Signature Grand Weddings

If you have designer dress dreams and a department store budget, purchasing a previously loved wedding dress can offer you the best of both worlds. Whether you’re buying at a local consignment or thrift shop or from an online auction or secondhand website, here are a few tips to help you find the perfect pre-owned wedding dress:

Condition is everything. When inspecting a gown in person, take it to a well-lit area of the shop. Inspect typical problem areas, such as hemlines, underarms, and zippers, and do a “sniff test” to check for offensive aromas like body odor, perfume, moth balls, and cigarette smoke. While a professional cleaning ($50-$100) may take care of make-up and light soiling, stains from wine, grass, and food are tougher to tackle. Also, be on the lookout for loose or missing sequins, pulled threads, and hemline imperfections. If you’re “buying blind”, find out whether the dress has been professionally cleaned (don’t be shy about asking for a cleaning receipt!) and request close-up pictures of any imperfections. Remember, costly cleaning or repair issues could offset potential savings.

Has the dress been altered? Typically, wedding dresses can be altered up or down 2-4 sizes, but if the dress has already been taken in or let out, there may be little give – if any – to accommodate a custom fit. When examining in person, check to make sure seam allowances are adequate for sizing to fit. If buying an altered dress from an online seller,

ask the bride what “street size” the dress was sized to (size normally worn in casual or business clothing), as well as her height and the height of the heel she wore.

Know your fit. Don your support undergarments (bra, corset, slip, etc.) and have a friend or seamstress take your measurements using a cloth measuring tape with enough slack to slip one finger under the tape. Compare your bust, bicep, waist, hip, and hollow to hem measurements with the designer’s sizing chart, or ask the Internet seller to confirm these measurements. Only purchase if the dress’s measurements will accommodate your largest feature.

Verify authenticity. If you’re not in the market for a knock-off or replica gown, authenticity is key. Familiarize yourself with designer labels and signatures, and ask the seller for photos of these identifiers. Don’t hesitate to ask the selling bride for a scanned copy of her receipt or for the original designer tags.

A picture is worth a thousand words. When buying online, make sure the pictures are of the actual gown being sold rather than stock photos. If the dress is pictured with accessories (veil, jewelry, purse, or shoes), find out if they’re included with the dress. It can’t hurt to ask!

Alter your mindset. If Jennifer Aniston sported an elegant vintage dress at her wedding, would you wrinkle your nose at her “used” dress? Of course not! There’s no shame in wearing a gently worn wedding dress – in fact, unless you tell, no one will ever know. 

Since the typical wedding dress is worn for about five hours, donning a $5,000 dress will cost about $17.00 a minute. Instead, why not wear a previously loved gown and save the splurge for your honeymoon fund or for a down-payment on your first home? Best wishes for a savvy – and stylish – wedding day!