One day when you were a baby, Aunt Tina and I were smooching all over you. After all, what’s better than kissing a baby – all that smooth, perfect skin, those rolls of fat, all that love that just oozes out of them? Kisses and kisses and kisses. “We’re giving her extra kisses now so she can store them for times in her life when she might not have as many kisses,” Tina said. That was exactly right.
Now you are nearly 5 and you rarely let me kiss you like that anymore. But, as you know, I like to tell you every single day that you are beautiful – for much of the same reason. Helena, I hope you read this when you are 14, and 24, and 44 and 84. I need you to know that you are beautiful. Because you are.
I was involved once with a man who let me know that he did not find me beautiful. When we first met he told me how it bothered his ex-wife that in the decades they were together, he never once told her she was beautiful. “She just wasn’t to me,” he said with a shrug. “Sure, she was cute. But not beautiful.”
How strange, I thought. How absolutely cruel.
From then on I was acutely aware of his miserly use of that word. On the one hand, he used it freely when describing past lovers or starlets. Yet every single compliment about my appearance from this man became an insult. There were an abundance of words of admiration, yet every, “You’re pretty today,” and, “You look summery in that dress,” became nasty, digging reminders that I was not, indeed, beautiful.
I see now that he was mistaken.
Helena, here is what I need you to know:
To this day I carry a shame with me for two things related to that chapter:
I started to feel ugly. That was my choice. No one allowed this happen but me. But I did.
I stayed.
Helena, in your life you will meet many men, and some of them will not find you pretty at all. And maybe you aren’t to them – and that is totally fine! Who cares if they don’t like your appearance? Such things are but a matter of taste. But let me tell you something – you are so, so beautiful. It is not your big, curious brown eyes, those incredible eyes framed with magnificent brows and impossible lashes. You are not beautiful because of your dashing smile, the poreless olive skin or that elegant, mysterious triangle of small beauty marks that spot your face.
No, you are beautiful because of that thing – that perfect thing inside of you. It is that same thing that is in your brother, and in snowflakes, and when you and your friends laugh on the playground, or when the morning is quiet for a moment and we see the pink and blue clouds above the city. It is inside of me, too. And it is something bigger than you and me. God? Love? The Universe? All of those things – and other things. Things that do not have words.
And when some man lets you know that, no, sorry, you’re really great and all, but you are not beautiful, you need to know that has nothing at all to do with you. Not one thing. It has something to do with that man because he cannot see. And because you are beautiful you will be kind to him – because in all your beauty you will have that kindness and love to share.
And then you will go.
And you will find someone else, or you will be alone. But no matter what, I hope you know always – effortlessly and unconsciously – that you are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
Most family lawyers require a retainer up-front in the thousands of dollars, and an hourly rate of $200 to $1,000 per hour.
If you’re in the market for legal assistance but want to save money, consider an online divorce company like Rocket Lawyer, which costs just several hundred dollars to finalize your divorce.
Is Rocket Lawyer reputable?
RocketLawyer has a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, and a free 7-day trial, then costs:
$39 for most documents
$49.99 for an attorney answer to a legal question
30-min phone consultation $59.99
If your issue is too complex to be solved in half an hour, you can keep working with your attorney at the pre-negotiated Rocket Lawyer On Call price of 40% off their regular fee, 10% off their flat fee, or $125/hr, whichever is greater.
Increasingly, online divorce services like Rocket Lawyer, as quality online information and technology improvements in the courts means that in many cases, couples can agree on terms of the divorce, create the legal documents online, and then either file the papers themselves, hire a local attorney to file the divorce papers in the courts, or some of the online, DIY divorce products include filing in their fee.
First off, it’s important to understand the type of advice and help you can hire via this platform.
While you may not be able to use Rocket Lawyer’s online portal for complex legal issues or litigation, you can use it to connect with a lawyer for hire in your area.
Rocket Lawyer is a goldmine for contracts, divorce, separation and other legal documents, estate planning, and filing for divorce — all for a fraction of the cost it would take to hire an attorney to do this work for you.
They can also help you incorporate your business and create and sign legal documents online.
The website is simple and very easy to navigate.
Not only can you pay for access to legal help and resources, but you can also read articles about common topics like divorce and estate planning.
Rocket Lawyer offers a deep library with many commonly used legal documents, as well as articles to answer questions about relevant legal topics.
The website is also set up to help you fill out the documents you need online via a simple question and answer format.
Rocket Lawyer will then use the answers you’ve provided to create your document for you.
