Christine is sharing tips for what to look for when buying a used wedding dress.
Wedding season coming upon us so fast and if you are a bride on a budget, you may be wondering how you are going to afford a dress. One way you can do it is to buy used and here are some tips on where to look and what to look for in a used wedding dress.
What to Look for in a Used Wedding Dress
The best way to buy used is to do it in person. With something so special and often pricey, you want to make sure it is exactly how you want it to look and the ability to try it on. Wedding dresses are often not the size the tag says. I wore a size 18 dress, but when it came to my wedding, I had to get a size 24. That is 3 sizes larger and a huge difference.
When looking at the dress, make sure you look at every little detail. Are all the beads on it? Does it have any fraying near the bottom? Are there any stains? While some of these issues can be fixed, they will add to your overall expenses in the end if you have to take the dress in.
Find out when the wedding was that the dress was originally worn to. This can help you figure out how old it is and in turn, tell you what kind of condition the dress may be in. White can sometimes yellow a bit if it is really old.
Ask to see papers. If you are buying a used designer dress, ask the seller to produce papers that can verify it’s authenticity. Many dishonest sellers try to pass off knock-off dresses as the real thing, so make sure you are getting the real thing by looking at papers.
Inquire on how the dress was stored. If it was shoved in an attic or pushed to the back of a closet with no covering or box, chances are, it may not be in very good condition. Make sure to look over it well before making a final decision.
Ask how the dress was cleaned. For optimal preservation and quality, the dress should have been professionally cleaned by someone who specializes in formal attire right after the wedding. This is important because stains like champagne can reappear when you take the dress in to get it cleaned for yourself. Also, casually ask where the wedding was held. Brides love to talk about their wedding day, so it shouldn’t be a problem to get her to spill the details. Knowing the location can help you get a good idea on conditions the dress might have been exposed to, especially if the wedding was outside.
Ask if any alterations were made to the dress. It doesn’t mean they won’t work out for you, but knowing this can help you decide if the alterations will take away too much from the original shape and if your body type is very different from the original owner, you will need to know this.
Bring a friend. This person can help not only make sure you are getting a great deal, but also tell you in honesty if the dress will work for you rather than flatter you to get a sale.
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Top 10 Ways to Save Money on a Wedding
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