Hi Mustachians,
I posted awhile back on advice on how to sell my wedding dress. I got some great feedback but the consensus was it will be hard to shift unless it's a top designer (it's not a well known one - Aria) and a current style.
I've since pulled the dress out and noticed it has obvious perspiration marks on the white silk. I've tried my best to get these out using internet remedies (vinegar solution) and though they've faded, they're still noticeable.
So my thinking is: I won't have a chance of selling it unless I first get it cleaned to get those marks out. Wedding dress cleaning costs around $150 (standard industry rate apparently). There's no guarantee that they'll be able to get the marks out (wedding was three years ago - I know, I should have dealt with this earlier, but I had a destination wedding and send the dress home with my parents to another country, and only just got it back).
If I get it cleaned, I'm risking $150 that they'll be able to get the marks out AND that someone will buy it for more than that.
If I just donate it or somehow get rid of it, I save myself a bit of hassle.
FWIW, the dress was bought by my mother (we paid for our own wedding but she wanted to contribute) and cost $900 + tax when new. Also, I don't love it - in fact, I had deep regrets about it the day after the wedding and have always regretted not going for a different style. So I don't feel a deep attachment. Plus with the stains, I don't really see the point of keeping it to 'hand down'.
So, do you think I should donate it? And my main question is (because I'm fairly decided) are there any worthy ways of doing this? Should I just take it to a charity store? Advertise on Craigslist as free?