Some of the services Rocket Lawyer provides are offered for free.
You can ask questions via online chat without paying a fee, for example. You can also email a question for free.
There are FAQ pages with a variety of questions and answers available as well, and these resources can help you figure out the type of help you need.
Rocket Lawyer also offers discounts when you need to hire an attorney, which you may need to do depending on the complexity of your situation.
Is Rocket Lawyer free?
No, Rocket Lawyer is not free. HOWEVER, there is a great 7-day free trial.
What is Rocket Lawyer’s free trial? What’s included?
RocketLawyer's free trial includes:
Rocket Lawyer’s entire library of legal documents
Document Defense protection on all of your contracts
Secure cloud storage
Reduced rates for your incorporation
Free 30-minute consultations on each new legal issue
Quick legal advice from their on-call lawyer network
How much does Rocket Lawyer cost?
After the 7-day free trial is over, you can join Rocket Lawyer as a premium member for just $39.99 per month.
With this level of membership, you will receive access to all the inclusions received above with unlimited use.
You will also get a 40% discount when you hire a lawyer through their network, and 25% off affordable registered agent service for your business.
Keep in mind, however, that you don’t have to join Rocket Lawyer as a premium member to access their services.
You can also pay for only the products or services you use a la carte:
$39.00 for most documents
$49.99 for an attorney answer to a legal question
30-min phone consultation $59.99
Many members choose the monthly memberships at $39.99 / month, which includes:
Unlimited access to hundreds of legal document templates that you can customize, sign, print, and download
Unlimited access to a lawyer to legally respond to any disputed contract you create with the Rocket Lawyer plan
Answers to your basic questions from lawyers
A 30-minute consultation session with each new legal issue
If your issue is too complex to be solved in half an hour, you can keep working with your attorney at the pre-negotiated Rocket Lawyer On Call price of 40% off their regular fee, 10% off their flat fee, or $125/hr, whichever is greater.
If you ultimately need a lawyer to represent you or work with you individually on complex legal matters, Rocket Lawyer’s discounts on legal help can really pay off.
With this program, you can pay 40% off your lawyer’s hourly rate or $125 per hour, whichever is higher.
This discounted rate could be extremely advantageous if lawyers in your area charge especially high fees.
Keep in mind that lawyer’s average hourly rates typically fall between $250 and $500.
Rocket Lawyer: Where it falls short
Online legal advice for a discounted rate may sound ideal, but there are a few areas where Rocket Lawyer is lacking.
One example is the 30-minute consultation you get with a lawyer for each “new” legal issue you need to cover.
While 30 minutes may be plenty of time to get your question addressed, keep in mind you can’t use this Q&A time to ask questions about more than one issue.
This allotment of time may also be inadequate if you have a complex situation to address and need time to explain it.
Will Rocket Lawyer keep your data safe?
Before you hire an online lawyer or legal service, it’s important to understand how your data will be protected.
According to Rocket Lawyer, they secure your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure “in a controlled, secure environment, protected from unauthorized access, use or disclosure.”
And, when personal information (such as a credit card number) is transmitted to other websites, it is protected through the use of encryption, such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol.
On the flip side, the legal service notes that you are responsible for safeguarding and preventing access to your username and password.
By accessing their services, you agree not to disclose your password to any third party.
Who is Rocket Lawyer best for?
At the end of the day, Rocket Lawyer can be extremely helpful for a certain type of consumer — but not everyone.
The ideal customer for Rocket Lawyer includes:
Consumers with common legal issues that can mostly be handled themselves
People who need to speak with a lawyer for basic legal advice only occasionally
People going through a divorce that is mostly amicable, and are close to a DIY divorce settlement
Business owners creating new contracts
People who are capable of doing some legal research on their own
Who should skip Rocket Lawyer?
People who should probably skip this service include:
Customers who need full legal support and don’t know how to get started on their own
If you have a complicated divorce, custody or other important issue that requires a local attorney
Can Rocket Lawyer help with a legal separation?
Before your divorce is final, you likely want to live apart from your spouse, in which a legal separation is a good idea. A legal separation documents that you are now living separately, and provides legal guidelines for how you will divide expenses, share time and responsibility for co-parenting, and protects each party from the other relocating with the kids or cleaning out the retirement and bank accounts.
If you and your soon-to-be ex are on decent terms, RocketLawyer's separation agreement is a good and affordable document you can use to formalize a legal separation.
