Secondhand savvy: How to shop for gently used wedding items

Brides-to-be who want to cut expenses but still have a beautiful wedding might want to consider shopping secondhand for some of their necessities.

"It's definitely a 'do,'" says Dale Humphries of Cape Girardeau, who works with a friend to organize estate and yard sales. "You can check with any resale shop, or scan the newspaper for yard sales featuring wedding items like bows, ribbons or Mr. and Mrs. pillows."

Resale websites are another great place to find gently used wedding items.

"Just hit 'ISO,' which stands for 'in search of' on websites like Sell It SEMO, and type in wedding items," says Humphries.

She adds that yard sales are a perfect place to find materials for an outdoor wedding.

"You can find things like mason jars to put flowers in, burlap and other more 'rugged' items that are suitable for outdoor weddings," she says.

The key to finding these "diamonds in the rough" is planning ahead and taking your time.

"Most people plan for a wedding six months to a year in advance," says Humphries. "You can get ideas just by looking at these sales."

Opening your mind to various uses for your finds can also expand your decorating options.

"For example, you can take old curtain sheers and lay them across a table and put pictures around the table, and the sheers will give the table a billowy effect," says Humphries. "You can also find used lanterns, candles, wedding pillows and things like little buckets for candy. Creative people will spy these kinds of items at sales."

Humphries recommends looking over your selections carefully before you buy.

"Inspect things well for rips or tears, and it's always best to see the items in person," she says.

Make the most of your friends' connections and consider asking a wedding planner for assistance.

"Network with friends about the wedding items you are looking for," says Humphries. "A wedding planner may have a stash of materials like an old door or twig wreaths that can be redecorated and re-used."

Nancy Moreton, a wedding planner at Weddings by Nancy in Cape Girardeau, agrees that secondhand shopping for certain items can be beneficial.

"Things like tablecloths, candles and jeweled decorations can definitely be re-used," she says.

She recommends word of mouth and well-known websites to search for wedding finds.

"You can look for things on websites like Ebay or Etsy," she says.