Would you buy an Ex Sample, or Second Hand wedding dress?

Hi, im in Swindon and i did buy an ex-sample dress (it was on the sale rail in a local boutique), i love the fact that its there so there's no worries about delivery times, i know the quality is good because im getting the dress i tried on and the price didnt hurt either!

As long as the dresses are in top condition I would definately have gone to a shop selling just ex-sample and second hand dresses

Yes of course! I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't...I would say though, the main attraction is obviously the price of these dresses, and if you're having to pay rent, bills, dry cleaning bills etc, the overheads might mean you can't offer the dresses so cheaply, which might be an issue. Although, people might well pay the extra 100 quid for the 'security' of going to a shop, and also the bridal shop experience as well as the choice all in one place, rather than visiting several different sellers....sorry, I'm rambling! And your business plan is nothing to do with me! To get back to the question, yes, I would! And I live in Hertfordshire, by the way.

Yes i would - and i did! I bought mine from an exhibitor at a wedding fayre but i would hav liked a specialist shop to go to - especially if you did in-house alterations and stored the dress until closer to the wedding as "normal" wedding shops do as i had to bring my dress away with me the day i bought it so it's now hanging in my (shared with OH) and i'll have to find someone to do alterations when it would have been much easier to just have them done where i bought the dress.

Good luck with the venture

If the dress I really wanted was way over my budget or I was on a really tight budget, then yes I definitely would, I think the reality for most brides is that they will only ever wear it once then sell it on anyway or let it collect dust somewhere out of view anyway.

L x

I did. I went to try on dresses and fell in love with one which I didnt know was the only one available. After Id fallen in love with it they said it was end of range and it was either the one I was standing in or nothing. I had my friends check it over for inperfections. It has a few beads missing but they are ebing replaced when I have it altered. I ponder on having it cleaned but it doesnt need it I dont think.

I wouldnt have bought it if it was stained with make up or sweat but a few beads can be reapplied. I agree pepper potts though having to take it away there and then did pose a few issues.

I have bought an ex sample. The shop offered to sell it to me at a discounted price because I'd fallen for the dress but it was overbudget & it was getting close to ordering in their next season. I'm having it customized so its more "me"

Yep. I put a deposit on a dress from an agency too - ran as you describe, but i changed my mind and went for something else. The shop was Brides Of Bath.

Also, many of the dresses were never warn as brides had changed their minds/been dumped(!) etc...

Yes I would , I have no problem with second hand dresses but buying online from people scares me a little as I wouldn't know exactly what I was going to get and if it would fit. So yes a shop would be brilliant.

Yes, I would. Most sample dresses wouldn't fit me though, so it'd mean taking a chance that you had second-hand dresses in my size.

Thyank you all for your replies. It is great to see so much positive feedback. Many of you have said that you have bought ex sample dresses from your bridal shop. Do you think you would have specifically visited a shop selling only this kind of stock and not with the option of being able to order a brand new one?

Also how far do you think you might be prepared to travel to visit a shop like this, if it offered you the chance to get your dream dress (perhaps the exact one you had already tried on in a new Bridal shop) at 50% RRP?

Thanks

Please open this soon! I live in Derby and this would be a fantastic way for me to save money!

^^^^ This. Good luck. ?

Well the agency I went to had brides travelling from some distance. The bride before me had travelled from Bournemouth (to Bath).

Can I just add, for anyone who found it hard to find a sample dress due to their non-standard size, this second hand bridal place I went to was fab for this because I'm quite short and (I think!) a bit of a funny shape! I found a dress which had been owned by someone of a similar size ans shape so virtually no amendments would have been needed.

My dress is from ebay, it was from a lady who had bought a couple of dresses and then sold off the ones she didn't wear, so it has only been tried on, no alterations and is a Trudy Lee all the tags still on it. I took a risk as I wasn't sure if it would work out but it did. Only thing for me is I have not seen it on in front of big mirrors as you would in a shop so I have not had the WOW feeling. Would definatly travel to get to a shop like this.

I would love a shop like this! I don't see any issue with buying a sample or pre-owned dress, especially if you can go and try on, etc as you would a "normal" bridal shop ?

The way I see it is as long as you feel beautiful in your dress that is the main thing ?

Yes I would and I brought a sample dress

I love it

I bought a sample dress from a small boutique in North London who only sell sample dresses. It was a great find via Google, I saved quite a bit of money, they recommended a great local seamstress to take it in and I felt amazing on the day. So yes, yes, yes ?

I bought a sample dress in the sale - half price which was great. But the main reason was that we got engaged in January this year and are getting married in July so had barely 6months to plan and the idea of waiting ages for an ordered dress was a non starter. I did look at Monsoon & Debenhams wedding dresses but the quality of the "proper bridal shop" dress was much nicer. I am having mine altered to be tea length and I don't mind doing this when its half price but it would have felt odd at full price for some reason! Your proposed business model with alterations would be necessary if you only stocked samples/second hand.

Oh defo! Mine is a sample and I loved being able to get something by a proper designer but not pay full whack for it. I considered the china route but didn't want to risk compromising on quality hence going down this route. I would have LOVED a shop of this nature. Especially if you can still make it a lovely shopping experience.

I bought a sample dress, from a 'normal' bridal shop. but had I not found that one, my next trip was going to be to a shop just like what you are describing.

I went with a friend when she was dress shopping and it was great. Definitely worth having more.

The one I went to was:

https://www.newyorkbride.co.uk/

brilliant place!