Is Rocket Lawyer a good choice for a divorce settlement?
If you have a relatively simple breakup, you can likely DIY your divorce, along with some help creating legitimate legal documents to be filed with your state.
Rocket Lawyer is a solid resource, thanks to:
Rocket Lawyer’s divorce settlement agreement can help with child custody, visitation, and child support, as well as property division, spousal support, debt division and other divorce checklist matters.
Access to Rocket Lawyer's 30-minute phone consultation and/or the question answering service. Common divorce questions that can be quickly answered include:
What to ask for in a divorce settlement with children?
How long does it take to get a divorce settlement?
Can a divorce settlement be reopened?
Can a divorce settlement be changed?
For the vast sum of divorces, you can do most of the work yourself, along with some guidance for proper filing — so you can do it right the first time and get on with your life!
How to file for divorce online yourself with RocketLawyer
Check to make sure you can file for your divorce online in your district. Your local courthouse should have that information on their website, or you can call and ask a clerk.
Go to RocketLawyer.com, navigate to ‘Divorce Settlement Agreement' and your state. Download all the documents required.
Fill them out — either online (recommended) or print them out and complete them with a pen. Questions? Call and speak to a RocketLawyer attorney for an additional fee of $59.99 for 30 minutes for each new issue, or email a question for $49.99.
Get your documents signed and notarized (online notaries are approved in most states), then file online in your local courts, along with local filing fees.
While RocketLawyer does not match you with a local attorney in your area, RocketLawyer's lawyers will answer your questions and review your documents.
While RocketLawyer does not match you with an estate planning lawyer near you, RocketLawyer's lawyers will answer your divorce and separation questions and review your documents within the allotted 30-minute timeframe included in the RocketLawyer program.
If the issue is too complex to be solved in half an hour, the attorney can choose to keep working with you at the pre-negotiated Rocket Lawyer On Call price, which is 40% off the attorney's hourly rate, or 10% off their flat fee. This price will be disclosed to you ahead of any billing.
This can be a good and affordable hybrid way of finalizing your divorce
How does Rocket Lawyer on Call service work?
RocketLawyer's on Call service, or Ask a Lawyer, is included in the free trial, as well as the $39.99 monthly fee, which includes one free 30-minute consultations on each new legal issue.
If your issue is too complex to be solved in half an hour, you can keep working with your attorney at the pre-negotiated Rocket Lawyer On Call price of 40% off their regular fee, 10% off their flat fee, or $125/hr, whichever is greater.
What kinds of questions can I ask an attorney?
Anything as long as it is related to your legal issue!
How much does the Ask a Lawyer service cost?
If you choose to continue consultations with your RocketLawyer attorney, the fee is either 40% off their regular fee, or $125/hr, whichever is greater.
Is Rocket Lawyer’s Ask an Attorney service legit?
Yes, RocketLawyer's Ask an Attorney service is legit.
Rocket Lawyer is an A+ Better Business Bureau rated company, and requires any attorney joining its On Call program maintain:
Graduate from an accredited law school
Licensed and in good standing in their state
No disciplinary history
Malpractice insurance
A transparent and predictable billing model
Be accessible via phone or email for ease of communication
Pass a Rocket Lawyer training orientation
Is Rocket Lawyer right for you?
Rocket Lawyer was created to make legal services less expensive and easier to access.
Based on their success, it appears they are achieving that goal — at least part of the time.
It’s nice to know there’s an online portal you can use to create legal documents or get real legal advice from a lawyer.
This is obviously a huge improvement over the days when you had to call a lawyer’s office, make an appointment, and potentially pay large fees whether your problem gets solved or not.
The fact that Rocket Lawyer offers a free trial is also a huge boon.
Having seven days to tinker around with the website and its offerings can be advantageous if you’re thinking of joining the service but afraid to commit.
A week may also be enough time to get your important legal questions answered or create a simple document you need, which could mean you get your legal issue taken care of for free.
Even at $39.99 per month, RocketLawyer can pay for itself.
Also, keep in mind that no commitment is required so you can cancel at any time.
Make sure to compare all your options before you decide which way to go.
With the right legal program and help, you can get unlimited legal documents and assistance for a price you can afford.
Rocket Lawyer reviews: What others say
RocketLawyer has high ratings and customer reviews from sites like Better Business Bureau, TrustPilot and ConsumerAffairs.com:
Rocket Lawyer reviews on the Better Business Bureau website
Rocket Lawyer has been accredited with the BBB since 2006, and has a rating of 4/5 stars, and an A+ rating based on more than 100 Better Business Bureau reviews.
