When to choose a second-hand wedding dress?

You're looking for your wedding dress, and suddenly you've come across options for a pre-owned design, but you're not sure if it's the right choice. It's normal; it's a very special day, and you don't want to make a bad decision. If you want to know if it's a good option for you, here we tell you the right reasons to go for it and the best way to do so.

The dress inherited from generation to generation.

In this case, there's a very important emotional and family reason. It's more complicated if your mother-in-law gives it to you because you might not feel such a strong bond; but if it's your mom, it's hard to say no because you know she's giving it to you with a lot of love, and it represents so much of your history and who you are now.

In this situation, you could choose to wear this dress only for the ceremony or a photoshoot and then change into a more modern style that defines only you. Or, if you truly feel that wearing it gives you everything you need and you feel comfortable, then you can wear it throughout the wedding. It's important that you do it because it's genuinely important to you and not just to please your family.

In any case, check its condition. Many fabrics get damaged over time; some can be repaired, but others cannot. Before altering it in any way, you should have it professionally cleaned and disinfected, even if it looks clean, as it might harbor mites or things that could harm your skin. Make the necessary adjustments so that the fitting on you is ideal; it's unlikely you'll have the exact same body your grandmother had when she got married. Check if the style suits you and if it doesn't make you feel like you're in costume. In this case, if your family accepts it, you can transform and modernize it with small details, even just accessories like cowboy boots for a folk look. At Débh Herrera, we can advise you on all of this; you just need to bring the dress for an appointment, and we'll analyze it to give you all the possibilities.

The style you like is from past seasons.

Searching online, you stumbled upon a model from a certain brand you love, but you realize it's from three seasons ago, and you don't care because it's exactly what you're looking for. You can check directly with the boutique; sometimes they have sample sales where items have obviously been tried on by many people and are therefore considered used dresses. Ask Débh Herrera when we'll have one.

If you're not lucky, you can directly search online for pre-owned bridal sales with the designer's name; maybe someone who just got married in it now wants to sell it.

You're a fan of ecology and responsible consumption.

It's a reality that most of the time, a wedding dress is only worn once in a lifetime. If you're pro-ecology, you might feel superficial with the idea of such an item being produced, especially in synthetic materials that don't degrade. The good news is that they pollute much less than your pair of jeans and most clothes because they're not washed a thousand times, they're mostly white, there are no dyes, and that means not polluting water or overspending it. Either way, if this is your case, you'll surely be happier with something pre-owned, and after you wear it, you'll also put it up for sale to make the most of its existence.

There are several online sites and boutiques that sell these dresses. If you like a custom dress from a Débh Herrera client, we now offer the service of connecting you with the owner to offer to buy it.

Your dream dress costs more than you ever dreamed.

You saw it online, maybe in the boutique, you even tried it on, and you love it. You know it's the ideal dress for you, but the price is completely out of your budget or simply more than you want to allocate to your trousseau.

Find out who bought it. If the brand is accessible, they might tell you. If not, you can keep an eye out until you see someone buy it, and of course, search online, post the dress in bridal groups, and ask if anyone has bought it. If you're lucky, you'll find someone who uses it and then wants to sell it.

In all these cases, as we mentioned in the first one, always check:

- That the fabric is in good condition or repairable.

- Washing is always important, for safety and health; choose a professional and do this before any alterations.

- That the measurements can be adapted to yours for a good fitting.

- Check if you can personalize or transform it to make it more your own.

If you plan to use a pre-owned wedding dress, contact us at Débh Herrera for a consultation appointment where we will evaluate the garment and tell you everything that can be done with it for you.