Buying vintage may not have been a money saver after all.
By Erika Lynde
Buying my gown vintage in the beginning seemed like the cheapest way to go. Seeing all those prices tags hanging in bridal shops and knowing that people actually spend that much money on 
something they’re going to wear once made me gasp. Finding my fabulous 1950s frock seemed like a dream come true. Standing in the Cropmton Collective with the bill ringing in less than $200 seemed like a great opportunity to wear a well designed gown at a way cheaper cost. Notice the word seemed….
I’m here to inform you that if you’re looking for a cheaper route in purchasing a wedding dress, buying vintage will unfortunately end up costing you almost as much as buying new.
I’m in your boat, here. We have a small budget, and we weren’t really planning on all these costs adding up on one thing. As you all know, I have already found an amazing tailor and her eye for detail is so worth her price. The rough estimate to create a masterpiece of a dress was about $500, and I thought that would be the bulk of my cost. But right now, before I get there, I’m in the first step of the process: cleaning. This is more than I bargained for. And not only that, my dress is so old, there’s no guarantee that it can even be cleaned.
At the time of my initial tailoring consultation, I was advised to spend a little extra to make sure the washing of my gown wouldn’t ruin its delicate fabric. They suggested Holly Cleaners. Because my dress is constructed of layers and layers of tulle that’s covered in silk organza, I guess it’s going to be pain to get wedding-ready (of course it is, right?).
Everything just seems to be falling apart right now, but I truly believe that if anyone can get this dress done and still keep it in one piece, it’s them. Overall their process is environmentally friendly, so I guess it’s worth the cost. I do enjoy our big blue planet and the hippie in me feels good about their mission to keep their clean green. Since dropping off my dress yesterday I’ve been sitting by the phone, awaiting their call to see if they can even attempt to clean my gown. Wish me luck, guys!