Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Chrissy
VIP September 2015

Anyone sell your dress and regret it?

Chrissy, on June 12, 2015 at 9:00 AM

Posted in Style and Décor 40

I went a little over budget with my dress and I told myself that I could sell it after and probably get back a little for it. I know it would take a while, but its a pretty dress so it will probably sell (I guess every girl thinks that lol). FH said yesterday that I should keep it. He thinks I might...

I went a little over budget with my dress and I told myself that I could sell it after and probably get back a little for it. I know it would take a while, but its a pretty dress so it will probably sell (I guess every girl thinks that lol). FH said yesterday that I should keep it. He thinks I might want it for something later. I don't really see a point, though. So my question is, what is the point of keeping it?

My friend has had her wedding dress in a box for 10 years and hasn't even looked at. My mom has no idea where her dress even is and isn't bothered by it. I don't expect my future daughter to want to wear it because I wouldn't be caught dead in my mothers wedding gown.

40 Comments

  • LB
    Master May 2014
    LB ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I didn't sell my dress...I gave it away. I have a slight twinge when I see "Trash the dress" posts or someone will tell me how pretty my dress was. Then I think "Oh no -- it's gone."

    Then I remember that I don't have kids, nobody will want the dress after I'm dead, and I don't like clutter. All is right with the world again.

    • Reply
  • KellyMarie
    Super May 2015
    KellyMarie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I can't imagine selling my dress, but I am also realist and know I won't wear it again. I really like the idea of getting it cut and dyed to wear again- mine is a very classic lace dress. I could see that being fairly easy to do.

    • Reply
  • Chrissy
    VIP September 2015
    Chrissy ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I saw your BAM Melissa and your dress would be a beautiful dyed and turned into a cocktail dress! (I'm in love with that idea now. Too bad it won't work with mine.) It's a size 14. I'm 5'8" and I'm not wearing heels so a 5'6 or so girl could wear heels with it or change the hem. I think I am a pretty average size to have more of a market to. Maybe I will put it up after the wedding and if it sells, it sells. And if it doesn't, oh well.

    • Reply
  • Natalie
    Master May 2015
    Natalie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I can't decide what to do with mine. Right now it is just hanging in my closet. I actually bought mine used at a consignment store. I had planned to reconsign it, but now I'm not sure if it is worth it. I bought the dress for $575, so even if they sell it again for the same, I'll get less than $300 for it. And they may sell it for less because it is an older dress now. Mine was unique, so I don't know if my daughter would want to wear it. But it could be fun if I have a daughter to let her dress up in it when she is young.

    • Reply
  • MrsPej
    VIP October 2015
    MrsPej ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    My sister keeps joking that she loves mine so much she wants to wear it at her wedding too lol (she actually told me if I didn't buy she would haha). I'm secretly hoping she means it but I doubt it - when she gets engaged I'm sure she'll want to do the dress shopping thing!

    I'm stuck on this too though. On the one hand, I love the idea of selling or giving it away and "paying it forward", but on the other hand I'm in love with it (and a packrat - I still have my grade 8 grad dress and my prom dress hanging somewhere at my parent's house). I will likely end up keeping it to be honest.

    • Reply
  • KTizzle
    Master June 2015
    KTizzle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I'm gonna sell mine, but I'm keeping it for a little while. I have seen those little photo shoots with babies sitting in their mom's gown. If we have a girl, I'd love to do that for her 1st (or maybe 5th is more reasonable) birthday. However, if she turns out to be a tomboy, I'm not gonna make her do that.


    • Reply
  • Chrissy
    VIP September 2015
    Chrissy ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I am doing that with my flower girl KT!!!

    • Reply
  • LadyMonk
    Master September 2014
    LadyMonk ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Yeah, I think I'm keeping mine as well because it's going to be hard to sell. It's not designer, I'm only (almost) 5'3" and I wore 1.5" heels, and I'm also a size 4 in regular clothes.

    • Reply
  • Beth
    Master May 2015
    Beth ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I'm waaayyyy too attached to my dress to even think about selling it. That dress is priceless to me. Even if it just sits around, I have to keep it. I'm really sentimental with stuff like that, though. I get it from my mom and she's worse than I am! I was cleaning to move out of the house and she kept asking me "are you sure you want to throw that out?!"