Rocket Lawyer reviews on ConsumersAffairs.com
RocketLawyer.com has a Consumer Affairs rating of 4/5 stars, based on hundreds of reviews:
RocketLawyer reviews on Trustpilot.com
Nearly 4,000 people have reviewed Rocketlawyer.com on Trustpilot, earning the site an average 4.7/5 rating.
Rocket Lawyer vs. LegalZoom
LegalZoom is a respected provider of online legal forms. In fact, WSM founder Emma Johnson has used LegalZoom for estate and business planning.
It’s a great place to find legal documents online; you’ll pay about $95 a year for unlimited downloads. Those who need ongoing legal advice can sign up for LegalZoom’s prepaid legal plans; individuals pay $9.99 to $11.99 per month, and businesses pay $31.25 and up per month.
However, ongoing legal advice is included in Rocket Lawyer’s $39.99-per-month membership. Or you could use Rocket Lawyer’s a la carte option, paying $39 per document, about $50 for a question or about $60 for a half-hour consult.
Note: If you’re looking just for a divorce, LegalZoom’s costs $499 – much more expensive than other leading online divorce providers.
Rocket Lawyer vs. LegalShield
LegalShield (formerly Pre-Paid Legal) does not provide legal advice. Instead, it puts subscribers in touch with a network of attorneys who will draft and review documents, provide legal advice and represent individuals or businesses.
Depending on the plan, the cost is anywhere from $24.95 to $149 per month. LegalShield also sells supplemental coverage for home businesses, gun owners and trial defense; these cost an extra $9.95 to $12.95 a month. If an issue isn’t fully covered under the plan, or if the attorney reaches the limits of coverage (for example, after making one phone call or writing one letter), members can get a 25% discount off the attorney’s regular rates.
Note: LegalShield has been a multi-level marketing company since 1983.
Rocket Lawyer costs about $14 more per month than LegalShield’s personal plan, and is about the same price as its small business plan. However, Rocket Lawyer’s plan includes having basic questions answered by an attorney plus a 30-minute phone consultation for each legal issue; if you need more help than that, you’ll get as much as 40% off an attorney’s fee.
Rocket Lawyer vs. Incfile
Incfile helps entrepreneurs get their businesses registered and also provides related services like bookkeeping, banking, tax consultation and annual reports. The initial cost depends on your state’s filing fees; subsequent services vary in price.
Rocket Lawyer can also help you incorporate an LLC, S-corp, C-corp or nonprofit. It offers some business-related paperwork as well, such as articles of amendment, trademark registration, business contracts and buy-sell agreements. Unlike Incfile, it won’t do things like help keep the books or provide tax consults.
If you’re focusing on multiple business-related documents and want help with running a business, Incfile might be a better choice.
Rocket Lawyer vs. LawDepot
Like Rocket Lawyer, LawDepot has hundreds of legal documents and offers a free 7-day trial. Unlike Rocket Lawyer, LawDepot offers no legal advice – just documents. (Except for divorce documents; all it has is a separation agreement.)
With Rocket Lawyer’s free trial, you get to ask an attorney one question for free. After that, the monthly membership fee includes attorney access, or you can get advice on as-needed basis.
If you need legal advice as well as documents, Rocket Lawyer is the way to go.
How much does Rocket Lawyer cost?
After the 7-day free trial is over, you can join Rocket Lawyer as a premium member for just $39.99 per month. With this level of membership, you will receive access to all the inclusions received above with unlimited use. You will also get a 40% discount when you hire a lawyer through their network.
Is Rocket Lawyer free?
No, Rocket Lawyer is not free. However, there is a great 7-day free trial.
How does Rocket Lawyer work?
Rocket Lawyer is a goldmine for contracts, divorce, separation and other legal documents, estate planning, and filing for divorce, all for a fraction of the cost it would take to hire an attorney to do this work for you. While you may not be able to use Rocket Lawyer's online portal for complex legal issues or litigation, you can use it to connect with a lawyer for hire in your area.
LegalZoom is one of the oldest online legal form companies with an easy-to-use, modern website.
LegalZoom is a quality and established online legal service, which was accredited by the Better Business Bureau in 2001:
A- Better Business Bureau rating
All attorneys are vetted and “speak plain English”
Flat-fees only — no surprise bills
100% money-back guarantee
LegalZoom claims 4 million customers
Does LegalZoom work for divorce?
