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Are you looking for affordable and luxurious second hand wedding dress shops to score a one-of-a-kind dream gown?
Choosing pre-owned over new is perfect to extend the life of a gorgeous fashion piece while saving lots of money AND lots of resources!
Take it from someone who chooses to wear a beautiful, 3-year-old linen dress from her own closet, there’s no reason to shop new when there are so many options out there, ready for grabs. Who said that wedding dresses should be a one-time thing only?
The SKL team put together a fantastic guide to help you choose the one in the sea of preowned wedding dresses.
Also, if you’re only here to find ways to sell my wedding dress to a shop that actually cares, keep reading. We’ve included plenty of options below.
P.S. For more options, check out our 12 Best Sustainable Wedding Dress Ideas For An Eco-Friendly Wedding!
Planning a wedding can be exciting, but it also has the potential to be overwhelming and expensive. Finding a dress you love can be a fun part of the process.
But that’s not always the case.
Most gowns are extremely expensive. I’m talking thousands of dollars!
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have extra funds for that dream honeymoon or those beautiful photos. For most of us, this is a good enough reason to turn to preowned wedding dresses with great discounts – in some cases, up to 90% off retail prices.
Another reason to consider one of the many used wedding dresses for sale online is the significant ecological footprint of buying new ones. Despite the high prices, wedding dresses are most often made of nylon, rayon, and polyester.
For example, polyester satin is a very common alternative to silk. Those bridal dresses are worn only once and then forgotten in the back of the closet for years. So, all this intense production of fabrics derived from fossil fuels is basically for nothing.
So, why not give a garment a second chance at love, extending its lifecycle and diverting it from the landfill?
I’ve gathered some amazing places to shop second hand wedding dresses that can help you save money and some of the overwhelm.
What are the benefits of buying a second hand wedding dress?
Affordability
Perhaps the most important perk for most brides is how much money second-hand wedding dress shops help them save.
Unlike brand-new gowns, used wedding dresses are priced at a fraction of their original cost. For instance, you can find designer dresses for around $500 which is a steal!
Sustainability
By choosing a pre-loved wedding dress, you actively help minimize the environmental impact of your entire wedding.
Most dresses are made of a blend of synthetic and natural materials. These petroleum-based fabrics take an incredibly long time to decompose.
Plus, according to the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) over 346 million barrels of oil are used every year to make them.
Second-hand also helps reduce the demand for new production and reduces the need for raw materials.
Great Selection Of Vintage Dresses
Second-hand wedding dresses are available in a diverse array of styles that might not be readily available in traditional bridal stores. You can discover extremely unique gowns that perfectly reflect your personal taste and style.
Think 1960s secondhand wedding dresses, Bridgerton-style gowns, and even authentic pieces straight from the the1930s.
Best Shops to Buy Second-Hand Wedding Dress
1. Nearly Newlywed
Nearly Newlywed’s shelves are packed with preowned designer wedding dresses, available at jaw-dropping discounts.
In some cases, you can get your dream second-hand wedding dress for up to a whopping 90% off the retail price.
To make the entire process as risk-free as possible, Nearly Newlywed fives the chase to ask the seller to send thorough verification pictures which is amazing!
The company offers a great return policy of 5 days as well.
Plus you can easily put your used wedding dresses for sale online through their website too.
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
2. Madly Vintage
Your search for second-hand wedding dress shops with plenty of options for a laidback, beach vibe ends here.
Madly Vintage offers so many one-of-a-kind and cost-effective bridal gowns.
The collection includes preowned wedding dresses for every taste.
Think short courthouse-ready, party dresses to silky full-length slip dresses.
We especially love the 1950s vintage wedding dress options. Just look how chic they are!
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
3. Maison Sully
Maison Sully’s curated collection of reimagined vintage pieces has a strong emphasis on hand-made which is exactly what we’re looking for.
On their virtual shelves, you can find dozens of options from the 30s as well as beautiful 1960s secondhand wedding dresses and 1970s secondhand wedding dresses.
If your vibe leans more towards Bridgerton, Maison Sully has you covered too.
