Tell me a little bit about your business!
Bridal Maven is a new bridal consignment store that connects nearly-weds to designer gowns sold by newlyweds at great prices! In other words, we sell dream gowns at dreamier prices.
For newlyweds, we provide a needed resale service that helps them recoup a good portion of their gown investment, and everyone gets to help the earth by supporting sustainable fashion!
What makes your work unique?
Bridal resale is an amazing opportunity to make your closet make money for you! Wedding attire is a huge investment for a bride, and it doesn’t offer much rewear value, if any! If a newlywed is open to allowing her gown another chance to shine down the aisle, we can help connect her gown with its next bride.
For engaged brides, we offer current style gowns in great shape starting at 25% off the retail price with the majority marked down 30% or more. This can be a substantial savings when it comes to name-brand gowns! Plus, consignors and shoppers can rest easy knowing they helped reduce the environmental impact of gown-making!
What is your ideal client like?
We have two clients we serve; the nearly-wed/engaged bride and the newlywed who wants to consign their gown.
The nearly-wed bride wants to look like a million bucks without spending it. A lover of deals, our bride is also a bit more laid back and open to the inherent joy of finding a unique piece on the rack. The indie bride, the fashionista on a budget, or the “bridechilla” is our perfect Bridal Maven.
Our consignors loved their gowns but don’t want to store them in a box in the closet forever. Some ended up rescheduling their weddings and no longer need their original dresses but cannot return them. Others had stored them at first and then realized they wanted their gown to have another chance to shine. Our bridesmaid dress consignors loved their bride-friends but were just being polite when they agreed with the bride that they could “totally wear it again.”
What designers and styles do you carry?
We are open to most designers, but the majority of our gowns are originally over $1000 and our prices run from $350 – $5000. Some designers currently in our collection are Rebecca Schoneveld, Tara LaTour, Made With Love, Martina Liana, Maggie Sottero, and Antonio Gual, but the list is ever-changing!
All styles were current within the last three years and have been dry cleaned.
Do brides need an appointment?
Yes! Brides can email us hello@bridalmavenpgh.com for a virtual appointment, with at-home try-on to follow, or they can visit us at our Dormont boutique.