LegalZoom helps families going through a mediated, uncontested, amicable divorce for a fee far lower than if each spouse hires an attorney — which can easily start at $10,000 per person, and go up from there.
However, for online divorce services, LegalZoom’s $499 fee is expensive, compared with competitors who offer very similar online divorce services:
BBB rating
Live attorney consultations?
Price
LegalZoom
A-
No, legal review costs $39-$99/ document, or $71.94/ 6 mo. for prepaid legal advice
$499 for all papers + filing instructions
3StepDivorce
A+
No, but 24/7 phone and chat support
$299 for all papers + filing instructions and online storage. Get started for $84.
Rocket Lawyer
A+
Free 30-min phone consult
$39/ month after free 7-day trial, or per-document fee of $39
How does filing for divorce with LegalZoom work?
Go to divorce.legalzoom.com and answer a few questions to make sure that your divorce is indeed uncontested, and therefore qualifies for LegalZoom. These include:
Names and location of yourself and your spouse
Date and location of your marriage
Number of children and whether you are pregnant
Properties and debts—and whether you plan to split either equally
Confirm and pay $499 with a credit card or Paypal, creating a LegalZoom account.
You will then be provided with the actual filing documents you will need to file your divorce, along with filing instructions.
It is on you to do the actual filing in your state, which can cost an additional $200 to $400.
LegalZoom’s divorce papers product does not include name-change forms, though the site does offer that service at an additional fee.
How long does a LegalZoom divorce take?
A Nolo survey found that on average, divorces in the United States take 11 months. LegalZoom does not report the average time for finalizing a divorce for its clients.
How much does a LegalZoom divorce cost?
LegalZoom’s online divorce papers service costs a flat $499, plus the filing fees in your state, which can cost up to $400.
You can also pay extra fees for contract review, or legal advice on the phone with a LegalZoom attorney, as part of the company’s prepaid legal advice service which provides unlimited, 30-minute phone consultations, and free review of documents up to 10 pages.
For individuals, the fee is:
$71.94 / 6 months ($11.99/month)
$119.98 / 12 months ($9.99/month)
For LegalZoom prepaid plan members, you can pay an additional $39 for review of documents of 11-15 pages, or $99 for documents of 16-25 pages.
You must be a plan member to access the document review.
LegalZoom divorce reviews
A few Better Business Bureau reviews for LegalZoom from June 2021:
First, LegalZoom, as well as its competitors, provide separation and divorce documents to establish custody, co-parenting, child support and other child-related divorce matters.
Also, divorce has a huge impact on children, particularly in cases with emotionally charged child custody battles.
By committing to a low-conflict, DIY divorce path, without the angry attorneys encouraging conflict, there is a much greater chance of successful co-parenting long-term — and lower chance of trauma for the kids.
Pros of LegalZoom for divorce
Established, reliable online business.
A- Better Business Bureau rating.
LegalZoom has TONS of blogs and articles on their sites to help you make informed decisions. (These are free to everyone!)
For most legal matters, online forms and pre-paid legal advice is a very good value, and LegalZoom is a leader in the online legal space.
Access to a deep network of attorneys for an affordable price for document review and phone advice.
Cons of LegalZoom for divorce
LegalZoom’s divorce service is more expensive than the leading online divorce papers service by $200, for nearly identical services.
The bottom line: Is LegalZoom worth it for divorce?
LegalZoom is a quality product, but way too expensive for no discernible benefit.
LegalZoom's online divorce papers service costs a flat $499, plus the filing fees in your state, which can cost up to $400.
Is LegalZoom legitimate?
LegalZoom is a quality and established online legal services, which was accredited by the Better Business Bureau in 2001.
Does LegalZoom work for divorce?
LegalZoom helps families going through an uncontested, amicable divorce for a fee far lower than if each spouse hires an attorney, but their service is more expensive than similar services.
How does filing for divorce with LegalZoom work?
Start by going to https://divorce.legalzoom.com and answer a few questions to make sure that your divorce is indeed uncontested, and therefore qualifies for LegalZoom.
You're divorced (or the engagement got called off). What do you do? Sell your wedding dress?!
After all, it's not like you're going to wear it again! (Though single mom Kaytlin said she dyed hers red and made it into a cocktail dress!)
The big mistake I see women make when it comes to items from their marriage is what I am now dubbing the marriage hoarder mentality.
That means that you hoard items from a time long gone: clothes, jewelry and household goods that represent a dream and a plan (marriage) that didn't work out.
