So it’s hard enough finding the partner of your dreams, but finding the perfect wedding dress can be a total nightmare. That’s even before you look for a gown that’s also sustainable!
As always at Good on You, we take inspiration from Fashion Hound’s Faye De Lanty who says she found the perfect dress through Australia’s first ethical wedding fair, organised by Less Stuff More Meaning, where she came into contact with Lenka Couture. Faye’s dress was sustainably made from recycled dresses and fabric. She also used the natural dyes from onion skins to create copper tones for her bridesmaid dresses.
However, it’s not always easy for the pieces to fall into place. So we’ve compiled a list of places to start in your own hunt for ‘the one’.
Something Old
The best thing you can do for the environment when it comes to choosing a wedding dress is to find something pre-existing, rather than creating from scratch.
Vintage
Vintage gowns can leave a lasting impression. However, poring over racks of gowns in vintage shops takes time and a good eye for picking out diamonds in the rough. And while sites like eBay can provide you with plethora of options, they don’t always guarantee that the item will be of a high quality.
So try one of these vintage bridal shop alternatives:
The Bare Faced Bride – Amanda Garrett Couture Wedding Gown
This Sydney bridal studio sells preloved designer, designer samples and curated vintage dresses. Inspired by her own struggle to find a wedding dress, owner Melanie Bowman offers brides-to-be a memorable and personalised shopping experience tailored to their own unique story.
Oxfam UK – Donerica Vintage Dress
Oxfam Shops are well known amongst fashion fans as a place to nab some bargain quality threads – and that includes wedding dresses. Their online store has an extensive range of vintage gowns in all shapes, sizes and eras. So whether you’re going the full 1980s meringue or 1960s flower child, you can find something that fits the bill.
Etsy – Tulipe Wedding Gown
Etsy is where great vintage stores show off a selection of their best garments. Stores like Maryland USA-based Vivian Elise Vintage specialise in restoring beautiful dresses to their former glory. This gorgeously simple 1970s-era gown would be the perfect lightweight dress for a summer wedding.
Secondhand
The vintage look is not for everyone. However, secondhand does not necessarily have to mean vintage. For an eco-conscious bride-to-be who prefers more modern styles, try one of these great sites which connects current brides with past ones.
Once Wed
With over 5,000 dresses available on their online marketplace, there is a high chance the dress of your dreams could already be waiting for you. Once Wed was launched in 2008, and has since become one of the “top wedding websites in the world”. With the aim to inspire brides-to-be, Once Wed offers a variety of content from wedding ideas to real-life inspiration. There are some great finds to be had like this Vera Wang gown, which has never been worn or altered.
Still White
With thousands of preloved wedding dresses to choose from, Still White is a huge worldwide marketplace for secondhand wedding dresses. Offering a variety of filters including size, price, condition and style, Still White allows you to shop by price or by design, making the search for that perfect dress a little bit easier.
Something New
Buying secondhand might not be the right option for you. Maybe you don’t want your special dress worn by anyone but you, or maybe you just can’t find what you’re looking for secondhand.
Never fear! You can still stay true to your ethical values with one of these phenomenal ethical designers.
