Pros and Cons of Vintage Wedding Dresses

Advantages of a Vintage Wedding Dress
A vintage wedding dress looks unique since it is a different type of a wedding gown compared to other gowns available off the rack. It will definitely set you apart from a bevy of other brides.
 

A vintage wedding dress also carries a great deal of detailing and exquisite workmanship which is difficult to replicate in modern, non-vintage wedding dresses. Moreover, a vintage wedding dress has an old world charm that brings back memories of a magical, gentler world. One of the best things about a vintage wedding dress is that is much more affordable and cost effective than other types of fashionable gowns or dresses that are available in couture shops.  A vintage wedding dress offers so many benefits, yet there are several pitfalls for which you need to watch out.

A vintage wedding dress maybe affordable, and it may look one-of-a-kind, but you have to come to terms with a few facts.

Vintage Wedding Dresses are Not New
For one, someone else has already worn your vintage wedding dress. If you are OK with that, then you can go ahead and buy yourself a vintage wedding dress without any qualms. Since weddings are supposed to be a one-in-a-lifetime event, many brides don’t like the idea of settling for anything other than the very best. So essentially, they may not like a vintage wedding dress and consider it to be a second-hand dress, a hand-me-down. On the flip side, a vintage wedding dress looks amazing and is bound to elicit admiration and sighs of marvel from your guests. So, as the bride, you need to decide if you want a new, run-of-the-mill gown or an old but exquisite vintage wedding dress
 

Vintage Wedding Dresses may be Flawed
This is the sad truth. Although you may be able to source and find the perfect dress and you may even fall in love with it, a real danger is that the dress may have many stains in it. A vintage wedding dress is essentially old and has probably been stored in someone’s closet for decades. It is almost impossible that a vintage wedding dress is still pristine and flawless and looks as good as new.

Imagine the effort you take to remove a new stain from a dress that is white in color. And now imagine an old stain that has settled in over a period of years and decades…such stains are almost impossible to remove completely.

Such a scenario offers advantages as well as disadvantages. For one, stains, patches, spots, blotches all allow you to bargain on the price. Tell the seller that her dress is almost un-wearable and it will be almost impossible to remove the stains. This will allow you to buy the vintage wedding dress for a steal. 

Once you have bought it, go to the best dry cleaners in your city. Explain to them that this dress is old and needs extra care while being washed. They will use mild cleaners to clean out the patches and they may even bleach the dress completely. Its might cost you a bit more, but the end result will be a vintage wedding dress that looks good enough to eat!

Repairing Vintage Wedding Dresses
What if you see a vintage wedding dress that is torn or stretched at places? Well, remember that newer fabrics will not match older ones in color, hue, shade, and even a new fabric itself will look different than an older, even if you mange to get the exact shade right. So look for large gaping holes at very visible places like the chest, waist or the front and sides. If you see a vintage wedding dress with holes in such places then avoid buying it. However, if you see smallish holes at hems, at the back, in the lining, etc then go right ahead and buy that dress. A skilled seamstress can remove such small holes so be prepared to pay a small packet for her services.

Budget for your Vintage Wedding Dress 
But what if you fall in love with a vintage wedding dress that is not in your budget? It becomes a painful exercise to keep looking at other dresses when your heart is set on a dress you cannot afford? Well, from the very beginning, consider only those dresses that fit with your budget. Don’t even look at dresses that are beyond your budget. Follow this tip for anything you buy for your wedding. If you decide to buy a vintage wedding dress, then keep some margin for cleaning the dress professionally, repairing small holes, adjusting the waistline and length and other tailoring charges. 

With a bit of trouble, your vintage wedding dress will make you look like a classic bride – every little girl’s dream come true.