Ebay is one the best sources to find cheap wedding dresses. The online auction literally has hundreds of designer gowns for sale everyday. There’s also a wide range of sizes and many of the gowns are under £100, even with post and packaging included.
Don’t be put off by buying a dress off eBay, as long as you go into the purchase with the right mindset, you can get the perfect wedding dress for your big day.
The best thing to do is find a style that you like. Try on gowns in bridal boutiques and make a note of which designers and styles you like. Then head home, get online and start the search on eBay.
Some things you should consider before you buy off eBay:
Ask the seller lots of questions To make sure you're getting what you expect, ask the seller lots of questions. Important things to know are how much the dress was worn, were there any alternations done and did it get damaged on the day.
Read my full article on considerations when buying second-hand gowns.
Check the colour carefully Strange as it may seem, champagne to you may not be champagne to me. Try and see a sample of the colour in reality. You can do this by popping down to your local bridal store and checking their swatches.
This is important as colour is everything – it can brighten up your face or make you look sullen if it’s not quite the right shade.
Get measured up If you're going for a 'made-to-measure' wedding dress, then make sure you get your measures done accurately. I'd recommend going to a seamstress or dress alternation shop to get this done. That way, you can be more confident that you'll get a better fitting dress.
When you get the dress and things are quite right with the sizing, don't worry. Just take it to your local dress alternation shop for any adjustments - it will probably be cheaper than sending it back to the seller!
Buy a size too big. If you're buying a second hand dress off eBay, then consider buying a size bigger so you can easily get it altered to fit you perfectly. You’ll need a good seamstress or alterations service, look for one that does wedding gowns though as not all alterations services on the high street will.
Watch out for second-hand gowns! They maybe stained or damaged and this something you might not be able to see from the photos on eBay.
Pay by Paypal With all online transactions, you need to keep your personal data safe and especially your bank account details. If you're paying by Paypal, you can make sure that your online payments are safe. Plus, since it's all connected to eBay, it makes the process faster and more secure.
One thing to remember is, never pay by cash!
Buy from a Powerseller To give you a bit more confidence about your purchase, try to buy from a Powerseller or at least someone who has very good feedback. That way, you'll have a better guarantee that you'll get exactly what you're looking for.
