- Home
- Wedding Ideas
Be an eco-conscious bride! - by Rhys McKay
The monstrous cost of an average wedding have been pushing brides and wedding planners to cut corners and resort to DIY and compromisable options. Sometimes that includes the wedding dress too.
But what if we told you that you can get your dream dress for a fraction of the price? Tons of modern brides have been going down the aisle in beautiful second-hand wedding dresses – and we have the rise of the pre-loved wedding dress industry as proof of that!
To help future brides-to-be, we’ve compiled four great websites to get second-hand wedding dresses in Australia. Get ready to tie the knot in a stylish pre-loved wedding gown.
RELATED: Australian Bride Has Epic Unicorn Wedding For $1500
Why Buy A Second-Hand Wedding Dress?
The great thing about looking for a vintage wedding dress is that it opens you up to new styles that you may not have considered before. While a lot of wedding dresses are tailor-fit to a bride’s tastes, there are unorthodox ensembles that can really make the bride stand out: like a sleek black dress or maybe even a mermaid-inspired sequin gown.
Buying a new wedding dress can put a lot of stress on the bride – you have to get the right fabric, cut, and lace, and that’s not even mentioning the price! The pressure of planning a wedding and managing expectations can even cause breakdowns and stress-induced symptoms in some brides. So why not opt for a cheaper second-hand dress and have one less thing on your mind.
Getty
Finally, second-hand dresses are very eco-conscious! Traditionally, weddings call for lavish celebrations but the cultural mindset is veering away from extravagance. A pre-worn wedding dress can be a great way to save money and make a powerful environmental statement.
4 Websites To Buy Pre-Loved Wedding Dresses
Before googling ‘wedding dress boutiques near me’, hit up online consignment stores. You’ll be absolutely shocked at the amazing dresses you can find for a fraction of the price!
eBay
What’s Great About It: Ebay has a massive variety of used and pre-owned wedding dresses. If none of the wedding gowns appeal to you, we’re pretty sure you can at least find a casual white bridal dress for your reception.
Price Range: Some dresses go for as cheap as $AUD100. Best keep an eye on it as getting caught in a bidding war happens often with bargains.
Go to their website and start hunting for that dream wedding dress.
2,119 likes - View Post on Instagram
Shine bright like a diamond💎 #chergown #lazarobridal #lazaro #jlmcouture
Stillwhite
What’s Great About It: Revered by online publications and blogs as the best second-hand wedding dress website, Stillwhite is a frugal bride’s best pick! Navigating the 44,851 preloved gowns might be a doozy, but with the friendly website interface and specific search options, you can find easily find dresses that cater to your tastes.
Price Range: Prices start at $AUD80.
Hop on over to their website and be in awe at the massive wedding dress collection.
72 likes - View Post on Instagram
"My favourite part of the dress is the hidden pockets perfect to hold your lipgloss for touching up during the evening."💄 | Kate's gown is now available #preloved on stillwhite! Designer: #robynrobertsbridal #stillwhite #stillwhitebride
Only Dream Dresses
What’s Great About It: If you’re keen on getting a pre-loved designer wedding dress, chances are Only Dream Dresses has it! From beautifully constructed Connie Simonetti gowns to cheekily sheer Helen Constance dresses, you’ve got a wide selection of designers to choose from! Not only that, but if you’re a one-and-done kind of bride, most of the dresses they have are also available to rent!
Price Range: Gowns start a $AUD150. Sign up to their newsletter so you’d receive a notification on their frequent sales!
Shop for a recycled wedding dress on their website. They’ve also got a blog if you need wedding inspo!
5 likes - View Post on Instagram
So when is the best time to sell your wedding dress?⠀ ⠀ You can sell your wedding dress at any time, however sooner the better. Wedding dresses that are still available in stores or are part of a recent collection retain their value and are more sought after with brides-to-be.⠀ ⠀ A big factor is the time of year. This is peak wedding season so more brides-to-be are looking for dresses than any other part of the year, so it is perfect timing to shake off that dress.⠀ ⠀ Also, designers such as Grace Loves Lace will fetch higher prices and sell quickly because they have an affordable price point and they are popular style.⠀ ⠀ The RRP will be the starting point for your resale price. Also, alterations normally don't increase the value of the gown, so even if you spend $500 on alterations this shouldn't be added you the RRP to estimate the resale price.⠀ ⠀ Dry-cleaning even though it doesn't necessarily increase the value of the gown, most brides-to-be will expect the dress to be dry-cleaned prior to purchasing it from you.⠀ ⠀ So how long will it take for me to sell my dress?⠀ This is a difficult question to answer. We have sold dresses on our site in 2 weeks, and there is no rhyme or reason to it.⠀ ⠀ It is all about finding a bride-to-be that is looking for a dress in your style, your size, within your price and often in your location.⠀ ⠀ And we are all about finding that perfect bride-to-be for your dress.⠀ ⠀ ▪︎⠀ ▪︎⠀ ▪︎⠀ ⠀ #onlydreamdresses #prelovedweddingdress #weddingdecor #brisbaneweddingceremony #weddingday #sydneybridetobe #sellmyweddingdress #weddingdressshopping #weddingsperth #brisbaneweddingblogger #brisbanebride #sydneyweddingflorist #outdoorwedding #secondhandweddingdress #perthweddingceremony #sydneyweddingvenue #sydneyweddingideas #sydneybrides #weddingideas #perthwedding #laceweddingdress #craigbraybrookcouture #springwedding #gardenwedding #2020bride
Capriess
What’s Great About It: Other than getting the wedding dress of your dreams, you can take home vintage bridesmaids’ dresses and wedding rings from Capriess. Shopping at Capriess is hassle-free since you can sort the dresses based on your location. They also carry a wide variety of styles such as off-the-shoulder and open back dresses if you prefer to be daring on your special day.
Price Range: Wedding dresses begin at $AUD250
If you need a one-stop-shop for your wedding needs, head on over to their website.
Before You Buy That Dress…
There are a couple of important caveats for when it comes to buying a second-hand wedding dress:
- Keep in mind that most of these dresses are tailored to fit the bride, so the sizes on the listing might not be accurate.
- Make sure to communicate with the seller and inquire about the exact measurements and any alterations made to the original dress.
- It’s safer to buy a dress that is a size larger so there’ll be plenty of room for modifications.
- If you’re buying a second-hand designer dress don’t forget to ask for the original proof of purchase to be sure that you’re not getting knocked off.
- Don’t be shy to ask for additional photos and videos of the dress so you can gauge what you’re buying.
- If you’re really particular about the dress it helps to have more information like if the dress was worn outdoors or indoors, how it was cleaned, and if it was kept in a smoke-free environment.
RELATED: The 8 Best Sustainable Clothing Brands: What They Make, And What They Promise
- Wedding Ideas
