding Dress

When you choose a wedding dress, look for something that makes you feel beautiful, like yourself, and comfortable and confident. If you feel confident and beautiful, it will show on the photographs, in your smile, making the entire wedding day experience magical and unforgettable.

Yes, wedding dress sizing is often different from standard sizing. You may know your dress size normally, but your wedding dress size will likely be different.

A good rule of thumb for when to buy your wedding dress is to shop between 6 to 12 months before the wedding. A year before your wedding is an excellent time to begin looking for a dress; you should already have a date set, and venue booked, so you know when and where the wedding will take place.

This decision is yours, but most grooms agree they want to be surprised by their future wife's wedding dress on the day of the wedding. If your partner is open to seeing your dress ahead of the wedding, and if you value their opinion in the fashion world, you can certainly invite them along.

Always make an appointment.

But showing up and expecting to try on dresses without an appointment is a significant lapse in etiquette. Trying on wedding dresses requires the full attention of a bridal stylist, and if they're all busy helping other brides, they won't be able to give you the attention you need.

CONTENT SUMMARY

  • Although many brides do keep their wedding gowns, others donate or sell them after the big day.
  • There is a lot of emotion attached to the bride's decision of what to do with her bridal gown after the reception.
  • When trying to buy or sell a previously worn wedding dress, it can be tempting to check online.
  • Do many brides actually wear dresses of the design and size you're picturing? Think about the dress in the context of the wedding's concept and decor, and whether or not it will still be appropriate a year from now.
  • If you have your heart set on an extravagant gown for your big day, make sure you can afford it even if you don't sell it after the ceremony.
  • After reading our tips on how to sell a wedding dress, get started immediately by registering up for an online marketplace.
  • We made it easy to find a reputable second-hand wedding dress seller by producing this list.
  • The knowledge you need to find a gently used wedding dress is abundant in these internet communities.
  • One of our favourite methods to cut costs on the wedding is by buying and reselling used items online after the fact.
  • You might also try selling your wedding dress at one of the numerous local secondhand shops.
  • Your wedding dress could be purchased through a regular clothing consignment shop.
  • You can also ask about at local bridal shops if they have a consignment area where you can sell your wedding dress.
  • When using a consignment shop to sell an item, keep in mind that you will have to share the profits with the shop.
  • If you're not that sentimental kind or are just financially astute, selling your second hand bridal gown is a simple method to recuperate some of the dollars you spent on your wedding.
  • If the dress is in good condition, consider selling it online rather than donating it to a second hand store so that you can reach a wider audience.
  • When selling a dress from a designer collection, timing is everything.
  • If you want to find a buyer for your clothing, you must provide an accurate description of its condition.
  • There are three criteria that need to be met, and they are size, colour, and build.
  • Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer and show off the item while you're wearing it.
  • Think about the kind of people who would be interested in purchasing a previously worn wedding gown, and use that information to set a reasonable price.
  • It's possible to sell your bridal gown in a number of different settings.
  • Professional consignment businesses and do-it-yourself web markets are just two of the many venues where you can sell your wedding dress.
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