Did your wedding drain your wallet and leave you on the curb begging for pennies?
Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Wedding expenses have increased exponentially, but there’s a way to minimize the financial damage!
You can always resell wedding decor to make up for some of the money you spent on this special day. It’s not easy, though. There are various aspects to consider.
In this article, we teach you everything about reselling wedding decor so you can make a profitable deal.
- Is It Possible to Resell Wedding Decor?
- What Is the Value of Wedding Decor?
- Things to Consider When Reselling Wedding Decor
- Where to Resell Wedding Decor
- What You’ll Need to Resell Wedding Decor
- How to Resell Wedding Decor: Step-By-Step Instructions
- Can You Make Money Flipping Wedding Decor?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Similar Tutorials to Check Out
- Wrapping Up
Is It Possible to Resell Wedding Decor?
Yes, you can. Some people don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on items they’ll only use once. They opt for high-quality used wedding decorations. That’s where you come in!
What Kind of Wedding Decor Sells Well?
Not all wedding items will be in great demand. Some will sell faster than others. Popular decor items include:
- Centerpiece items: These are the first decorative items people will see at the wedding. That’s why couples care about buying visually pleasing centerpiece items that create cohesive aesthetics.
- Linens: They’re indispensable at any wedding, as each table will have tablecloths, chair covers, and napkins. They also complement the centerpieces and help set the mood of the wedding.
- Wedding flowers: Not only does the bride carry them to complement her dress, but they also add visual appeal to the wedding photos.
What Is the Value of Wedding Decor?
Let’s be realistic; you won’t sell your used wedding items for a lot of money—at least not in most cases.
There isn’t a definitive answer to the question of how much wedding decor is worth. It depends on the type of the item, its original price, and the condition you left it in.
If you’re selling generic items, such as vases and lanterns, in great condition, you want to deduct at least 20% of their original price.
We recommend offering a generous discount, though. You don’t want to risk not getting any buyers. If your item’s condition isn’t that great, you can offer up to 50-60% discounts.
For handmade items, price them like how you’d an artwork. Consider the effort put into making them and the cost of the materials. The more professional they look, the more you can charge for them.
Does Wedding Decor Lose Value Over Time?
Yes, some wedding items lose their value over time. That’s why you should sell your decorations as soon as possible.
A recently bought wedding dress in great condition can sell for up to 60% of their original price. If too much time passes and the dress accumulates damage, you might have to go as low as 40%.
The same rule applies to regular wedding clothes. There are a few exceptions, though. Potential inflations can raise the price of wedding decorations, allowing you to charge more for your used items.
Things to Consider When Reselling Wedding Decor
Selling wedding decor isn’t as simple as listing them online and waiting for potential buyers. You need to make the right preparations to secure a good deal.
1. Generalize Your Taste
If you buy your decor to resell it after the wedding, don’t customize it. That makes it harder to sell.
Opt for generic items that most people would want to buy. Avoid colorful plates with decorative patterns. Plain white plates will be easier to sell.
2. Keep the Item’s Original Packaging
Reselling an item with its original packaging makes the process more reassuring. The packaging is the first thing potential buyers see when they receive their item. Using the original packaging proves the item has been well taken care of and makes it more appealing.
3. Thorough Description
Even if your items are in excellent condition, you should include a thorough description. It establishes a sense of transparency between you and potential buyers.
A good description should include the item’s specs, honest condition, and original price. Don’t be robotic. Write your description in the same tone you talk to your family and friends.
4. Timing
The longevity of your items isn’t the only time aspect that affects their price. It also depends on when you sell them.
Listing your items before the wedding season can help bring you better prices. That’s when couples are on the lookout for affordable decorations.
Where to Resell Wedding Decor
Lucky for you, you can find various platforms to resell your used wedding items. Each offers a different user experience, and you should choose the one that caters to your needs.
1. BravoBride
Whether it’s dresses, centerpiece items, or linens, BravoBride is the biggest platform to sell used wedding items.
What Makes This Option Great
Since the owners of this site built it to sell used wedding items, it already speaks to your target audience. That means its advanced search capabilities can help users find your products easier and faster.
Your listings will stay active on the site for 18 months or until you sell it, and the site can even recommend your items to potential buyers.
- Fees/Commissions: The site doesn’t take commissions upon a sale but charges $19,99 for a listing.
- Payment Method: PayPal, Google Checkout, or Escrow.com.
2. eBay
You saw this one coming. While most people don’t associate eBay with wedding decorations, you’d be surprised.
What Makes This Option Great
With millions of users worldwide, listing your items on eBay increases your chances of scoring a good deal. The selling process is straightforward and you get 250 free listings a month. You’re also free to set your prices.
- Fees/Commissions: For clothing, 15% of the total amount of your sale for up to $2000. For jewelry, 15% of the total amount of your sale for up to $5000.
- Payment Method: Registered checking account.
3. Facebook Marketplace
Despite dropping in popularity, Facebook makes it easier for people to buy and resell local goods. It even has several advantages that the previous two platforms don’t.
What Makes This Option Great
Buyers and sellers can see each other’s profiles, which creates a sense of reassurance. You get unlimited free listings, and the process is straightforward. Take pictures of the items, add a description, and post them.
Facebook Marketplace can even recommend your items to potential buyers based on their search history.
- Fees/Commissions: Facebook deducts 5% or $0.40 for shipments under $8 and $0.50 for shipments over $8.
