Selling a wedding dress

[SpaDaysAreMyFave]

I am having a massive clear out. My wedding dress is sitting there in a box, in a deep, dark cupboard.

It is a gorgeous dress. A Ritva Westenius duchess satin. It is stunning. However, it is also 25 years old.

I feel like I'd like to do something with it. Either sell it, or pass it on. It's pointless sitting there right?

Any ideas?

Honestly, as someone who has worked in the sale of wedding gowns and also has her own lying around going to waste - you would very much struggle to sell a 2023 wedding dress nevermind one of 25 years old.

You could gift it to a charity store or to one of the charity's who make gowns for babies born sleeping.

Some charity shops have specialist wedding shops and would be grateful for it. Otherwise maybe local dramatic society? Everyone wants to save their dress and then realises it is no use to anyone. My parents married in 1940 and my DMs dress was immediately cut up to make underwear. I still have the cotton frock I made for my wedding. I’m not sure even my 18yr old GD would get into it!

one of the charity's who make gowns for babies born sleeping

Now that I feel, would be a very good use of this loved dress.

They are often closed to donations as, understandably, everyone loves their wedding dress and feels it would be a great use of it. I hope you find somewhere.

Can you sew? Make it into a couple of first communion dresses and donate to your local food bank or church / primary school.

Or christening gowns.

Selling a wedding dress can be a process, but it’s doable. If you’re looking to make the most of it, try highlighting the unique features of the dress in your listing—like the fabric, design, or any unique details. Remember, people love a good story, so if you’ve got one about the dress, share it! You might also want to mention if it's a preowned wedding dress to attract buyers looking for something like that. Make sure to take clear, well-lit photos from different angles, and if you can, include a picture of you wearing it on your big day—people love to see how it looks in action. Pricing can be tricky, but researching similar dresses might help you find a sweet spot.