Something borrowed... "Like New"

The day-after story for the beautiful wedding dress that spent you months to find and a few pretty pennies in the process:

Folded, packed, boxed up, stored away forever. It was a good time while it lasted.

"Maybe my daughter will wear you someday," you think as you glide your fingers once more over the cascades of silky satin. Yes, yes- you are storing the dress because she will one day want exactly this dress for her day. Thirty years from now, it won't be out-of-style in the least.

With the chance she doesn't share your sentiment, for some odd reason, here's another option for you.

For brides-to-be on a budget and brides of weddings past, I've got the website that may help you meet your match.

The "craigslist heaven" for all bartering brides:
The Recycled Bride.com

This site is a trading playground for wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses (not that they would ever sell the dress you picked out for them!), mother of the bride dresses, registry gifts... even wedding rings.

The site is easy to navigate, allowing you to search for a particular designer, size, or location of the item so you could even arrange to see it in person.

Reusing is the eco-friendliest choice and, in this case, much more cost effective- saving you 50% on most all items... maybe even more if you're lucky.

And hey, it gets the "something borrowed" item checked off.

Just make it blue, and you're all set.