- Payment Method: Facebook Pay.
What You’ll Need to Resell Wedding Decor
If you want to secure a good deal for your wedding items, you need the right qualifications and tools to make a proper sale. Those include:
- Proper storage: A crucial part of selling your items for a good price is keeping them in great condition. We recommend using waterproof storage bins.
- Shipping materials: If you’re doing the shipping yourself, you need boxes, bubble wrap, labels, and envelopes.
- Cleaning supplies: They’re necessary to keep our items clean and photogenic.
- Good photography skills: Photos can make or break an online sale. Even if your items are in excellent condition, poor photos can be off-putting to potential buyers. From atmospheric lighting to retouching, you should learn to take pictures that complement your items.
- Payment Method: In-person transactions aren’t always an option. Choose a safe method to receive your payments, whether it’s PayPal or Venmo.
How to Resell Wedding Decor: Step-By-Step Instructions
Now that you’re all set, it’s time to take the steps and make a good sale. Unfortunately, the process can be exhausting, with too much room for errors. That’s why this guide takes you through every step of the way to ensure you get the highest price.
Step 1. Clean Your Items
Since most people store their decor away after the wedding, they’re bound to collect some dust.
Remember, even if you’re selling used decor, you don’t want it to look used. Invest in getting your wedding dress, chair covers, and napkins professionally cleaned.
You also need to fix any damage they accumulated over time, any missing buttons, or broken zippers. That way, you can charge more for them, as buyers won’t have to fix them themselves.
Step 2. Do Your Research
Pricing your items is the trickiest step in the selling process. You need to do a lot of research to understand their market value.
Start by checking various marketplaces and private groups. Look for items with a similar style and condition to learn how in demand they are.
Research how different variables, like designer, condition, age, and selling time, can affect the price. That way, you can get an accurate estimation of the price range.
Maintain a good balance between competitiveness and proper compensation. If it’s still overwhelming, consider using a wedding dress value calculator as a starting point.
Step 3. Choose the Right Selling Platform
Once you prepare your decor, determine where you want to sell it. You can always walk into a local wedding items shop and offer to sell it there. If the dealer agrees, the process would be easier and safer.
That said, offline selling gives the dealer more control over the price. If you want that control, you need to go online, which is more exhausting. From taking photos to communicating with potential buyers, you do everything yourself.
The upside is that you can reach more people online. Keep in mind that selling platforms offer different experiences. Not only do they charge different fees, but they also target different audiences. Choose one that caters to your needs as a seller.
Step 4. Promote Your Decor
Listing your decor items online doesn’t guarantee getting buyers any time soon. You need to make sure you reach a large audience and that people would be interested in buying. You can start by using various social media platforms.
Use hashtags, create multiple posts, take photos and videos, etc. Consider joining forums and groups made for weddings. You can also create a sense of urgency in your listings to encourage potential buyers to act quickly.
That said, online marketing isn’t all there is to it. You can ask your friends and family to spread the word. After all, personal transactions are more reassuring.
Can You Make Money Flipping Wedding Decor?
Yes, you can. A resale business can be a great side hustle that later turns into a full-time job.
Additionally, specializing in one niche, wedding decor, gives you a greater advantage. You get to address a specific target audience, making the selling process more straightforward.
What Is a Wedding Decor Resale Business?
A wedding decor resale business refers to a seller buying wedding decor from manufacturers or individuals to resell it. You can build an online store or a physical shop.
Some resale stores receive frequent donations. In this case, you can have a pickup service to ease the process and encourage more people to donate.
Is Reselling Wedding Decor a Good Way to Make Money?
While a wedding decor resale business is a solid way to make money, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. It has its pros and cons.
Pros of Reselling Wedding Decor
- You’re not limited to one type of item
- It has minimum risks and low costs
- You can freely set your prices, making sure you gain a sizable profit
- You won’t find trouble identifying your target audience
Cons of Reselling Wedding Decor
- You need to do thorough research to acquire a wedding item for a good deal
- The reselling process is time-consuming
- Not all items will sell for a good price. Some won’t sell at all
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you have everything you need to sell your wedding decor, here are a few common questions that can help you gain a wider understanding of the process.
What happens with wedding decorations after a wedding?
There isn’t a specific answer to that question. Some couples keep their decorations for memory or donate them to help those who can’t afford to have a wedding. Others lend them to their relatives or sell them to make some profit.
Do people reuse wedding dresses?
While it’s not a common phenomenon, some people re-propose to their partners after getting married.
Maybe it’s to rekindle the flame or because the original proposal wasn’t special enough. In that case, they can reuse the original wedding dress.
Similar Tutorials to Check Out
If you’ve become interested in reselling items, we have step-by-step guides that help resell different items.
- Resell a Wedding Dress: Learn how to determine the value of a wedding dress and secure a proper deal.
- Resell Engagement Rings: This is a comprehensive guide on making money reselling engagement rings.
- Resell Diamonds: Learn everything about the diamond market, from determining the value of your diamond to understanding how to make it stand out.
Wrapping Up
Now you know how to resell wedding decor. It’s like selling any other product. To make a good sale, you need to prepare your items properly, take complementary photos, and learn their value in the market.
Remember, you won’t make a sizable profit, but you can get fair compensation if you play your cards right.
Was this article informative enough? Let us know what you think in the comments, and share it with your friends if they’re interested in learning how to resell items.