No matter how you feel about your marriage and ex, no matter if you are at peace with your journey, BFF with your ex, still licking your divorce wounds, or in the middle of a hot, steaming mess of a break up, sooner or later you must purge the items that represent that period.
Yes, sell your wedding dress. My No. 1 recommendation is to sell on StillWhite, a marketplace where you post and sell your wedding dress, which will fetch up to 80% of the retail price. Just pay $18/ month — no commission or additional fees. Get started selling that damn dress with StillWhite!
Plus, simple living is one of the most joyful ways to live. The less you have, the less house you need to store it.
The less clutter you need to clean and organize. The less mental clutter to navigate.
And more time and money and energy to create a life that makes you happy. A new life.
This is what Candice shared in the Millionaires Single Moms Facebook group:
“I thought about it, was approached with a few requests, but at the end of the day, I just didn’t want to wonder if someone else in that beautiful gown would end up with the same emotions I went through in a terrible marriage. So one day, after years of having it in my closet (and another expensive legal hassle with my ex), I threw it in the garbage can and never felt better. It was very cathartic, emotionally empowering and I felt surprisingly free of guilt or remorse. That might not be for everyone, but it was for me.”
3. You can sell it, and make some money, and feel good.
Said, Carrie:
“Sold mine after we separated. I knew the sales girl at the shop and she told me that the bride who bought it cried when she put it on. It made me feel really good that such a beautiful dress made someone else happy.”
4. You can donate it, and feel good + get a tax write-off
Online marketplaces are great since they market to a global audience, you have the greatest chance of selling your pretty dress, as well as getting the best price. Here are some of my favorite places to sell wedding dresses online:
StillWhite
Featured in the New York Times, Vogue, and by Oprah, StillWhite is a very simple platform that connects people selling bridal and wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, related accessories and more, with people want to buy gently used and like-new items. The process is simple to sell on StillWhite:
Go to StillWhite.com and create an account.
Chose your subscription plan.
Post picture and a description of your dress. A calculator helps you set your price.
Chat privately with interested sellers, and make the sale. Get paid. BOOM.
The Nearly Newlywed site just sells previously owned wedding dresses, which makes it an obvious choice.
The site is beautifully designed, and easy to navigate.
Sellers pay a $25 listing price, and earn 60% of the sales price, and Nearly Newlywed markets and will sell your dress, and handles all the customer service.
Thredup
Thredup is a huge marketplace for resale and vintage clothes.
They do not have a wedding dress category, per se, but if your dress is closer to a cocktail style, or happens not to be white or ivory (I love when brides chose colorful dresses! Why not … I mean, you're not a goddamned virgin!), then Thredup is a great option.
For items priced $300 and higher, the seller gets 90% of the price. Not bad.
The trick with Thredup is that they are very picky about quality, condition and style.
The company has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
PreOwned WeddingDresses.com
This site ranks high on Google and only charges a $25 flat fee for listing your dress (as well as $5 for bridesmaids, mother-of-bride and flower girl dresses, if you have those to sell, too).
The downside is that listing, photographs and customer service are on you.
Borrowing Magnolia
Borrowing Magnolia allows users to buy and sell pre-owned wedding dresses. While some other sites also list other types of items in addition to dresses, Borrowing Magnolia is only interested in dresses.
Sellers must pay $25 to list their dress, though there are occasionally promotions that lower this price. The website does not charge a commission when your dress sells, which means you get to keep 100% of your listing price.
The company has a 4+ star review on WeddingWire.
Once Wed
Once Wed is an online marketplace for wedding dresses and accessories. The site is beautifully designed and fully transparent in how the process of buying or selling a dress works, so you can rest assured that you are getting a fair deal.
What’s unique about Once Wed is that, while many of the other sites in this list only accept dresses for listing, Once Wed accepts:
Wedding dresses
Bridesmaid dresses
Mother’s dresses
Flower girl dresses
Other wedding accessories
Sellers pay a $19.95 listing fee to list a wedding dress, and $5 to list any other item. Once Wed has a nearly perfect score on WeddingWire, but does not have a profile with the BBB.
SellMyWeddingDress.org
Like the other websites on this list, Sell My Wedding Dress is an online platform that lets you buy and sell used wedding dresses. The site also accepts listings for bridesmaid dresses, wedding party attire, and other accessories.
