How to prepare your wedding dress for sale

Your Wedding Wardrobe has compiled the following tips to assist to you sell your wedding dress online.

1. List your wedding dress for sale as soon as you buy it ie before you get married. Many brides in the UK and the US list their dress for sale prior to the wedding. Be sure to include the date the wedding dress will be available in your listing.  
2. Listing your wedding dress prior to it becoming available gives prospective buyers an opportunity to view the wedding dress. They can then make of note of when the wedding dress will become available in their calendar and plan to make contact with the seller at this time.  
3. This can often lead to a faster sale as the wedding dress has already been viewed by prospective buyers.  
4. Ensure that your wedding dress is dry cleaned prior to listing it for sale. Potential buyers expect to purchase a wedding dress in perfect condition.  
5. Take a minimum of three good photographs of the wedding dress from the front, back and include a closeup of any special feature of the dress. It is also a good idea to have extra photographs available. A buyer may request to view extra photographs of the dress or in some cases may request to try on the wedding dress if it is located locally.
6. Be honest and make known to the buyer any marks or wear issues. An online buyer needs to be aware of any stains, imperfections, tears or any other damage to the wedding dress.
7. This will help them in making a decision to purchase the dress. You will gain the trust and confidence of the buyer and this will ultimately help to sell your wedding dress.
8. List your measurements and the measurements of the wedding dress. Also advise if the dress has been altered or if it can be altered to suit a range of sizes. Many wedding dresses can be altered for example to fit a size 10 – 12.
9. To measure the gown lay the dress on an even surface. Measure the bust by holding the dress at the underarm seams and stretching the garment flat. NOTE: The front measurement will be larger than the back.Add the two figures together for the bust measurement.
10. Waist - measure the waist at the smallest part and double the measurement.
11. Hips - measure the widest part of the gown if it is a fitted style and double the measurement. Tip - take your own measurments and add to the description of the wedding gown for sale as an alternative to measuring the gown.
12. Make sure you price the dress for the market. Generally, a used wedding dress can sell from 25 – 75% of its original retail price. This of course depends on a range of factors; the age of the dress, the condition of the dress, if it is a designer wedding dress, a one off or if it is a unique design.  
13. Off course, if you list your wedding dress as soon as possible after your wedding it will realise a much better resale price.
14. You need to look after your used wedding dress and keep it in excellent condition refer to storing your wedding dress for further information. At the very least cover your dress in a white sheet and keep it in a dry, cool area out of direct sunlight. 
15. Ensure that your contact details are correct and expect lots of questions from prospective buyers. Make sure you respond to enquiries quickly without delay.

There are many beautiful used wedding dresses for sale and you want your wedding dress to find a new owner who will love it just as you have.