Making "Used" Work fo You!

ATTN: Nearlyweds! Make "used" dresses work for you and your bridesmaids! We know you ♥ your bridesmaids and you want the best for them! That's why you chose these besties to stand next to you on your big day, duh!

There is soooo much controversy around how much is "too much" for a bridesmaid dress. And if you, the bride-to-be, should compromise in choosing that perfect Vera Wang bridesmaids gown because you know it is slightly out of reach financially for your girls. Well, you don't have to...

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR MAKING USED WORK FOR YOU AND YOUR BRIDAL PARTY:

1. Go online as soon as you know which dress you want. Try to find that dress pre-owned first! There are so many lightly used dresses out there, you just need to find them! So, do a little research before you pay full price.

2. Add small personal touches to dresses to create a common "thread." A great colored sash could add a unifying color to dresses ~add a great brooch ~add a flower or feather hair piece. That way, you can have any style red, navy blue, tan, black, etc. dress and there is still a common element!  

Photo and item from PegasusMaiden on Etsy

Photo and item from the Wedding Aisle shop by Le Chic Colore on Etsy

2. Be lenient with style and/or color. This will make it a lot easier to find great used dresses. I've seen some girls create a color palette and tell girls get whatever dress they like within these colors! (This is great even when not buying used)

4. Tell them to sell their dresses afterwards. Through Project: Ruffle Swap, we are able to help girls make between $60-$100 on each dress they sell! We can help your girls recover some of the money spent on dresses. So that $250 Vera Wang dress ends up only costing $150! And you end up helping another girl get a great dress for considerably less than that $250 price tag! A true win-win. 

I am a firm believer in having your day, your way. While, of course, watching finances (for everyone). That said, buying used dresses is a great cost-effective and eco-friendly option!

Since your besties will ultimately buy what you tell them to, let them know they have options. Tell them it's okay to buy gently used. In fact, encourage it. It's a great new trend that is making an impact on the 9.9 million bridesmaids dresses purchased each year! Your friends may or may not wear that dress again. So, even if your girls don't buy used, tell them to help another bridesmaid-to-be get her dream dress by selling her yours!

xoxo
~ Sam & Beth