Consider Used Wedding Dresses

Should you buy a used wedding dress?  If you are throwing a wedding on a very tight budget, and you want the majority of the money to go toward the perfect venue, then you may consider buying a used gown.  In truth, this can be a great way to get a gorgeous dress for a fraction of its usual price, and given that these gowns are typically only worn once, you can typically get something that shows very little sign of wear and tear.  However, you should be careful to ensure that you are getting a good value for your investment, and to be sure that you are getting something that will fit your figure.

Ask a Lot of Questions In most cases, a person will opt to sell a wedding dress within two years of purchasing it.  That means that the former bride should still remember a lot of the details about the gown, such as where it was purchased, whether or not it was altered, and what size it is.  In addition to asking for details like these, be sure to ask for a lot of pictures of the dress, from many different angles, so you can ensure you really like the shape.

See the Dress in Person It is possible to buy new and secondhand dresses online, and you can get a good deal doing so, but it is always best to try on the wedding gown before buying.  If you can’t do that because distance prevents it, then ask about return policies.   It may be possible to have a grace period of a few days or even a couple of weeks, so you can try the gown on, look it over carefully, and return it if it isn’t going to work for your wedding day.

Consider Fraud Protection Options There are ways to pay online retailers that can minimize the risk of fraud.  Rather than sending a check for instance, it may be possible to use Paypal or an escrow service that ensures both parties get what was promised.

For brides-to-be working with small budgets, used gowns can be a very reasonable and very satisfying solution.  You just have to be sure that you take care to protect yourself and your investment.