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Pre-owned gowns...anyone try it?

EmmiewEmmiew
100 Comments
in Second Weddings
I'm so tempted for my second wedding to get a pre-owned gown.  It's so economical, and I know I don't have any sentimental feelings towards the dress...I just want to look fabulous!!!  I want simple, sophisticated...not the princess, ballerina bride thing. I did that number in 1989! lol

Have any of you purchased from one of the sites, and if so, were you satisfied?  They seem to all be final sales, and that's pretty scary if it doesn't work out.  What's been your experience?!  Thanks!
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Re: Pre-owned gowns...anyone try it?

  • thealphabridethealphabride
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011

    I found a gown on Bridepower.com ...your risk is minimized at this site.

    They sent it to me to try on and I could return it for a full refund if I didn't like it or it didn't fit. It didn't fit and I had to pay to return it but did get a full refund so I had a positive experience with this site.

    Ultimatly I found (on line) a group of Italian ladies here in the US, in TN. that make gowns and have made gowns for 20 years, they have great prices and make the gown to your measurements.
    So being the risk taker I am, I threw the dice. I expect the gown the second week in June.
    I  don't feel comfortable to recommend them until I get my gown but they assured me it would look 95-97% like the pics I sent them. They have answered all my questions and e mails in a very timely manner (within 24 hours) and are always very kind and respectful.

    Here's their website: www.giovainnisbridals.com
    GOOD LUCK!!!

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  • thealphabridethealphabride
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Correction, it's this
    www.gioavonnisbridalboutique.net
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  • ohwhynotohwhynot member
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I bought a vintage cocktail dress from a local vintage shop.  It's lovely, it suits me, and it was only $100.  There are also vintage shops online, but it gets expensive to have to pay to ship back a dress you don't like after trying it on.  Good luck!
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  • Marrin713Marrin713 member
    1000 Comments Third Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Beautiful dress, ohwhynot!

    To Emmie - have you tried stores like Nordstrom's or Macy's?  You may find a dress that not only will be great for your wedding but one that you can wear on other occasions.  I know from experience at Nord's that all sales are NOT final.  I took back my original dress a couple of weeks ago.
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  • 2dBride2dBride member
    2500 Comments Fourth Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    We got used dresses, but it was from a local consignment shop.  That way, we could try them on before buying.
    Anniversary
    Our wedding bio page (including vendor reviews) and items for sale
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  • tonyscutieest09tonyscutieest09 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Check your local Craigslist, depending on your area you may find a wide variety and alot of people encourage you to come try the dress on before you decide.

    www.craigslist.org
    Oct '11 Siggy Challenge: imageWedding Countdown Ticker
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  • Lisa50Lisa50 member
    2500 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_pre-owned-gownsanyone-try?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:35Discussion:69ef42b4-0449-47ce-95a3-f18cb352dd8bPost:c2339ed2-5d76-41b6-8877-73ea28d0ed67">Re: Pre-owned gowns...anyone try it?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I bought a vintage cocktail dress from a local vintage shop.  It's lovely, it suits me, and it was only $100.  There are also vintage shops online, but it gets expensive to have to pay to ship back a dress you don't like after trying it on.  Good luck!
    Posted by ohwhynot[/QUOTE]

    Sweet!  That dress looks a lot like one that's caught my eye ... I hope I'm as lucky as you and can find something similar to this in a consignment shop,  Otherwise, I will likely go with an evening dress (see 2nd pic).

    <a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/10/7/6a2f884f-95ee-4d1d-b761-d044cfa87b91.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" onclick="return gSiteLife.LoadForumPage('ForumImage', 'plckPhotoId', '6a2f884f-95ee-4d1d-b761-d044cfa87b91', 'plckRedirectUrl', gSiteLife.EscapeValue(window.location.href));" class="PhotoLink"><img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/10/7/6a2f884f-95ee-4d1d-b761-d044cfa87b91.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>


    <a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/7/4/9712f901-b137-4269-b408-571943584167.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" onclick="return gSiteLife.LoadForumPage('ForumImage', 'plckPhotoId', '9712f901-b137-4269-b408-571943584167', 'plckRedirectUrl', gSiteLife.EscapeValue(window.location.href));" class="PhotoLink"><img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/7/4/9712f901-b137-4269-b408-571943584167.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>
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  • Lisa50Lisa50 member
    2500 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Please, please come back once you've received your gown!  You are a risk taker, good for you!  I am eager to hear about the rest of the experience.

    Best of luck!!
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  • thealphabridethealphabride
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Hey Lisa,
    Believe me I will let you all know how it works out, good or bad.

    I just checked in with the Gioavonni's and they said it is coming along beautifully.
    The lace isn't exactly the same but very close to the original gown
    pics I sent them.

    They expect to ship it between June 20 -25. which is in the time frame they gave me of 14 -16 weeks. I'm so excited, hope it works out for me.
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