The best places to shop second hand wedding dresses in the UK

With the average bride spending over £1,300 on her wedding dress for her special day, it's understandable why many brides-to-be are now opting for a more affordable second hand wedding dress. After-all, it is only one day.

Not only are brides looking to be more thrifty on their big day, but as we all become more eco-conscious, second hand wedding dresses are a great idea if you're keen to be more sustainable by buying less and wearing more.

There are plenty of brides who have put their wedding dresses up for sale, and you can often pick up a real bargain on even the most desirable of dresses, making it a brilliant idea if you've fallen in love with a particular dress that's a little outside your budget.

If you think a pre-loved dress could be the right option for you, we've rounded up the best places to buy a second hand wedding dress in the UK plus included some of our top dress picks we think you'll love.

The best places to buy a second hand wedding dress UK

eBay

So we know eBay might not seem like the most glamorous place to shop for your wedding dress, but the options are endless. eBay make it very easy for shoppers to find exactly what they're looking for, and you can narrow down your search using their many filters, from choosing the colour, style, size and length of your gown.

Many of the dresses on their range from high-street options to designer dresses people no longer need or want, so there's a real range to choose from depending on your budget and taste.

Be sure to make sure you check the seller ratings of who you're buying from before you purchase on eBay and try to read as many reviews as you can before buying.

Shop for second hand wedding dresses on eBay now.

Brides Do Good

Based in London, Brides Do Good is an ethical and sustainable brand, stocking a range of pre-loved and ethically produced wedding dresses at reasonable prices. While brides are welcome to visit their London store to have a look around and try on some dresses, you can also order a range of dresses to your home and enjoy a virtual try on session with the help of a virtual stylist.

Prices range from £800 - £3,500 and they also provide alterations at an extra cost if needed.

Still White

Still White have over 50,000 dresses in stock ranging from as little as £10 (yes, £10!) up to dresses costing over £10,000! There's a huge range of sizes and designers to choose from, in a huge range of styles. You can also sell your pre-loved wedding dress on their site too.

When it comes to buying your dress, you can visit the seller and try it on there if you're both comfortable with that, or you can order it to your home. The only thing is, there are no refunds if it doesn't fit, so you'll want to have a good discussion with the seller before buying to make sure it'll fit correctly or can be altered and it's the one for you.

Vestiaire Collective

Dreaming of a designer dress? Vestiaire Collective have a wide range of second hand designer wedding dresses and white evening gowns that could be the perfect dress for your day.

Vestiaire Collective is a market leader in pre-loved luxury clothing with up to 70 per cent off the retail price. All items are sent via Vestiaire Collective where they are checked for quality and authenticity, and once it's passed for quality control, it will be sent to you.

Beyond Retro

A good vintage find can look so stylish and fashionable, so if you're on the hunt for a dress that pays homage to your favourite fashion era, look no further than Beyond Retro.

You can select which era you want your dress from, the price, size, fabric and more to find the best retro fit for you.

The Loop

This curated edit of luxury pre-owned bridal dresses is all about extending the life-cycle of these beautiful dresses. Once you've found the perfect dress for you, The Loop offer an optional tailoring service to make the dress fit perfectly for you and you can even have it customised to add a few more personal touches such as crystals or embroidery.

Bride2Bride

Bride2Bride is the original second hand bridal dress shop, and they offer a range of styles and sizes, from designer to budget to help you stretch your wedding budget as much as possible.

Ranging from £75 - £4,999,

Oxfam

Believe it or not, Oxfam stocks a huge range of second hand wedding dresses, with all proceeds going towards the work the charity does.

You can browse and purchase dresses online and many dresses you can pick up at a bargain price.

Bridal Reloved

If you still want the experience of going into the shop and having a good try-on session, Bridal Reloved could be the best option for you. They specialise in ex-sample and pre-owned high-end designer wedding dresses and have 15 shops spread across the UK.

You can have a browse online to find out where the dresses are stocked before thinking about seeing them in person. If you think you might have found 'the one' but need a little more thinking time, you can reserve a dress until you decide to buy one so that you don't miss out.

Things to consider when buying a second hand wedding dress

Buying second hand is a brilliant option for so many reasons, but it might be worth considering a few things before you buy.

1) Have a really good browse - we've rounded up some of the best stockists, but there are so many more online outlets and shops stocking pre-loved dresses you might want to consider. Be patient and weigh up all your options, making sure you never rush into anything.

2) Be flexible with sizing - especially when it comes to a vintage dress, your usual size may not fit you quite right, and it may also have been altered to fit it's previous owner perfectly. That's why it's always a good idea to check the exact measurements with the seller before you buy, and be open to having the dress altered if needed.

3) Find a good tailor - whether it's bringing up the hemline or adding your own personal touches, a tailor can make such a difference to your dress and how you feel in it on the day, so it's always worth getting the dress tailored to your figure.

4) What condition is it in? While a few missing sequins or loose buttons can be easily fixed, you don't want your dress to arrive in a poor condition. If the condition isn't clear, don't be afraid to ask the seller about any stains, rips or fraying, as chances are, these could be a lot trickier to fix.