Why Choose a preloved wedding dress?

Over to you Recycle my Wedding!

Sustainability has been a huge topic over the past few years, within the wedding industry and outside.

Whilst new products are being pumped out every minute, more and more people are trying to find ways to cut their carbon footprint.

And whilst we are aware hosting a wedding can contribute to the planet’s landfill, we are here to show you that by just making a few 'greener' choices you can reduce your carbon footprint.

One of the biggest sustainability tips offered to us is preloved/second-hand clothing.

Within the wedding industry, finding a second-hand dress is fantastic for your wallet. It goes without saying that you can save a whole lot of money when you buy preloved.
But buying your outfits second-hand has a plethora of other benefits, too - not only does it allow the opportunity for you to find unique and special items, but it also promotes a circular future for the wedding dress and fashion industry as a whole.

We’re going to dive into how and why you can choose a preloved wedding dress - so if you’re looking for ways to save money and sustainify your big day all in one, this one’s for you!

What is a pre-loved wedding dress?

The term preloved is fairly self-explanatory; it’s a dress that has been used and loved before you get your hands on it.

In terms of wedding dresses, this could mean that they bought the dress, wore it on their wedding day but kept it in great condition and decided to sell it on.

Or it means a bride bought the dress and for whatever reason didn’t actually end up wearing it. Buying multiple dresses for the big day is certainly not unheard of - or they may have simply changed their mind.

Either way, you’re not the first person who’s had their hands on the dress in question. Luckily for the both of you, it’s a win-win situation. You get to find a gorgeous dress for a fraction of the retail price, and the seller gets some cash, knowing their dress will be used and loved once more.

What are the benefits of a pre-loved wedding dress?

1. A budget-friendly option
   As mentioned above, buying your wedding dress second-hand is a much more affordable route to take. Take this Ronald Joyce Veni Infantino Feathers Dress, for example. With an RRP of £2800, getting it for £1400 on Recycle My Wedding is a fantastic deal - and it means you can put more money towards something else. The honeymoon, decorations, the venue… Or just in your savings pot!
   
   
2. A sustainable choice
   Generally speaking, we don’t tend to keep things for long. We buy something, we use it, we throw it. This is pretty terrible for the planet. Fashion produces a tenth (A TENTH!) of the world’s carbon emissions. Clothing production requires an enormous amount of resources and energy. We’re not saying that buying preloved will amend this issue. However, there is no reason why we shouldn’t allow a dress a second or fifth life.
   This allows you the feeling of knowing you’ve done a good thing, and it means you’re not buying into the planet-ruining industry as much...
   If you decide to go for a preloved dress, did you know that Recycle My Wedding donates 10% of seller’s fees to planting trees…?
   
   
3. A huge variety
   Sometimes, people associate second-hand and preloved clothes with little choice. This is actually not the case at all - thank gosh! Because more and more brides are choosing to sell their wedding dresses, it means the pool of gown options is growing by the minute. Whether you’re on the market for a vintage, Gatsby glamour dress, or a more modern satin number, you’ll be able to find something for you.
   
   
4. A big brand
   It goes without saying that the internet is a pretty big place. That’s why it’s sometimes a bit trickier but certainly not impossible to find some big, reputable brands for your wedding dress. If you decide to go down the preloved route, take a bit of extra time really searching for the brand you want. It’ll be worth it when you find your perfect dress, perfect brand, AND at a perfect(ly adequate) price!
   
   
5. A new story
   Rehoming a wedding dress goes beyond the aesthetical veil, if you’ll pardon the pun. It’s beautiful that a piece of fabric can host so many wonderful memories from all around the world. Once you’ve worn your dress, knowing that the memories will continue and be added to if you decide to sell it on again is sentimental to say the least!

What's the price range?

As with all second-hand items, prices vary massively.

At the time of writing, the most expensive preloved dress on Recycle My Wedding is a £10,000.00 Galia Lahav Luca Dress from the 2019 Queen of Hearts Spring Collection (RRP - £16,000.00) and the least expensive being an £80.00 Jarlo London wedding dress (RRP - £125.00). And trust us when we say there is plenty of variety in the £9,920 between those two dresses.

Whatever your budget, you’ll be able to find a preloved wedding dress perfect for you and for your budget. Score!

I'm sold. Where can I get my pre-loved dress?

You can find all of our preloved wedding dresses over on the Recycle My Wedding marketplace.

Not only that - you’ll also find a range of bridesmaid dresses, other wedding outfits, decorations, accessories, and more!

Go green!

Preloved wedding dresses are a fantastic option if you are looking for a planet-friendly, sustainable, cheaper option for your big day.

Whatever reason you decide to go for second-hand, you’ll be making a difference to the planet, and you’ll look fabulous doing so.

If you need some more inspiration, we’ve got a great podcast episode on sustainable weddings, involving Recycle My Wedding, and all the information you need to get your day feeling green!

Thank you so much Imogen and Recycle My Wedding (and Nesta for the beautiful images of dresses!) for coming and explaining what you're all about.

We've loved scrolling the fabulous offerings on the marketplace and have even found some gorgeous handmade decor items that would look fabulous at the court!!

Happy sustainable shopping and lots of love,

From Team E
xxx