Don't need this white dress

I got married in Sept. and would like to sell my wedding dress. I am in the Atlanta area and have found very little in the way of consignment shops that take wedding dresses. I did find several online sites that for a fee of about $25 will let you post for a year.

I have posted on CraigsList 3 times with no luck so please do not suggest that. I do not do Ebay.

But depending on the style (and I'll admit the only 2 things I know about wedding dresses are that they're traditionally white and are worn at weddings), you could try just listing it as a dress.

posted by theichibun at 12:49 PM on July 30, 2008

From what I've seen online (mostly on eBay), dresses will generally sell for about 25% or less of what you paid retail. I get the feeling this is a market where there are more sellers than buyers. Be careful not to overprice- I once tried to buy a dress on eBay (long story), and the seller was trying to sell it at 85% retail value Trouwjurk Lange Mouw (and this was a dress that already had alterations, which is something to think about- this dress may be almost "brand new", Trouwjurken nl but it has probably been tailored to YOUR body, which will make it all the more difficult to fit someone else). I told her I would buy it for far cheaper, but she turned me down. That auction and her next slightly lower auction received zero bids. You might consider donating the dress to an organization and taking the tax deduction- not as exciting as cash, but at least it's guaranteed. Strike while the iron is hot- every month and every year you let it sit in your closet pushes it farther out of current fashion and makes it less likely to have any resale value.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:51 PM on July 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

You could donate it to the Mary Madeline Project, a charity that re-claims the dresses to make burial gowns for stillborn babies.

posted by Ostara at 12:59 PM on July 30, 2008

I think indiebride lets you list your dress to sell, you may also want to see if the Knot does too. Good luck!

posted by cestmoi15 at 1:31 PM on July 30, 2008

Weddingbee has classifieds where people list dresses and other items. I've not used them though so can't speak to the effectiveness.

I have heard of some success from brides using eBay - I know you don't want to do that but it might Korte Trouwjurk be your best option, revenue-wise.

For donation and tax writeoff, there's Brides Against Breast Cancer, the Bridal Garden, etc.

If you can't sell it, I seem to read about a lot of people repurposing their dresses. Bassinet covers, baby blankets, christening blankets, quilts, shortening them and/or dyeing them to make different dresses, etc.