A bride traditionally only wears her wedding dress one time. These five small businesses give wedding dresses an encore and offer discounted, never-worn, or gently used bridal wear for the budget-friendly bride.
Adina's Bridal
When shopping for her wedding dress, Adina Ringler struggled to find a gown within her budget. Never settling, she eventually had her "dream dress moment" without breaking the bank. In 2014 she started Adina's Bridal to help brides-to-be find affordable wedding dresses they love.
Shortly after her wedding, Ringler contacted the bridal salon she patronized and asked the owner if she could help sell some of their sample dresses online. The shop agreed and gave Ringler a few dresses to sell on consignment. She started a website and slowly grew her business alongside her corporate job until it took over completely.
Ringler found ways to expand her inventory by selling discontinued wedding dresses from brands like J. Crew and BHLDN. As demand grew, Adina's Bridal needed a space for future brides to try on the gowns. Ringler first dedicated a room in her home to provide a laid-back shopping experience, but with the business going strong for over a decade now, it has its very own appointment-only showroom in Winnetka, California.
Borrowing Magnolia
In 2014, Stephanie Olvey, Cali Brutz, and Ashley Steele founded the online wedding dress brokerage Borrowing Magnolia. The website allows people to list their used wedding gowns so that future brides can find their perfect match at a discounted price. In addition to wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses can also be bought and sold.
The three founders chose Athens, Georgia, as the company headquarters "due to its progressiveness, low cost of living, [and] access to talent and resources from the University of Georgia," they said. Olvey, Brutz, and Steele also had supportive investment networks in the area that helped them raise the capital needed to launch.
Initially, Borrowing Magnolia had a rental program but transitioned to resale in 2017. The listing process is straightforward, and the small business helps sellers determine an appropriate price through its dress value calculator.
Shortly after her wedding, Ringler contacted the bridal salon she patronized and asked the owner if she could help sell some of their sample dresses online. The shop agreed and gave Ringler a few dresses to sell on consignment.
LVD Bridal
A sister boutique to The Dress Theory, Camille Seven and her team established LVD Bridal 11 years ago in Nashville, Tennessee. The Dress Theory features designer made-to-order wedding dresses in a boutique setting with prices ranging from $2,000 to $6,000. LVD Bridal seeks to emulate a similar aesthetic, offering access to luxury items at a fraction of the cost.
The LVD Bridal showroom has been curated to offer a variety of styles handpicked from The Dress Theory's sample collection, consignment, and vintage buying trips. The dresses are in great condition and are marked down appropriately to cater to brides with a lower price point in mind, those who are constrained by a short timeline, or brides who want an eco-friendly alternative to buying new. All of the dresses are off the rack so they can be taken home upon purchase.
Seven recently launched another small business in the area. The Department of Finishing Touches is her latest endeavor, a space devoted to fine jewelry, fragrance, and tabletop gifts.
Bridal Sense
Another Georgia-based enterprise on the list, Bridal Sense is a longstanding bridal salon in Atlanta. Owner Nancy Culotta, a professional in the bridal industry for over 30 years, opened the shop in 2001 to offer a variety of options for brides-to-be. With an inventory that includes new gowns made to order, dresses that can be purchased off the rack, designer samples, and once-loved dresses 30% to 80% off the retail price, Bridal Sense has something for everyone.
In addition to bridal gowns, the shop sells bridal party ensembles, tuxedos, mother-of-the-bride dresses, and accessories. The small business can also connect customers with trusted third-party seamstresses in the area. A wedding gown preservation kit can also be purchased on Bridal Sense's website.
Blue Sky Bridal
The largest bridal consignment shop on the West Coast, Blue Sky Bridal opened its doors in 2007. The flagship store is in Seattle, but there are two additional locations in Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco. All of its never-worn, sample, and pre-owned garments are 20% to 65% off the retail price and are sold off the rack.
As its name suggests, this retailer is focused on sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint. Blue Sky Bridal collaborates with bridal stores and designers across the country to consign their samples and overstock, and it boasts a $0 upfront cost resale program to individuals who in turn receive 50% of the final sale price when their dress sells. Pricing ranges from $800 to $6,000 depending on the designer and condition of the garment. Blue Sky only accepts dresses that are in ready-to-wear condition (no stains or damage), have been dry-cleaned or are new with tags attached, and are preferably less than three years old.
Open seven days a week by appointment, Blue Sky Bridal aims to give shoppers a stress-free, personalized experience. Customers can book the entire boutique for a more private or celebratory appointment.
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