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
4. Gossamer
Next up is one of the best second-hand wedding dress shops in the USA – Gossamer.
The company offers thousands of new, used, and preowned gowns.
Their aesthetic leans toward flowing silhouettes and exquisite fabrics that seamlessly blend timeless elegance with a touch of femininity.
From antique Victorian and Edwardian styles to 1920s, and 1930s second-hand wedding dresses, the options are so many!
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
5. Eveliina Vintage
Vintage silk wedding dresses, 1930’s vintage wedding dresses, Edwardian Embroidered dresses – Eveliina Vintage’s catalog is our romantic dream.
The company started in the 1970’s in Helsinki Finland and quickly moved to the USA.
Now, they have a beautiful storefront in Miami Beach. You can also find them in London, Los Angeles, and New York.
All orders are processed and shipped within 1-5 business days, so you won’t have to wait for your wedding gown for ages.
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
6. Devore Vintage
Preowned wedding dresses with a delicate, feminine vintage flair? We’ll take it!
Although not exclusively bridal, Devore Vintage boasts a captivating collection of early 20th-century dresses in whites, ivories, and soft pastels.
Whether you’re looking for a 930s silk second-hand dress, an elegant Edwardian piece, or stunning vintage silk slips that can be worn in definitely, Devore is your go-to option.
No other bride will have the same exact dress, that’s a promise.
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
7. Loved Twice
Loved Twice is one of the most well-known second-hand wedding dress shops.
In Los Angeles with an ever-growing collection of used wedding dresses for sale online.
While Twice Loved sells on behalf of clients, they are not just another peer-to-peer shop.
Instead, they do their best to assist you in shopping the curated collection of gowns, and accessories.
That’s why they also offer in-store and virtual appointments for our sellers and buyers.
Location/Shipping: United States
8. Bridal Maven
Bridal Maven is proud to be Pittsburgh’s only resale shop for preowned wedding dresses.
The owner aims to help laid-back brides who want to look gorgeous but who also have a practical.
Their lineup collection boasts dozens of new, used, and consigned gowns.
Think 1950s second-hand wedding dresses, Alexander-style gowns, and many more lace-adorned pieces with gorgeous silhouettes.
They are pretty affordable too given that the prices range from $499-$2500.
Location/Shipping: United States
9. Borrowing Magnolia
Borrowing Magnolia is the mecca of second-hand wedding dresses.
Mermaid styles? Check! Lace-adorned gowns? Check! Sweetheart dresses with enough tulle to take over every wedding shoot? Triple check!
The company will also help you make money off of the heirloom-quality gown you have tucked away in your closet by offering a way to sell them online to hundreds of brides before you.
Pro Tip: Use the Dress Value Calculator to preview what you could earn.
Location/Shipping: United States
10. Poshmark
For many moms, Poshmark is the best marketplace to quickly buy and sell used kids clothing online.
But did you know that they also have many preowned wedding dresses available?
It’s a peer-to-peer platform, so you’ll have to come in contact with sellers all over the world and practically “steal” their items from their closets.
Sometimes, you might come across luxury designer gowns, but the listings are mostly for high-end brands.
Location/Shipping: United States
11. La Laurel
La Laurel is a bridal consignment shop that offers a curated selection of contemporary designers like Monique Lhuillier and Truvelle.
The small selection of used wedding dresses for sale online features a variety of styles from clean and modern to lacey and feminine.
As for the sizes, they range from 00 to 24.
Plus, if you want to give your wedding dress the chance to make someone else’s big day special, they offer you the chance to sell your wedding dress to a shop that actually cares.
Location/Shipping: Canada, ships worldwide
12. Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses
As the name suggests, Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses offers a curated collection of used bridal gowns from petite to plus.
They have thousands of dress listings from over 500 designers.
Boho, casual, country, princess, romantic, sexy – just take your pick.
You can also take advantage of their sales – some are almost 50% off!
To top it all off, brides can get in contact with the company to put their used wedding dresses for sale online.
Location/Shipping: Canada, ships worldwide
13. Adored Closet
If you‘re on the hunt for vintage wedding gowns for modern brides, you need to visit Adored Closet.
