Hot tip: Make sure any pre-owned dress you try on isn't on fire
(just a safety thing.)
This comprehensive article from the New York Times not only documents that previously-owned dresses are big news these days, but lists many "pre-loved" dress options for brides to consider. Check it out!
Pre-owned is a great idea, not only to conserve money but environmental resources too. And do remember, until very recently it was considered perfectly honorable to wear another bride’s dress--as long as the other bride was your mom. Consider that choosing to wear the dress of a contemporary bride will afford you more style options and a modern silhouette (no offense meant to the fashion sense of moms of course, and I hope none taken.)
Also, we girls can now enjoy the all benefits of renting our wedding togs just like the menfolk, and not have to worry about cleaning or storing the dress afterwards. The NYT article brings up wedding dress rentals but only mentions a provider in Gatlinburg TN; wedding dress rental services are popping up all over the country however, so do a web search for a location near you.
I can vouch for a local one here in L.A. called OneNightAffair; a few of my clients have worn their dresses and looked great. At OneNightAffair you can rent couture dresses and accessories, some of which have been featured in film or TV projects, for a fraction of what they'd cost to buy. It's a great option for brides with an eye for fashion but a budget to consider.
There’s one other money-saving idea for your wedding gown; this one can help grant a wish too. Brides Against Breast Cancer sells previously-owned wedding dresses to finance their mission of providing metastatic breast cancer patients an opportunity for “Making Memories” with their families--an opportunity that often would not be possible without BABC’s help. You can read more about the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation here and check out their gown sale event calendar here. They also accept donations of gowns, which will then be resold to other grateful brides. Is that a great way to offload your dress and get major instant happy wedding karma, or what?
It’s gonna sound corny, but I’ll say it anyway: what makes a bride beautiful is the radiance of her love, not the sales receipt for her dress. Whether you choose a new, rental, or pre-owned gown, don’t forget to layer some tenderness into your couture, too.
And hey, volunteering at a Brides Against Breast Cancer sale is an incredibly fun way to help other brides find their perfect dress (and maybe score a great dress yourself--all in the name of charity, of course.)
Until next time, a sweet and long life to you all.
Elizabeth Oakes welcomes your feedback at weddingexaminer@gmail.com; you can share this story or subscribe to this column by clicking on the buttons below.
She's also happy to answer your questions about getting married in Los Angeles--check out her work and inquire about availability at MarriageToGo.Com.
More data on living together before marriage--hmm
Most Swedish pastors support gay marriage
"Top ten myths about marriage" from Rutger's Marriage Project
Comments
Hey! Sorta Scooped again. I've got an article lined up on this. I have two great stories. 1) total strangers found one anotehr on line and bought a dress together. pretty great, eh? 2) A group of women all getting married the same year, all participating in one another's weddings, pretty much the same size, shared the same lucky wedding dress AND had their bridesmaids inthe same dark purple dress. People are lining up to wear the dress! Hilarious and so ingenious!
I think the co-op wedding idea is brilliant, whether it's just a pair of brides or a whole kaboodle (hmm, what is the collective noun for brides, I wonder? A veil of brides? a train of brides? a zilla?)
Anyway, I agree with you Ann: sheer genius. I'm sure we'll see more of this as the years go on. Thanks for the heads-up!
Readers, be sure to check out Ann's fine Philadelphia Marriage Examiner column; lots of hot tips for your wedding and subsequent happiness!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!