In selling your dress, you can create a basic listing for free, or pay $29 for a premium listing. While it’s totally possible to sell your dress using just the free listing, the premium listing comes with additional support from the site that the basic listing does not include. This includes the ability to run up to 25 ads on the site (instead of the standard 10), as well as a showcase listing and featured listing, which can increase the chances of your dress selling more quickly.
While popular, the website’s design is a bit dated and can be clunky to navigate. The company does not have a profile on WeddingWire or the Better Business Bureau.
Tradesy
Whereas most of the other websites in this list focus purely on wedding dresses and other wedding-related apparel, Tradesy is different in that you can use the platform to sell any designer clothing, bags, accessories, or other items. In this way, it is similar to Thredup.
When it comes to their wedding category specifically, Thredup allows you to list and sell:
Wedding dresses
Bridesmaid dresses
Mother’s dresses
Bridal Jewelry
Bridal veils, shoes, and other accessories
Wedding decorations
Groom’s and groomsmen’s apparel
and more
Because the site focuses on designer items (such as dresses by Vera Wang, Maggie Sottero, BHLDN, Watters, etc.), it can be a good fit for you if you are looking to unload a designer dress.
While it’s free to list your items on Tradesy, they do charge a commission: 19.8% on items over $50, and a flat fee of $7.50 for items under $50. This is rather steep compared to the other options in our list.
Though Tradesy is popular, the Better Business Bureau gives the company an “F” score. This is due to the fact that there have been more than 320 complaints filed against the business, with the company taking no actions to respond or address the complaints. The company also currently has 62 one-star reviews detailing complaints about issues ranging from return policy to payment issues.
Weddingbee
Weddingbee is a content site for brides and grooms in the process of planning their wedding. The site also offers a classifieds section that allows users to list their used wedding items, including dresses.
Listing your item in Weddingbee classifieds is completely free—there is no listing fee or commission. While the site is simple, it has proven popular, with hundreds of items currently for sale in the classifieds section.
Local consignment or thrift shop
This might be handy, but you are limited to the price that the store or local shoppers will pay. Also, consignment can be a PIA. Said Stephanie, in Millionaire Single Moms group on Facebook:
“I sold mine for profit at a local dress shop. Emotionally I cried for a day when they sent me the check for it….then I thought about it and I would totally wear a different dress if I got married again anyway, and I would suggest my daughter wear a different dress too…so all good.”
Garage sale
Said single mom Darby:
“I had it vacuum packed for years but sold it at a garage sale when I realized: A) I had sons, so they're probably not going to want to wear it; and B) someone could get a gorgeous dress for next to nothing. A girl bought it for $100 and it was a designer dress. She was thrilled and so was I. Win-win. No emotions whatsoever. It's a dress.”
This nationwide program creates hand-sewn burial gowns for infants who have died in the NICU, typically from donated wedding gowns. That is what Amy did:
“I donated mine to an organization that turned it into burial dresses for babies that didn’t survive childbirth. It was my way of turning it into a positive.”
Q: How much will I get for my dress? How much do wedding dresses resell for?
A: Probably not a lot. Of course if the dress is a designer label, a popular style, and sold on a popular site like Nearly Newly Wed, the price will be higher.
For example, on Nearly Newly Wed, a pretty lace, open back fitted David Fielden gown is listed for $2,400, or 20% off the $3,000 retail price.
If you were to sell that, you would make $1,440, minus the $25 listing fee.
Other, lesser-known brands, and less popular styles would garner more.
Q: Shouldn't I save my dress for my daughter?
No. You daughter will not want to wear your dress — it will be out of style by that time, and clothes are only getting more and more affordable.
Plus, your dress represents a marriage that ended.
Take a picture, and show your kids the dress, and the rest of your wedding.
Then, get rid of that bad mojo, and model simple living, forgiveness, moving on and financial savvy!
Single mom inspiration:
Get inspired! Dr. Susan O'Malley entered medical school at 35, unmarried and 6 months pregnant. Hear how she did it:
With her thick New York accent, this lifelong underachiever, secretary with no more than a high school diploma, set out at age 30 to become a physician.
She did it.
In this interview, I interview this amazing, charming woman who did not let her age, marital or family status or the zillions of naysayers hold her back from her mid-life dream of medicine.
Dr. Susan O'Malley shares about:
How she got over her low-self image to preserver through rejection from every medical school in the country, and eventual acceptance
Romantic disappointments
Powering through one of the most rigorous academic paths as a single mom of a newborn to become an emergency room physician.
