Your wedding date is set, you’ve chosen the venue, and now begins that task – choosing a wedding dress – something you’ve been waiting for, or have you?
In a world of dresses overflowing with options, doubts begin to arise:
Will I find something I like? What do I even like? What silhouette suits me best? How do I want to feel on this day? Where should I look?
In addition to these questions, we could add another: why not a dress worn only once?
A preloved dress is a second-hand dress that has been well-cared for, hence the name “pre-loved”: a dress that made one bride happy can make another happy too!
Whether it’s because for many brides it no longer makes sense to buy new dresses, or because it may seem like a new sustainable trend but is nothing more than a revival of tradition—this is because many brides have already worn a family heirloom or reused their grandmother’s, mother’s, or aunt’s dress over the past decades—at Bridal Stores we give a boost by connecting new brides with other brides!
To help you find your dream dress in our showroom of pre-loved, vintage, and outlet wedding dresses, here is a list of pros and cons to help you decide and become a more informed consumer:
#1 – Sustainability
One of the first advantages is knowing that you are reducing waste.
Typically, a wedding dress wouldn’t be categorized as “fast fashion,” but since it’s only worn once, it’s an item with a significant impact. Reusing dresses means giving new life to many raw materials that were already used in their manufacture: fabrics, thread, beads, sequins, crystals, lace, etc.
I believe it’s a wonderful feeling to know that you’re getting married in a way that had a smaller environmental impact!
#2 – Price
A pre-loved wedding dress is undoubtedly a good option for keeping your budget in check. Not only can you get a quality dress at a fraction of the original price, but you can also invest in other pieces, accessories, or even other areas of your wedding with the money you saved.
Of course, a dress that is originally of high value and quality may still have a high price, but the advantage is that you can get a dress from a designer or brand you were looking for at a lower price, making it more accessible. These are not low-cost dresses, as you should always keep in mind.
#3 – Variety
Looking secondhand? You can find different and special styles, unlike those you find in traditional stores that are currently “in fashion.” Didn’t like anything in the current stores? Then here you can find dresses from previous collections, vintage dresses, and custom-made dresses, and fall in love with a style, color, or finish you hadn’t even considered. Yes, it may have been worn before, but it’s still unique because your guests have never seen it before, and you can always personalize it.
Buying secondhand may require a bit more searching, but we receive new styles regularly.
That’s why it’s a matter of searching, paying attention, and trying things on! Here, the dresses are ready to wear, so you can take them directly with you, making everything faster and easier. Especially if you live outside of Lisbon or abroad, like many of our brides. Last-minute brides welcome!
#4 – Changes
In fact, the options are limitless because, like other dresses, you can add sleeves, straps, change the neckline, etc. It will depend on how the dress is constructed and its original size, but in theory any alteration is possible. It’s important to remember that almost all dresses need alterations – new or used.
It may always be necessary to make further alterations – even if it’s just altering the hem, adding buttons, modifying a zipper, etc. Dresses that have already been altered once often have more “human” proportions, meaning they no longer simply follow standard designer measurements. However, we’ve had many brides find their dress without needing alterations because the dress found its “twin body” 😉
All of our dresses sold in the showroom come professionally cleaned.
Now that you have all the information, book your Bridal Stories fitting and be amazed!
Here you can find our catalog of dresses and accessories.
