How to Buy a Designer Prom or Wedding Dress for Half the Cost

We all know that there are two events in a girls' life that she plans for endlessly: Her Prom night and her Wedding Day. And we all know that the most important item of both of those days is what she is wearing. No matter the accessories, or the corsage, the cake or the decorations, you will be photographed in the dress of your choice for hours on end, and those pictures are timeless. They will be placed on fireplace mantles and bookshelves and remembered forever, so you want to look great.

For many women, only a designer dress will do. They often fit better, are made of more beautiful and of course costly material, and the workmanship is of high quality. Yes inner beauty is what shines, but it doesnt hurt to drape your outer self in quality garments! Even if you dont HAVE to have a designer dress, you can still find a high quality designer dress on your budget.

I speak from personal experience on this one. I've never been one to focus on labels or designers. Often if it fits and looks great, I'll wear it no matter where it comes from! However, when wedding planning and prom planning hit, the pictures I often found in the magazines and on the internet were dresses that I coveted but knew were out of my price range. So when I fell in love with a $2000 Maggie Sottero wedding gown, I knew I was a girl on a mission! I also went to prom 3 years in a row and just knew that it was important to wear a dress that I loved, but that I could still afford. I am here to pass on my insider tips, past experience, and fashion trade information

Your Options

While you dont want to pay full price for your dress, chances are other women already did. And chances are even better that they bought the dress you "have to have" in your size. They wore that dress for a few hours on their own wedding or prom day. And chances are even better that the dress is still in fantastic condition. Now many women are superstitious about wearing a dress worn by another woman (especially at least on their wedding day). One thing I often tell women is that in some cultures its considered good luck to wear a wedding dress given to you by a happy, long-married woman... hoping at least that her wedding happiness and luck will be passed on to you. So what are your options?

Ebay

Ebay is a great place to start, and where I personally found my dress at literally 1/4 the cost. My $2000 dress was $500 online, and in my size, with no stains, rips or problems. You need to first head to your local (or not so local) dress shops and wedding dress boutiques. Take your friends or your mom and a great camera and MAKE SURE you write down sizes and designers, and of course the name or number of the dress. It will really save you some heartache when you get home and realize you dont know how to search for your dress.

Once you are armed with your dress specifics, begin searching Ebay. Dont be afraid to ask for more pictures, and to email the seller for their weight and height. You can always take a dress up, but adding material to make it long enough is difficult and often not worth it. It can also comprimise the look of the dress. Remember that Ebay is constantly changing. A bride might not be listing it this week, but might in the next, or sometimes a dress wont sell and someone will lower their price. Keep the specific dress search saved in your Ebay (check the how to section to do this) and you'll be emailed anytime a new dress is found

Often the dresses aren't even used dresses. Its becoming more and more common for suppliers to sell directly to the public, bypassing retailers. What bettter way to reach a broad audience than on public forums like Ebay?

Other Online Sources

Craiglist is another place to place a listing of your specifics or to search for your dress.

Some discount stores that offer their wares to the public, bypassing a retailer and offering cheaper costs for the same products are
Bridalonlinestore.com
angeri.com
quickgowns.com
weddingdressforsale.org.uk
Swap places where brides and grooms offer items to swap are
weddingdresstime.com

You can even rent your dress!

weddingdressmarket.com offers such a service

Other sites specifically to find used dresses for prom and wedding.

preownedweddingdresses.com

usedweddingdresses.com

sellyourweddingdress.com

theweddingtrunk.com

become.com

therosedress.com

simplydresses.com

Another place is to check "consignment shops". They buy high end used items and sell them to the public.

Also, search the internet for "direct to the public" dress shops or warehouses. You'd be surprised how many warehouses are in or near your area that offer these designer dresses for 1/2 the cost