Second hand

A once-worn outfit is another way to secure a bargain bridal gown. There are many specialist shops selling used, once-only worn gowns and ex-hire dresses. Couturiers and designers will also sometimes have a dress that was made for a client who did not need it in the end. It's rare, but worth asking. When seeking a top name, second-hand dress your best friend is the internet. There are new sites popping-up regularly, and a few well-established ones selling second-hand designer dress. Often a picture of a design will be posted along with a description including the size, the designer and the name of the design. If there is no picture of the dress, but the designer and the design name are there, you can cross reference withe designer's website where there might be a photograph. You can expect a price tag of fifty percent or so of the original cost. and, if a girl has shelled-out a small fortune for her wedding dress, she is likely to have treated it with respect whilst wearing it. But NEVER purchase a gown over the internet without knowing its condition. Ask about stains and damage and assess the lieklihood of being able to remove, repair or conceal. Get a written description as well as photos. Ask as many questions as you can.

If you find a gown via the web, the danger is that you probably won't be able to try it on before purchasing it. I's therefore important you get as much detail about the dress and the original wearer before you part with money. It won't be an exact fit so can it be altered? Standard sies are not a good indicator of how similar you are in shape or height to another person. Find out how tall the first bride is and what her vital statistics were. That may be enough of an indicator to you that it will not be a good fit.  If this information is promising, get some more detailed measurements. In addition to the bust, waist and hips, ask for the following: the measurement from the centreof the dress, at the back, to the hem; the same measurement at front; the measurement from the underarm to the cuff, and the shoulder seam to the cuff (if there are sleeves); if there are shoulders to the dress get the measurements and ask where they were measured from an to, similarly with straps if the are fixed; if the dress has a bodice or corset get the measurement from the underarmto the waist, and the skirt from the waist to the hem. You can then ascertain if your upper body is of a similar length. Depending on the style of the gown you may also need the original bride's breast cup size. You can't squeeze into her dress if she was tiny; there also may be some material you could let out, but you need to know. Once you have all these measurements you could try them against yourself, or against a dress you already have that fits well. It's then up to you to assess the garment's potential.