Wedding Consignment shop??

[Lynnie]

Anyone have any experience buying at one? I stumbled across this website while googling dress shops in my area: http://www.sabrinaann.com/
and I have to admit, some of those dresses are absolutely gorgeous, and i wouldn't be able to afford them at MSRP (I want to keep the dress budget under $1000). I called them yesterday and made an appointment for today. Any tips? Are prices negotionable? The lady I spoke with seemed excited because I am a size 8 (street size), and she said most of her dresses are 10's and 12's, which *should* fit me. I assume these are samples???
TIA

ETA: I love, love, love the 2 La Sposa dressed on the "Wedding gown III" page!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

A lot of women have had luck with consignment from sites such as preownedweddingdress.com and even ebay. I don''t see anything wrong with buying your dress from a consignment shop. I''m too practical to get caught up in symbolism and all that junk. If you find a dress you love for a price you can afford, then get it.

 

[MaggieB]

One of my friends got a gorgeous wedding dress from a consignment shop for $100. It can be done, just takes some legwork and flexibility.

 

[pocahontas]

Date: 9/12/2008 5:40:09 AM
Author:Lynnie
ETA: I love, love, love the 2 La Sposa dressed on the 'Wedding gown III' page!

Sorry, I don't have any experience with consignment shops, but I wanted to chime in to say that I think it's totally worth checking out. The website shows some really beautiful dresses at very reasonable prices. I liked the two you mentioned, especially the second one

Can't wait to see pics of you in any contenders. Good luck!

 

[Lynnie]

Thanks for your replies, girls!!

I''m a little upset that no one can come with me. My mom and friends are at work... I''m to blame, though cause I made the appointment... I work night shift and my schedule is CRAZY, so I kinda jumped the gun on this one. I AM excited, though. I hope they let me take pictures!! I''ll keep ya updated... (Hopefully, I''ll be able to come home and post a "MY DRESS" link!

)

 

[Lynnie]

Date: 9/12/2008 9:31:38 AM
Author: pocahontas

Date: 9/12/2008 5:40:09 AM
Author:Lynnie
ETA: I love, love, love the 2 La Sposa dressed on the ''Wedding gown III'' page!

Sorry, I don''t have any experience with consignment shops, but I wanted to chime in to say that I think it''s totally worth checking out. The website shows some really beautiful dresses at very reasonable prices. I liked the two you mentioned, especially the second one

Can''t wait to see pics of you in any contenders. Good luck!

That one is my fave, pocahantas!!

 

[Octavia]

Lynnie, Sabrina Ann always gets great reviews from brides who''ve tried it. I think the dresses are mostly preowned, either from 2-dress brides (in which case they might not even be altered yet) or from women who don''t want to keep their dresses after the wedding (these have probably had alterations). Please post back about your experience there, I''m really curious!

 

[Loves Vintage]

I went to a bridal consignment shop in my area that had lots of dresses in my size. I didn''t purchase a dress there because they didn''t have anything that suited my fancy enough. I wish they had something that I wanted though because the ladies there were the best and nicest I''d encountered in my dress search! The owner of the shop helped me and she had lots of neat ideas about how to customize dresses that I almost loved.

The shop you posted looks like they have such a nice inventory of dresses. I love quite a few dresses on that site, expecially the second one you mentioned. Here''s hoping you love it as much in person!!

 

[Rhea]

I''ve never bought from sabrinaann, but I''ve spoken with them over the phone and one of my friends sold her dress through them. They were great at answering all our questions. I wish I lived close enough to visit in person! Good luck with your appointment.

 

[Izzy03]

After I found the dress I wanted, I searched in internet high and low to find a preowned dress, no luck here! While it may take a little more work, you should definitely give it a shot. I know I am going to sell my gown when I am done with it.

 

[Puppmom]

Lynnie, how did it go? I bought my dress at Sabrina Ann! It was a great experience. SOOOO much better than the bridal salons! I got the Marisa 611J with the jacket for $1,100 (it retails for $2400). I was recently tempted to go back and try on the Nicole Miller metal taffeta one but with my wedding being next Saturday I thought better of it

 

[Lynnie]

Hey! Sorry I didn't reply last night. I wanted to, but when I got home around 3:30, I took a nap. Then DF and I had plans for a Phillies game, and when we got to the stadium, they were rained out. So we went to dinner. And I couldn't post when we got home cause our computer is in the living room. He's asleep now!