Can you believe that they started as a small vintage shop on Etsy?
We are obsessed with the effortlessly feminine silhouettes they carry, dating back to the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s.
You can drop in and see them in their sunny Brighton studio, or order one of the dozen preowned wedding dresses online.
Either way, you’ll get the best of the best from their customer service team according to many reviews.
Location/Shipping: United Kingdom, ships worldwide
14. Bridal Reloved
Bridal Reloved is the UK’s largest chain of pre-owned wedding dress boutiques for high-end designer pieces.
Of course, you can also find many affordable second-hand wedding dresses from their collection of ex-samples.
They guarantee that all gowns are 5 years or younger, clean, and damage-free.
Unfortunately, there are no vintage styles, but you can opt for a clean, modern, and sophisticated piece.
Location/Shipping: United Kingdom
15. Oxfam Online Shop
The Oxfam Online Shop does things a bit differently. They are not a consignment store, but a charity shop.
They describe themselves as a “global community of people who believe in a kinder, and radically better world.“
So, all sales fund their efforts. Plus, some preowned wedding dresses are as low as £200 – a win-win if you ask us.
If you don’t want to put your clothing or used wedding dresses for sale online, but rather help a cause that speaks to your heart, you can always donate them to Oxfam.
Location/Shipping: United Kingdom, ships worldwide
16. The Loop
If you’re looking for second hand wedding dress shops to find your dream luxury preowned, dress, check out The Loop.
Their curated collection of preloved, worn once designer wedding dresses for the modern bride is chock full of options.
From short silk frocks to long gowns, there is something for every preference.
The top-tier names include Mara Hoffman, Galia Lahav, and Erden – just to name a few.
The best part? Prices start at only £400.
Location/Shipping: United Kingdom, ships worldwide
17. Karen Willis Holmes
Brides are falling in love with the affordable preowned wedding dresses by Karen Willis Holmes, and for a good reason.
Whether you’re into lace, curve, or sequin, all pieces are just as gorgeous the second time around.
Plus, if you already had your big day, you can stop wondering where to sell your wedding dress to a shop fast! Karen Willis Holmes is always available.
Location/Shipping: Australia, ships to New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom & Ireland
18. Stillwhite
With over 86000 second-hand wedding dresses to choose from, Stillwhite is the largest wedding dress marketplace for selling and buying used gowns in the world!
The easy-to-use filtering options allow you to shop by country, designer, silhouette, fabric, size, price, and more.
Plus, shipping is always paid for by the buyer and includes insurance and a tracking number.
Location/Shipping: Australia, ships worldwide
19. Yours Truly
On Yours Truly you can find a slew of new, sample, and preloved wedding dresses, both online and in-store.
The designer names list includes Trish Peng, Rue de Seine, Eva Lendel, and many more top-tier options.
From bohemian to flirty, laid-back, or full-on princess, there’s certainly something special for every bride.
Also, in addition, gowns, veils, jewelry, shoes, and bags are also available.
And of course, you can also put used wedding dresses for sale online by contacting the company directly.
Location/Shipping: New Zealand, ships to Australia & United States
20. 1st Dibs
1st Dibs is known for two things: Offering gorgeous second-hand wedding dresses and finding ultra-rare pieces from top sellers around the world.
No worries, all items have been thoroughly vetted by 1st Dibs’ in-house experts.
This gives brides the chance to score dazzling vintage gowns and pre-loved accessories like shoes, jewelry, and veils.
Granted, they are not cheap – but that’s the price to pay for exquisite quality.
Location/Shipping: Worldwide
21. Vestiaire Collective
Vestiaire Collective is my favorite luxury consignment store for high-quality second-hand fashion!
Unlike many second-hand wedding dress shops, this one allows us to filter options in various ways to shop regionally to limit our shipping impact.
With over 35k+ items added daily, you know that your dream dress is only one click away. There are so many options.
And, of course, you, too, can upload photos of your used wedding dresses for sale online.
Location/Shipping: Worldwide
22. Depop
I’ve been using Depop for over 6 years, from the day I decided to quit fast fashion for good. And, let me tell you, it’s amazing!
