Stop the myths about second-hand wedding dresses

The wedding dress: the item you have always dreamed of, that you can't wait to choose and that you sometimes dread trying on. It makes you dream, it makes you hesitate: will I choose the right one? is it really reasonable to spend this amount on my wedding dress? We have already addressed the subject of the dress that has already lived through the article 10 good reasons to choose a wedding dress that has a history, but in talking to people around me, with friends, customers and partners, I realise that preconceived ideas about second-hand sales or wedding dress hire are thriving. That's why people who ‘take the plunge’ don't necessarily dare to say it, the subject is taboo and vaguely gives the image of second choice, chosen only for budgetary reasons. So I say no, the second-hand wedding dress can be a choice in its own right, a wise choice and one made with full knowledge of the facts, and I'll come back to a few preconceived ideas I've already heard.

Myth no. 1: it's out of date.

The pieces from the season just gone are available to rent or buy on consignment. And even better: wait until the end of the summer, once the wedding season is over, there will be new arrivals of trendy models.

Another good tip: wait for fashion week! The catwalk designs are resold at lower prices: it is rare to find a dress in your exact size (you are not necessarily 1.80m tall and a size 36) but, as they are very long, you may have just the extra fabric to make alterations and/or accessories. To choose your dress in this case, it is better to have a solid knowledge of sewing or to bring your dressmaker with you to find out what can be done depending on the model and the fabrics.

Finally, if you pick up a family dress, you won't be out of fashion either:

You can have alterations done.
You can play the game and immerse yourself in an era: it won't be said to be old-fashioned but vintage.

HALTE AUX IDÉES REÇUES SUR LA ROBE DE MARIÉE D’OCCASION_Aurélie cousseau cérémonies

MYTH NO. 2: IT'S EXPENSIVE

It's not free, but what is certain is that, for the same budget, you can have either a designer dress to rent or a second-hand one, or a new but more classic dress from a regular shop. Compare prices: don't forget the cost of alterations, accessories, etc.

NO. 3: YOU'LL LOSE YOUR DEPOSIT

You're afraid of stains, fire, snags? Yes, a dress can get dirty. But for a normal day (avoiding paintball or the champagne shower), dry cleaning is often already included in the rental of the dress. Besides, if you bought your dress, you would also pay for the dry cleaning! The cost of cleaning and repairing the dress is therefore, in any case, part of your budget. Renting does not necessarily add any additional costs to this.

MYTH NO. 4: YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STANDARD SIZE

You can find just about any size, but you can also think about alterations. And here I would like to make a special mention of dressmakers. There are many dressmakers, whether specialised in weddings or not, who could work wonders on your dress or your husband's suit and yet are overlooked. So, no, it's not too expensive to hire a seamstress. Look around you, meet them and ask them for photos of their work and their prices. Don't hesitate to ask for their opinion, brainstorm with them. Don't forget to choose someone you get on with, who understands what you like and how to make you look your best. Long live the sewers!

MYTH NO. 5 THE PROCESS IS NOT PERSONALISED

As in an ordinary shop selling wedding dresses, in a second-hand or hire shop, you will be welcomed into a personalised showroom, with advisors and your loved ones.

As for the seamstress who would take in a family dress or a dress found, as I have just explained in the previous paragraph, the approach is tailor-made (in every sense of the word!) and human. A real relationship is formed between the seamstress and the bride-to-be over the months [I'll continue with the puns ]

MYTH NO. 6: YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COMPLETE SECOND-HAND LOOK

In a second-hand or hire shop, you don't have to buy a dress or the whole outfit. You can buy accessories for example: for a winter wedding you can find a little coat, if you want to create a certain look, you can buy a second-hand dress that will allow you to dance the night away...