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After the wedding, many brides are left wondering what they should do with their wedding dress.
Should they have it professionally cleaned for preservation purposes? Should they hang it in their closet? In their parents’ home? Should they donate it? Or sell it?
“Brides are much more open to buying pre-owned wedding dresses now,” said Melissa Martel, operations manager of Nearly Newlywed, an online wedding dress resale site that opened in 2004. “Over the past several years we see recurring themes that sustainability and saving money are huge motivators, and selling has also picked up as brides realize they can both recoup some costs and share the love by passing their dress on to someone else. I often see sellers talking about how excited they are to have found a bride who will love their dress as much as they did.”
Most secondhand shops are located online, which makes it hard to try on a dress before making a purchase. And “be prepared for possible imperfections, as well as unexpected cleaning, restoration or alteration costs,” said bridal and editorial stylist Corinne Pierre-Louis.
Ronnie Rothstein is the CEO of Kleinfeld Bridal and Kleinfeld Again, the brand’s new online resale experience that charges a listing fee for selling a dress on its platform. He said that brides shopping for a pre-owned dress should keep budget in mind.
“Knowing what you want to spend will help narrow down the options available,” he said. “Look for dresses that align with your vision for the big day. And remember that wedding dresses can be altered to fit, so don’t be afraid to consider dresses slightly larger than your typical size — it’s easier to take in material than to add it.”
Whether it’s a vintage gown or something more contemporary, make sure you know your measurements and size in bridal gowns, because they are different than ready-to-wear sizes.
“Bridal sizing tends to run smaller than regular clothing, often by as much as two sizes,” said Julie Sabatino, a bridal stylist at the Stylish Bride. “When shopping for vintage, focus on key measurements — bust, waist and hips.”
Pierre-Louis advises brides to do their homework before shopping the secondhand market, including researching the original designer and style to understand the dress’ value, and seeing photos from all angles, including close-ups of potential wear and tear.
Look specifically at the hemline, the seam along any straps or sleeves and at any fasteners, such as bridal buttons, zippers and hooks, and eye to ensure they won’t have to be repaired or replaced. “Don’t expect the dress to be in perfect condition,” she said. “Remember, this is a pre-owned gown, so you’ll likely see some wear and tear.”
Martel cautioned to read the description thoroughly. “This may seem obvious, but we find many buyers don’t read the full description.”
Local thrift shops or vintage clothing stores may also have a few wedding dresses hanging on their racks. And there are also charities where a bride can donate a wedding dress, such as the brick-and-mortar company Brides for a Cause (with locations on the West Coast), where the sale of your dress helps support various nonprofit organizations.
As with any online purchase, make sure you read the terms and conditions regarding returns and refunds. “Be clear on the seller’s return policy before buying … Not all sellers offer a return,” said Martel. “We give our sellers the option to make it a final sale, or follow our return policy.”
Once you purchase a nearly new dress, seek out a professional wedding gown cleaning company. Hallak Cleaners and J. Scheer & Co. are well-respected cleaning companies in the tri-state area that specialize in wedding dress cleaning and preservation for after the wedding.
Or maybe it will end up being recycled for a third time up the aisle.
