If you’re exploring alternative ways to find your wedding dress, you may have come across the term preloved wedding dress. But what does that actually mean? Let us break it down for you!
We've already spoken about what a 'sample dress' is in our last blog. Now let's chat preloved!
So what is a preloved dress?
A preloved wedding dress is a gown that has been worn by a bride on her wedding day and is now ready to be worn again. After the wedding, the dress is professionally dry cleaned and carefully assessed before being offered for resale.
Unlike sample dresses, which have been tried on many times in boutiques, a pre loved dress was ordered brand new by the previous bride and has therefore had one special moment, one wedding day, and one wearer.
Preloved dresses have usually had some alterations already. Most brides who have ordered a brand new wedding dress from the designer alter their wedding dress to fit their body perfectly.
This is because for most designers, they will not make to your specific measurements and instead have a sizing chart that they are working to. When a boutique takes your measurements to order your dress they will usually order to the largest measurements, for example if your bust is a size 12 and hips 14, they will order the size 14 for you and the rest of the dress will need alterations. They usually come as a standard length too so it is likely the hem length will have been altered.
Examples of some of the alterations
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The hem taken up or let down
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The bodice adjusted
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Straps shortened
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Cups added
These alterations don’t reduce the quality or beauty of the dress, and in many cases they can be altered again to suit a new bride
So let's talk dress condition!
This is where standards matter.
At Cirq, we set a strict in store condition standard for every pre-loved dress we sell. Each gown must be:
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Professionally dry cleaned
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Carefully inspected
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Free from visible damage or wear
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Presented in like new condition
This means our preloved collection look and feel just as special as buying new, without the new price tag or environmental cost!
So why choose a preloved wedding dress?
1. Sustainability
A wedding dress is usually worn for just one day. Choosing preloved keeps a beautiful gown out of storage or landfill and reduces the need for new production.
2. Value
We all know how much weddings cost in this current climate! You could have all the money in the world but if you don't want to spend it on a wedding dress, why should you!
Preloved dresses are significantly more affordable. You could potentially get your hands on a current collection dress for half the price! All of our gowns in Cirq are up to 70% off at all times.
If alterations are already completed by the selling bride and work well for you this could also potentially save you hundreds of euros in alterations costs!
3. Immediate Availability
There’s no waiting for production. What you see is what you get and they are ready and waiting for you to take home on the day! Perfect for brides who might be on a shorter time line
Preloved doesn't mean second best
A preloved wedding dress isn’t about compromise. It’s about making a thoughtful, sustainable, and economical choice without sacrificing on design, quality or style.
With professional cleaning, careful inspection, and high standards for condition, a preloved dress can feel just as magical as a brand new one, because it still gets to be your dress and is new to you!
Photography: @jrh.photographs