So I had a 12:00 appointment. I left my house at 11:10 - plenty of time to get there (mapquest said 35 minutes). Yeah right. There was construction on City Ave - which is usually a mess to begin with. And it was drizzling. And I had left my cell home, so I felt naked. I got there 20 minutes late and all flustered.

I have nothing but good things to say about this place. The two women in the shop were SO nice. Not at all pushy, which is what I had been afraid of. They had a huge selection - the website shows only a fraction of what they have. I'd say they had a selection of about 100 from me to choose. So I get there and the woman said to pick out as many as I'd like to try on. She let me paruse, didn't really suggest anything, just was helpful in answering questions and taking the selected dresses to the fitting room.

I wanted a fitted dress, slim-line - no poofy skirt - trumpet/mermaid style skirt if possible. The lacy/vintage style has always appealed to me, and I thought it would "match" my venue - I'm getting married outdoors at a historic house (see link) https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/decided-on-venues-pics-inside.93527/ I picked out 6 or 7 dresses, and the woman sees the kinds of dresses I'm pulling out, and she grabs 2 or 3 more.


About the La Sposa that I fell in love with on the website - I asked them about it, and she said that it was a size 10, but the previous owner had had it sized down and shortened - there was no way it would fit me

So I didn't even try it on.

Among the ones I tried on, the "contenders" ended up being a La Sposa, a Watters, and a David's Bridal. I kept going back to the La Sposa. It is absolutely gorgeous. And supposedly a sample, never worn. The Davids Bridal was obviously worn. The hem was discolored, and a touch short. The Watters was gorgeous as well, but a little over-budget (1200, I think?) But the La Sposa was the winner, hands down. Ivory lace and netting, with a touch of sparkle. A beautiful train. And it has straps, which really wasn't an issue for me, I wouldn't have minded a strapless, but it covers my tan lines (I have tan lines year round, and I'm not very tan!). The skirt flares enough but not too much. It *almost* fits like a dream - the bust will have to be taken in a bit and the waist let out a bit. It zips fine but it bunches up a little at the waist. Or I could just bunker down and lose 10 lbs. 925 vs 1800 retail. SO..............

I put a hold deposit on it!!!!!!!!!!! It will be mine Monday, when I pick it up with my mom!!!! I am super-excited! Woo hoo!

Now, you all will just have to bear with me - I can't seem to find the cord that attaches my camera to my computer. But I don't want want anyone to post one of those "this thread is useless without pics" emoties, so here's the dress on the model. The stick-thin model:

ACK! Why is it telling me I'm not logged in??? I'll try again.... Good, lord I hope this post doesn't get eaten.....

 

[Lynnie]

One of those weird coutore poses:

 

[Lynnie]

the back...

 

[Lynnie]

Closer view. It doesn''t seem to show the sparkles at all. They''re very subtle.

 

[Lynnie]

O(kay, i''ve gotta find that cord and upload these before DF gets up!

I forgot to add that anyone in the Philly area ought to check out Sabrina Ann. I had a great experience there.

 

[MaggieB]

Oh my gosh, I LOVE that dress!!!! Congratulations on finding it and getting such a great deal!

 

[Lynnie]

Cord found! pics uploaded! I''m too shy to put my face on the internet... I''m also sorry I didn''t get a good shot of the entire dress. I took all the pics myself, in the dressing room.

1 of 2: This is me in the dress, you can see how the bust is too big and the waist a little bunchy. BUT I also had on a super-padded strapless bra... in pic 2 I took it off, and the waist fit a little better: Here goes...

 

[Lynnie]

Once I took that bulky bra off the dress fit a lot better... and here you can see the sparkles better too

 

[SeattleSweetheart]

What a beautiful dress! I love the lace, the straps and the slight flair.

La Sposa is such a great designer.

I bought my dress second-hand and I''m very pleased with it and what I paid.

 

[Puppmom]

You look gorgeous! I''m so glad you had a positive experience there.

 

[Octavia]

Oh, Lynnie, that dress is lovely and looks FANTASTIC on you! SO much better than on the stick-figure model. I''m glad you had a good experience, maybe I''ll make an appointment there sometime soon. It''s so exciting that you have your dress!