When you think about it, the bridal gown industry can be pretty wasteful. A lot of time, money, labor, and materials go into these stunning dresses, which are worn for one day and then shoved into a box under someone’s bed for several decades.
Stacia Wilson of Raleigh, NC, has a solution to this problem. She recently started Oak City Bridal, a consignment bridal boutique featuring designer gowns. Y’all know I love the idea of purchasing an already loved wedding gown, so I sat down with Stacia a few weeks ago to learn more about Oak City Bridal and the heart behind her business.
Stacia has always loved weddings (she used to be a wedding photographer!) and had been dreaming of a way to start her own wedding-related business when her husband brought up the idea of selling consignment wedding gowns.
“I started thinking about and researching consignment,” she says. “There aren’t really any other stores that do that around Raleigh, and I thought it would be a really good thing for Raleigh to have. I know when I was getting married, the bridal boutiques were really expensive.”
Currently, Stacia is collecting inventory and scheduling upcoming bridal appointments for after her brick-and-mortar store opens on December 26. Oak City Bridal will be located in downtown Raleigh at 607 East Edenton Street. Stacia wants the store to have the same feel as any other boutique.
“You still get to come with your mom, your sister, and your friends, have champagne, and try on dresses,” she says. “But you’re also not spending a fortune, because it’s discounted. It’s a way to be more conscious and thoughtful.”
Oak City Bridal is stocking gowns made within the last five years or so to ensure they are in style. According to Stacia, many of the dresses are sample gowns from other boutiques or gowns that brides decided not to wear after all, so they never even made it down the aisle. The price tags range from about $500-$2,000, which is about 50% of the original price of the gown. Oak City also offers some bridal accessories, such as sashes and veils.
Engaged ladies aren’t the only ones who will benefit from what Oak City Bridal has to offer. The store presents a wonderful opportunity for married women who don’t know what to do with their dress or who have had little success trying to sell their dress online.
“My dress was dirty in my closet for a really long time,” says Stacia. “And I know most of my friends who’ve gotten married aren’t really doing anything with their dresses. It’s a good way to make some cash back.”
With the average U.S. wedding costing couples over $35,000, the prospect of earning a little cash back post-wedding is most certainly a welcome notion! I also love how this business model is incredibly eco-friendly. When you buy a consignment gown, you are taking a burden off the environment by decreasing the need for more production. I love it!
If you are interested in learning more about consigning a gown or shopping for a gown with Oak City Bridal, contact Stacia. And if you end up finding your dress at Oak City Bridal, please let me know! I’d love to hear (and perhaps even share) your success story!
xoxo Laura
P.S. – This is not a sponsored post. I love what Oak City Bridal has to offer and simply wanted to pass it along to you, lovely readers!
Thanks for sharing! I will definitely past this along to some brides..old and new ..who could use Oak City Bridal.
Thanks for the article Laura!