A Step-by-Step Guide to Consigning Your Wedding Dress Jennifer Reynolds, November 17, 2023November 14, 2023 Many brides choose to sell their wedding dress for a variety of reasons whether it’s to recoup some of the money they spent on the gown or to help with wedding day expenses it’s a wise decision. Regardless of your reason, it’s important to prepare properly for consign wedding dress. Follow these tips to ensure the process goes smoothly and your dress finds a new home. 1. Determine the Value of Your Dress The dress’s fabric, embellishments and intricate details like beading or embroidered lace have a significant impact on price. A more luxurious fabric, like silk, is going to be more expensive than a polyester blend. Pearls and rhinestones are more traditional additions, but embroidery is another popular choice that can drive the cost up significantly. If you’re looking to keep costs down, consider shopping off-the-rack for your dress or browsing bridal boutiques and department stores during sales periods. 2. List Your Dress for Sale When you list your dress online, take high-quality photos of the gown. Buyers want to see how it compares to the original picture and how they would look in it on their wedding day. Aside from pictures, be sure to include all relevant information about the dress this includes the designer, fabric any alterations, and any other details that could affect its value. Some consignment sites, such as Winsome Brides, offer free listings and pay you the full price of your dress if it sells charge a one-time listing fee and take a percentage of the sale price once it sells. They also provide prepaid shipping labels to make the process as easy as possible for you. Both options allow you to keep more of the money from your dress sale, which is a win-win for everyone. 3. Communicate with Potential Buyers Purchasing a used wedding dress is an investment for a bride and she’ll want to ensure that the gown is in good condition. Providing clear photos and answering questions in a timely manner will ease a bride’s concerns and make her more likely to buy your dress. When taking photos be sure to include different angles of the dress and close-ups of unique design patterns. Be honest about any damages and be transparent when discussing alterations and staining. When selling your dress, consider using a website or salon that specializes in resale bridal dresses these sites charge a listing fee and typically take a commission percentage, similar to a traditional brick and mortar shop they also handle buyer questions and shipping, making the process much less stressful for sellers. 4. Prepare for Negotiations Wedding dresses are expensive and vulnerable to stains even if you have carefully cleaned your dress, red wine spills and other issues can be difficult to remove from a gown. For this reason, it’s important to be upfront with potential buyers about any damages or stains on your dress. A buyer will be willing to pay a fair price for a dress that is in good condition. Research similar dresses on consignment websites and online platforms to find out the market value of your gown. Whether you’re selling through a store or an online platform, negotiate with the seller to find out the final price of your dress. Remember to factor in additional costs like alterations, taxes and shipping to get a realistic idea of what you should expect to sell your dress for. 5. Maximize Your Dress’s Visibility A professional-quality photograph makes all the difference when it comes to selling a wedding dress. Online shoppers will avoid clicking on blurry or poorly-cropped pictures, so take clear, full-length photos of your gown. If you have any intricate details, close-ups are also helpful. Photos with models tend to sell better than pictures of the dress on a hanger, so recruit a friend or family member to model for you. While it can be challenging to let go of your dress, know that you’re giving another bride the opportunity to have a memorable wedding day. If the proceeds of the sale are significant, consider treating yourself to a special experience or donating to a cause that holds significance for you. With the right preparation and careful planning, you can make your wedding dress sales process stress-free. Main