Save It!

If you feel that your wedding dress is too special or emotional to do anything to, you may want to simply keep it! Have it dry cleaned after your wedding and save it in an air-tight container. There may come a time later in your life when you have a daughter who is getting married and you wish to pass the dress on to her. Or even a daughter-in-law to be or niece! Any woman in your family in the future would be so grateful for you to pass on your wedding dress. Whatever you end up doing with your dress in the future, it is a precious memory and a symbol of your wedding day.

Sell It!

If keeping your dress for the possibility of someone else using it in the future doesn’t sound like something you’d want to do, you can consider selling your dress. Many brides choose this option simply to get some money back after spending a small fortune on their dream wedding dress. If you don’t feel emotionally attached to your dress, selling it is a great option. You can sell it online or try to sell it to a store in your area. If you choose the later, you may want to take your dress around to several places to see which store will give you the most money for it. Keep in mind, though, that if something is wrong with the dress, perhaps a stain, rip, or missing piece, you can get it fixed before you try to sell it to get the most money possible.

Donate It!

If you are a philanthropic person, perhaps donating your used wedding dress is a good option for you. You can first ask around your family and friends to see if they know anyone in need of a wedding dress that doesn’t necessarily have the means to buy one them self. There are also charities which take dresses and give them to the underprivileged. You could even donate your dress to an organization like Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Remember, you can get a tax write off for charitable donations!

Trash It!

There is a relatively new “craze” sweeping the wedding photography scene called “Trash the Dress.” This is a session you have with the photographer who shot your wedding after the ceremony. You go to some place unorthodox in your wedding dress, perhaps a field or wild flowers or a shallow stream and get beautiful pictures taken of you “trashing” your dress. These photographs come out with beautiful contrast since the environment you are in is rugged and wild, yet you’re in a pristine dress. You can also let loose and be as sexy as you want in these pictures! This option, of course, should only be considered if you’re not planning on selling or donating your dress after the fact since it will most likely be a little dirty. You can always get it cleaned after the session and keep it for yourself.

Whatever you choose to do with your wedding dress after your wedding day is completely up to you. These are four great options but they are certainly not the only ones. You should do what you feel comfortable doing with your dress after you wear it for your special day.

Have these dresses been tried on by hundreds of brides before me?

Yes, they have been in stores, but it is highly unlikely that they have been tried on more than once or twice. The bridal industry unveils a large selection of new gowns prior to peak wedding seasons in spring and fall. Bridal boutiques and online wedding sites are always refreshing their inventory to showcase the industry’s latest trends and dresses. Also, large salons may have thousands of sample gowns in-store at any given time. Some may never even hit the dressing room… So don’t worry, most sample gowns are basically new.

Can I alter it?

Yes, you can! If the dress is too big or you want it to fit a little tighter, that can be done easily. The problem comes in when you need the dress to be bigger. Make sure you get a dress with a little bit of give, not one that’s skin tight or even too small. You don’t want to be uncomfortable on your big day!

Can I clean it?

Since sample gowns are typically sold “as is,” so make sure you examine every inch of the gown before buying it. Look for rips, tears, or unsightly stains in the fabric that may be difficult to mend or clean. Keep in mind that sample gowns in decent shape can most certainly be professionally dry-cleaned. With proper cleaning and care, a sample gown can look essentially brand new—no one even has to know that other brides have previously tried it on.

Can I return it?

Although some salons will deem sample gowns a “final sale,” you should still ask about the return policy up front. For example, many online sites allow returns, but don’t forget that you will have to pay return shipping. For order cancellations, you will often pay a restocking fee, which can be upwards of $65. To avoid any excessive shipping or return fees, make sure you are buying a dress that you truly love.

Where can I buy one?

Many salons will keep a handful of sample gowns (even if not visibly on the sales floor) that you can buy right off of the rack. Otherwise, the Internet might be your best bet when looking for sample wedding gowns and overstocks at a good price.

Too Many Choices!

There are tens of thousands of choices for your gown out there, but don’t let that overwhelm you. Try to choose a specific category and style before you ever step foot inside a store. As in, do you want a designer dress? Or a knock off? A new dress? Or a used one? These are all things to consider before shopping. Also, when you finally go to the store, don’t get frustrated if you don’t find the perfect one in the first five minutes. Stay calm and remember what you’re there for, to find a beautiful gown for your wedding. You may want to enlist the help of a professional or a store employee, someone who knows what to look for and where. Try to have fun when you’re shopping!

How Much Does This Cost?!

Prices for wedding dresses are all across the board. A used dress could cost as low as $200, but a used designer dress could cost as much as $3,500. Brand new dresses can run between $350 up to $10,000! With this in mind, figure out what your budget is, and once you do, try your best to stick to it. This is where professionals can help, just tell them what style and price range and they will help as much as they can. If you do find one that you love but is out of your budget by a lot, ask the professional or store employee if they have something very similar but at a lower price. Also, if you find one you love that is below your budget, that’s great! Don’t think that just because a dress is more expensive it will look better. Because sometimes, that’s not the case.

Stress Related Weight Fluctuations

Planning your wedding can be a very stressful time if you let it. With this in mind, try to manage your stress with exercise and a healthy diet. Not only will that make you feel better, your stress level will lower, you’ll be happy (because of endorphins), and you won’t have to worry about getting a last second alteration to your corset top! This will make your dress buying experience a breeze.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Whatever dress you choose, you will look stunning on your wedding day. No one, especially your husband-to-be, will be able to take their eyes off you. You will look and feel perfect. So if there’s a tiny mishap with a button, tie, or zipper, or you get a tiny snag, don’t worry about it!! Don’t let something so small ruin one of the happiest day of your life.