How to say 'no' to the dress after you've said 'yes'

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It happens. You look and you look for the perfect wedding dress, and after you pull the trigger on it, you change your mind.

If the dress of your dreams is no longer the dress of your dreams, don’t worry – there’s still hope.

The first, and probably most obvious, option is looking into whether a return is within the realm of possibility. While most custom-ordered dresses are typically non-refundable, it can’t hurt to ask.

For large chains like David’s Bridal, dresses and items that haven’t been specially ordered can be returned as long as they’re in their original condition (which means it’s often good to hold off on alterations until you’re completely certain of your purchase).

Personalized items, along with final sale items aren’t returnable, which is something to consider before jumping into buying a dress just for its price tag.
Simply Bridal, which has sold more than 10,000 dresses online, offers try at home wedding dresses brides can try on in the privacy of their own home. If it’s not the one, return them after a week and try on more dresses.

For dresses sold online, Simply Bridal offers a global 30-day return policy for all unworn and unaltered standard wedding gowns. Again, anything that’s made to order is final sale.

If returning a dress isn’t an option, there’s always resale and consignment. Numerous resale shops exist along with online resale sites like Once Wed or aptly-named PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, which offer used and barely-used wedding dresses at a discount for savvy brides. While you may not get every dollar you paid for your dress back with resale, it can at least help you recoup some losses as you search for a new dream dress.

Another alternative is consignment, a slightly different option than straight resale – as you’ll only get paid if your dress sells.

At Anonymously Yours in Dallas, brides can put their wedding dresses on consignment by making an appointment. According to Rene Bankston, owner of the shop that’s been around for over 30 years, dresses must be clean, pressed, and on a hanger. She often asks brides for a picture of the label, style and size, and after a minimum of 90 days, the sale is split 50-50. Bankston says they’ve currently stopped taking David’s Bridal or Alfred Angelo gowns (it’s often a good idea to check with shops to see what their restrictions might be on brands or sizes before running over) but have an inventory of more than 500 dresses (most are new with tags) ranging from informal to formal and including veils, shoes, and other bridal accessories.

Tags: Brides365, dress, options, custom