When in Doubt, Size Up!

Whether you buy a wedding dress in-store or online, you’ll likely need to have it altered. Bridal gowns are different from shopping for everyday clothing, so mentally, prepare yourself ahead of time that your gown will need adjustments.

When you’re shopping resale, it’s important to find a seller who has a similar body type. You should compare measurements of your body and the gown directly to make sure it will fit, or if not, that it’ll be on the larger side so it can be tailored down.

If the seller had her own customizations already made, it’s no different. Ask her to share the measurements and even size comparisons to typical clothing she wears. For example, is she a size 8 in jeans and a 36B cup? That will better help gauge how the dress was adjusted to her body type.

How Do I Pick A Style Without Trying It On?

Not everyone has had a dream wedding dress picked out for years, and that’s okay! Take time to try on different styles in person before pulling the trigger. There are so many different brands and styles: Bohemian, Ball Gown, Mermaid, A-Line, Baque Waist, Fit & Flare, Column, BHLDN, Berta, Jenny Yoo, Martinia Liana, Grace Loves Lace, Monqiue Lhuillier…the list goes on.

Try on multiple styles, take photos and videos, and take time to let the decision sink in. Once you know what you feel most comfortable wearing, then you can find that exact style, or one similar on resale for a fraction of the price.

Will a Secondhand Wedding Gown be in Worse Condition?

There’s no straight forward answer to this, it depends on how long the original bride wore it, what setting it was worn, was it dry cleaned, etc. BUT, If there’s too much wear and tear on a gown, it’s likely not a fit for Rowely.

We protect our buyers, and offer them the best inventory possible. We only accept gowns in top condition and sellers are required to disclose any blemishes.

Additionally, just because it’s found on resale, does NOT mean it’s ever been worn. So in that case, your gown is quite literally good as new. You’d be shocked by the amount of women who buy a dress and then go a different direction and just want to recoup what they can from the initial purchase. Always check the item’s description for dresses that are NWT or NWOT (new with tags or new without tags), so you can be the first bride wearing this dress!

How Far In Advance Should I Buy My Gown?

A benefit of shopping resale is that you don’t have to wait 6-10+ months to get the dress made. With Rowely, the dress already exists, so you can begin alterations as soon as it arrives. Since alterations can take anywhere from a few weeks up to several months, we recommend buying your wedding dress at least 4 months before your wedding. That said, we’ve seen it all and helped brides in a panic get their pre-loved weeding dress just weeks before the wedding!