    • Reply
  • B
    Expert August 2015
    Bridelady ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    You can donate it to bridesagainstbreastcancer.com and its tax delectable and you have helped someone out.

    • Reply
  • Doublej079
    VIP August 2015
    Doublej079 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I'm keeping mine. It's classic and I think a future daughter or one of my nieces might want to use it, or alter it into something they want. Even if they just used a piece of it, it's worth it to me. My little sisters dress was way more expensive, and it ripped during the reception - it's unrepairable. My older sister gave hers to charity - so neither of them can pass a dress on. And if they don't want to use it, oh well.

    • Reply
  • MrsPej
    VIP October 2015
    MrsPej ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    @Ktizzle that is so cute!!

    • Reply
  • Sarah
    Master October 2014
    Sarah ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I donated my dress to Brides Across America. They provide dresses to military brides. My DH spent 8 years in the Air Force, so it felt good to pay it forward to a military related cause. I felt beautiful in my dress. The thought of helping another bride feel great on her wedding day is really satisfying. I haven't regretted my decision for one second.

    • Reply
  • Chrissy
    VIP September 2015
    Chrissy ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    People that donated: Did you get to see who got your dress or any pictures?

    • Reply
  • pinguino
    VIP September 2015
    pinguino ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I intend to sell my dress, as others have said, I don't see the point of it just collecting dust in my closet. I have also seen how hard it is to sell dresses on the local wedding resale FB page. I am hoping that I will still be able to sell mine and get 1/2 of what it cost. I got the Maggie Sottero Lori, and I have seen lots of this style for sale on preowned wedding dress sites, but they are usually size 0-10. I ordered my dress in a size 22, and have yet to have it altered. I am 5'7", so with my 2.5 inch heels I won't have to have the length altered. From what I have seen, it seems to be easier for plus size brides to sell their dresses, maybe just b/c there are less of us out there so less options for resale? I'm not sure, but the few plus size dresses I see for sale seem to get more attention, I am hoping that is how it goes for me anyway.

    Otherwise, one of my BMs who is about my size has asked me if I would sell her my dress after the wedding. She will probably get engaged soon, and loves my dress. Does anyone think that is an odd request? I would have no problem selling it to her if she really wants it. My mom borrowed her wedding dress from a friend when she got married.

    • Reply
  • annakay511
    Master July 2015
    annakay511 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I am going to keep mine, preserved, because I'm sentimental! I don't anticipate that anyone will want to wear it again but I can't bear the thought of not having it anymore

    • Reply
  • FinallyMrsT
    Master October 2015
    FinallyMrsT ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Oooh, great question. Now I'm wondering if my dress would be a good candidate for shortening and dying -- that's an awesome idea! It would be so fun to get to re-wear the dress, and inevitably relive some of the memories, especially when out with FH.

    • Reply
  • M
    Devoted October 2015
    Mya ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I love surfing ebay and looking at all of the wedding dresses that people couldn't stand to part with--20 years ago! Today, you would look like Little Bo Peep in most of them--or perhaps part of Mafia wedding! And unless it's truly a masterpiece or family heirloom, it is doubtful that your future baby girls will want to be seen dead in it when they get married!

    Let it go. It's going to cost an arm and leg to dry clean and preserve it. You will NEVER look at it after a year in a box. They DO deteriorate despite being preserved.

    So, just let it go. Donate it and write it off on your income taxes. Pay it forward to a deserving bride. Sell it on craigslist (SAFELY!!!) or on ebay. And go on with your life.

    • Reply
  • Angel
    VIP October 2016
    Angel ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I have no attachments and no use for my dress again. I will likely donate my dress or sell it. I've been watching the sales on the pre owned sites and eBay for about 6 months. I've only seen a few of the brands, that usually start over $3500 original, sell at 50% or less off retail. I know if I sell it, it will be a %50+ loss. However, I figure that's better than not making any money.

    • Reply
  • KarenM
    Master November 2014
    KarenM ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I wanted to hem and dye my reception dress, but right now, both dresses are still just hanging in my guest room, taking up space. I need to have them cleaned at least. Then I'll figure out what to do with them.


    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×
WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

WeddingWire article topics