In the days after you tie the knot, you may find yourself glancing at your wedding dress, wondering what you should do with the special gown. And while some brides opt to preserve such ensemble or even rewear it, you may opt to to sell or donate it, giving someone else the opportunity to fall in love with the piece. "We have some gowns in our shop that have been selected by brides three or four times, all styled and showcased in ways completely unique and special to that bride, which I find incredible," says Caitlin Macri, the owner of Hand-Me-Gowns, a bridal boutique in New Jersey that sells pre-owned dresses.
However, your wedding dress may be one of the most expensive pieces in your closet. With the average U.S. bride spending between $1,800 and $2,400 on this important ensemble, you'll likely want to ensure that a buyer understands the value of your gown. As a result, you may be considering a number of different marketplaces—from an online seller to a local consignment shop. While there's no wrong route to take when parting with your dress, there are important factors to consider (and questions to ask) based on the path you take.
Here, we break down everything to know about selling or donating a wedding dress, as well as step-by-step guide to follow if you're interested in purchasing a pre-owned gown. Read on for all of our expert-backed tips.
How to Sell Your Wedding Dress: 5 Expert-Backed Tips
While it can sometimes be hard to part with the gown you've waited your whole life to wear, if you've made the decision to sell your look, here's what to keep in mind when embarking on this journey.
List It as Soon as Possible
Unfortunately, time is of the essence here. Most online marketplaces and consignment shops have limits on how old a dress can be for it to be included in their stock. The majority of them won't accept a gown more than three to five years old, as well as any ensemble that's discolored or damaged. "If you know you'd like to pass your gown to another bride and recoup some of your wedding costs, don't let that gown hang dirty in the closet...get it moving," says Macri. "Trends in bridal can be so exciting, and new designs are coming out frequently, so your dress from just a year or two ago may already look different in design to what is popular today."
Disclose Any Alterations
Some sellers won't accept gowns that have been heavily altered. If your dress has been altered, make sure to disclose it beforehand to ensure your ensemble can still be listed. Know that shortened gowns can be more challenging to sell, as you'll need to find a buyer who's at your height or shorter, Macri adds.
Price It Competitively
Figuring out the listing price for your gown can be one of the most difficult aspects of selling a wedding dress. If you want to get the payout from your sale as soon as possible, you may need to be comfortable with lowering the sticker price. "Remember that your gown will need to find a bride that's about the same size, has the right budget, and loves that style in that color," Macri says.
Be Wary of Scams
If you're listing your gown on an online site, be prepared to do a fair amount of work. "As a seller, you'll often spend a lot of time making listings, [as well as] answering messages and questions," Macri says. "Be wary of potential scams." Make sure to verify any buyer and ensure you're listing your dress on a reputable site. When it comes to the transaction, only accept payment from trusted methods and document your conversations with the buyer for added protection in case of a dispute.
Take Quality Photos
When listing your dress online, make sure to include quality photos. Rather than just snapping a pick of your gown on the hanger and uploading it to the site, consider including photos of the dress on you to give potential purchasers a better idea of how the ensemble looks on a bride.
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Buying a Pre-Owned Wedding Dress: 4 Tips to Know
Many brides today buy pre-loved gowns to save money and embrace more sustainable practices in the wedding space. If you're considering going this route, keep reading for a few helpful tips to know.
Know Your Measurements
While knowing your measurements is always a key part of wedding-dress shopping, it's particularly crucial when you're purchasing a pre-owned gown from an online marketplace. "You'll need to be careful that your measurements are accurate to make sure the dress will fit," Macri says. "You won't be able to see the gown with your own eyes before purchasing, so it's a bit of a gamble if you love the dress as much in person as you do in the photos."
Consider a Consignment Shop
It's a reality of any online shopping experience: It can be difficult—if not impossible—to stumble across something you completely love. This is especially true when it comes to perusing pre-owned gowns. As a result, consider making time to look at dresses at a consignment shop. "Often buyers come in asking for one kind of gown, but end up falling in love with a completely different gown (all part of the fun!)," Macri says. "In-person shopping allows for that flexibility to discover something new a bit more than online shopping would."
Have the Right Expectations
Unlike a brand-new dress, pre-owned gowns have been worn before. "Keep in mind that it's likely that your used gown won't be in perfect, untouched condition," Macri says. "And that's no reason to panic; savvy buyers will know that often the cost of replacing a few buttons will be worth saving that additional $700 on your gown, for instance." However, some potential alterations can be more challenging—or come at a steeper cost. Macri recommends chatting with a local seamstress for cost estimates before purchasing a dress, adding that many will often offer to video chat with you in the store when you're trying on the gown.
Move Quickly
Just as sellers shouldn't wait to list their dress, as a buyer, don't delay making a purchase when you know a particular gown is "the one." "Part of the magic of pre-owned wedding gowns is that there's only one, and what's available now may not be available tomorrow," Macri says. "If you're hoping to buy a pre-owned wedding dress, be ready to embrace the moment and say 'yes' if it speaks to you."
Dedy Andrianto / Getty Images
Where to Sell Your Wedding Dress
Once you've decided to sell your wedding dress, you may be unsure as to whether you want to bring it to a consignment shop or list it online. Know that both options have benefits and drawbacks. If you don't want to spend time managing your listing and negotiating terms with purchasers, a consignment shop may be the right pick for you. However, if you're looking to get the most money for your gown, you may want to go the online route, as consignment shops tend to have a higher commission fee than online marketplaces.
How to Sell Your Wedding Dress to a Consignment Shop
If you do decide to sell your wedding dress to a consignment shop, make sure to understand its specific policies. For example, the store may request exclusivity with your gown or have set rates that don't allow much room for negotiation, Macri says. Make sure to find the boutique that makes sense for you and your goals when selling your dress.
Where to Sell Your Wedding Dress Online
When listing your gown online, consider using multiple sites, especially if you need to sell your gown quickly. Remember that even though you may be able to earn more money from an online site than you would from a consignment shop, these marketplaces often still take a cut of the purchase—or charge a fee to list your dress. Here are a few reputable site to consider, along with their associated fees:
- Rowely: 20% commission fee
- Still White: One-time $25 fee; $35 for a premium listing
- Nearly Newlywed: $25 listing fee; 20% commission fee for standard listings; 30% commission fee for premium listings
- Poshmark: 20% flat commission fee for sales over $15
- Wedding Bee: No fee
- Sell My Wedding Dress: $25 for a basic listing; $35 for a premium listing
- Facebook Marketplace: No fee
Where to Donate Your Wedding Dress
Donating your dress is another great way to pay it forward. If you'd like to gift a bride with a gown, consider one of the following organizations:
