For those with limited budget, used or pre-owned wedding dress is an excellent solution to an expensive problem called gown. It’s not difficult to find w ell-preserved gown with affordable price as most gown are worn once before they preserved.

So, really, where can we find a used wedding gown with excellent condition?

• Consignment shops:As most consignment shops only take the merchandise which is in pristine condition, you should not need to worry about their goods quality. This is true, especially in upscale area where it is more likely to find designer wedding dress. Want to know the best part? They come off cheep; well, at least cheaper than the actual price. Just remember to search valiantly for damages; find those which damage can be easily repaired.

• Thrift shops: While thrift shop is also one of the best places to search for second-hand dress, they couldn’t be too picky about their stuffs, as most are sold in the base of charity. Even the probability is very thin, you still could find some excellent stuff but it’s rare and in between; most case whatever you find will need a major up hauling. Make sure to search thoroughly for damaged and even if you find one that the said damaged was easily repaired.

• Online auctions (read: eBay!):These days, you could find and sold everything in eBay; wedding dress is just another common thing. There a wide array of dresses in various styles, colors and conditions, with prices from less than $200 to more than $3000 (that is quite cheap for Vera Wang couture). The downside of this kind of sale is you cannot scrutinize the goods; you have to put your faith in the seller. Make sure to ask for a lot of photograph from many different angle and details. Ask if the dress has suffered damages before and ask for its picture so you could determine yourself whether the damage is repairable or it is a lost cause. Ask for guarantee or stipulation if the dress is beyond repair or the size doesn’t fit is a plus but somehow I doubt the seller would agree to this term

• Friends or someone recently got married: If you have anyone who let you borrow their wedding dress, it is even better. It is the cheapest solution as you only need to pay for dry cleaners. But, the owner might against any altering or changes made to her dress so it is essential to makes sure the dress fit.

• Rental: Renting a dress might sounds weird, but it is actually a quite common practice. Many bridal shops have their own rental section. The plus side is the dress will be kept in excellent and pristine condition so you don’t need to dry clean or repair them; but you will not be allowed to make any alterations to the dress.

Good luck!