As a peer-to-peer platform, Depop sellers range from individuals cleaning out their closets to upcycle designers and many second-hand wedding dress shops.
It takes a bit of research, but I can almost guarantee that you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.
Location/Shipping: Worldwide
23. The RealReal
The RealReal is known as the world’s #1 luxury consignment online store for everything designer, including luxurious, preowned wedding dresses, of course.
Here, you can find high-in-demand designer gowns from brides all over the world. From Oscar de la Renta to Vera Wang.
What I love the most about this company is that each dress has been thoroughly vetted and authenticated.
That’s the case for every single item listed on their website – bridal or not.
Location/Shipping: Worldwide
24. Facebook Marketplace
You can sell everything on Facebook Marketplace!
I’ve seen baby dresses, shoes, furniture, handmade treats, collectibles, designer fashion, and, of course, preowned wedding dresses.
Most people are on there to get rid of their used clothes fast, so you might have a bigger chance of scoring some fantastic deals according to your budget.
Suggested Facebook Groups:
Location/Shipping: Worldwide
25. Esty
Etsy is a booming online marketplace, where creative folks come together to make, sell, buy, and collect unique items.
On there, you can find dozens of second-hand wedding dress shops with hundreds of sales and 5-star reviews.
Some individuals also choose to use it occasionally to sell one or two items.
However, what blows my mind is the many vintage preowned wedding dresses that are available.
I’m talking about 1930s ivory satin train wedding dresses, beautiful vintage 1970s tulle dresses, and so many more options.
Suggested Etsy Shops:
Location/Shipping: Worldwide
What are some tips on finding your perfect second hand wedding dress?
Know Your Measurements
Whether shopping online or secondhand, knowing your measurements can be really helpful in ensuring accurate fit-in purchases.
I recommend keeping a note on your phone of your relevant body measurements (bust, waist, hip).
This can be used when shopping online, either to compare to a brand’s sizing chart or to compare to measurements of vintage or secondhand pieces where sizing is inconsistent.
Try Shopping in-person to Learn Your Style
Trying dresses on in-person can help provide direction and comfort that you’ve seen how different styles look on you as you shop online.
Even if you know you don’t want to buy a new dress, making an appointment at a bridal shop can help narrow down the styles that you’re looking for (David’s Bridal offers free appointments and are available across the U.S., Canada, and the UK.)
If you want to skip the bridal store, going to a thrift store or department store just to try on a variety of fits of dresses can be helpful.
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Alterations
Many dresses can be radically transformed in the alterations process. If you find a dress you like but the fit is off or you wish some details were different, a great seamstress can help edit the dress to fit your vision.
Most dresses, new or used, will need some kind of alteration. Be mindful of that in your dress budget. The more customization you want, the pricier it could get.
However, collaborating with a bridal seamstress when shopping secondhand or vintage can be a great way to create a dress you love using what already exists!
Ask Questions!
Shopping secondhand often means that you may be shopping on peer-to-peer marketplaces or with small businesses.
Both of these avenues allow you to get more personal customer service to be able to ask questions about dresses you are interested in and even request more pictures.
Since many secondhand options may not allow returns, don’t be afraid to seek out the information you need to be confident in your purchase!
And that’s our roundup of the best second-hand wedding dress shops! Shopping for preowned wedding dresses is a great way to incorporate sustainability and story into your wedding day.
Let’s not become a part of the statistics that paint weddings as one of the most polluting events. We can do better than that, folks.
Not only would a vintage or used dress save you money, but it will add a specialness to the dress because of the history behind it.
You’ll be proud to be wearing a garment that fits your unique style, helps reduce fashion waste, and gets a second life!
Bonus point if you find a versatile dress that can be worn in many scenarios long after your wedding day is over.
If you enjoyed this article, check out these other articles below!
- 10 Best Sustainable Wedding Dress Ideas To Find Your Perfect Match
- 50+ Beautiful Sustainable Wedding Guest Dresses To Wear On Repeat
- 19 Stunning Ethical Wedding Bands From The Best Ethical Jewelers
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