Weddings are such an incredible event for everyone involved but often we don’t realise, or see, the waste that they create. In one day, a wedding produces the same amount of emissions that 4-5 people do in an entire year and in the UK, nearly £800 million is spent on single-use wedding outfits alone. The most obvious single-use outfit is, of course, the wedding dress itself. 

Along with the consideration of the cut, colour and price, brides are also faced with the moral decision of knowingly buying something that will only be worn once, before being dry cleaned and hung in the back of a wardrobe indefinitely. Buying a dress secondhand can help to reduce your impact on the planet, as well as being a much cheaper option for an often expensive day!

Shop for ‘the one’ from our list below:

1. Brides Do Good

All of the bridalwear is donated by brides or brands and is either preloved or pre-made, ensuring that they don’t introduce any new impact on the environment. They also donate ⅓ of all proceeds (including showroom appointments) to their Impact Partners. 

Brides do Good, 1 Lexham Mews, London, W8 6JW

2. Oxfam Bridal Shops

The well-known charity, Oxfam, has eight shops with bridal departments around the UK, as well as a selection of dresses on their website. You can enjoy your day even more knowing that your dress will contribute towards the fight against poverty. 

Across the UK

3. The Loop

Grace & Gadsby’s offer a curated edit of timeless and preloved luxury designer bridal pieces at affordable prices. They offer tailoring, personalisation and customisation services to add the finishing touches and make pieces unique to you.

London Bridge

4. Still White

The UK’s largest online wedding dress marketplace for preloved dresses. There is a vast selection of dresses, separates and jumpsuits to suit all shapes and sizes and you can sell your dress on the site afterwards to keep the process circular. 

Online only

5. Bridal Reloved

The world’s only chain of pre-owned wedding dress boutiques, where they sell luxury preloved or ex-sample dresses in their boutiques across the country. They offer appointments, allowing you to try all the dresses you want and have the same experience as if you were buying new. 

Across the UK

6. eBay

While eBay may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of wedding dress shopping, it is a great place to look if you have a specific designer or style in mind. They have a huge variety of dresses at incredible prices. 

Online only 

Written by Rebecca Jackson, Stories Behind Things