Her eventual move to cosmetic medicine and entrepreneurship with the opening of Sonas Med Spa in Connecticut
The power of physical beauty
Dating as a single mother
What she does with her money
Her daily schedule while in medical school while raising her tiny son
Listen to her gush about the 15-year romance with her husband (hear what she said when I asked how the sex was after all those years, and now in her 60s).
How much do wedding dresses resell for?
Not a lot. Of course if the dress is a designer label, a popular style, and sold on a popular site, the price will be higher. For example, on Nearly Newly Wed, a pretty lace, open back fitted David Fielden gown is listed for $2,400, or 20% off the $3,000 retail price.
Recently a mom on one of our boards posted:
I feel frustrated by a theme that keeps coming up: Love yourself first and foremost and then love will be drawn into your life. HOW EXACTLY does one, who has highly developed neuropathways of “not good enough” transition to the “I love myself” place? I feel like I’ve tried everything, and it just doesn’t seem to stick. I still look in the mirror and see the cellulite and the “not good enough” features of my body.
Worse, I’m still dealing with the deep childhood imprinting of not being wanted or unconditionally love. I’d like some actual technical advice on this matter! It’s getting old just hearing “love yourself” “have confidence,” etc. without any tangible how-tos that follow.
Such a common challenge and I appreciate how frustrating it is when all you’re offered are vague platitudes about self-love.
No one’s life has ever been turned around by an inspirational Facebook meme!
If you’re struggling with how you feel, here are things you can do to feel sexy and confident:
It is normal for negative thoughts to slip into your head — this is a way to protect yourself from disappointment, hurt and failure. After all, if you already expect yourself to fail, failure is not a painful surprise, right? If you talk yourself out of taking a risk, then you can't face rejection or a setback.
Here are some positive affirmations for confidence from powerful women and men that to borrow as your own:
“One of the ways we can change the way we react to fear is to affirm the way we want to be,” says bestselling author and OWN TV host Iyanla Vanzant. Watch Iyanla's four affirmations:
Marie Forleo: “Clarity comes from action, not thought.”
Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Ava DuVernay: “I'm not going to continue knocking that old door that doesn't open for me. I'm going to create my own door and walk through that.”
Audre Lord: “I am deliberate and afraid of nothing.”
Lisa Nichols: “The truth is that no matter where you started out in life, you have a choice between scarcity and abundance.”
Oprah: “I can become what I choose to be.”
Lao Tzu: “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
Martha Beck: “No matter how difficult and painful it may be, nothing sounds as good to the soul as the truth.”
Maya Angelou: “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.”
Muhammad Ali: “‘I am the greatest.' I said that even before I knew I was.”
Sharon Stone: “It's my experience that you really can't lose when you try the truth.”
Coco Chanel: “Success is most often achieved by those who do not know that failure is inevitable.”
Steve Jobs: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something; your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.”
2. Give yourself a compliment on your appearance
Every. Single. Day. Every morning when you’re getting ready, note one thing that is awesome about your appearance: Your pretty teeth. Long eyelashes. Shiny hair. Round booty. Lovely toes. Great style. Perfectly arched eyebrows.
And if hair confidence is something you’re aiming for, weft hair extensions are often used as a temporary way to add fullness and length while experimenting with different looks.
That kind of small change can make it easier to see yourself a little differently in the mirror and appreciate what’s already there. Options like hair extensions without clips can help create fullness without adding tension or turning your routine into a project. They’re often chosen by people who want something simple and comfortable while they experiment with their look. Thathair is one example people come across when exploring this kind of low-effort hair solution.
You might also consider a hair transplant in Turkey at Asli Tarcan Clinic. Known for high standards in cosmetic treatments and advanced hair restoration techniques, the clinic has helped thousands regain their natural hairline and self-assurance. It’s a self-investment that many have found transformative.
3. Give yourself a compliment on YOURSELF every single day
That you’re a fun mom. You killed the presentation. A good listener. A friendly neighbor. A thoughtful friend. A funny lunch companion. Make a mean roast chicken. Have an eye for color in home decor.
4. Think of times you adored another person’s body, in all its human splendor, because you adored him
His flabby tummy. Bald head. Love handles. Limp dick. Pock-marked skin. You and your human body are just as lovable, too.
5. Dress up and look your best every single day
This should not take you less than 20 minutes, but will include pretty hair, makeup, and clothes you feel great in. If it takes more than 20 minutes, get a new hairstyle and check out some videos on quick makeup.
You can also do your nails as a quick but uplifting treat, and it's simple to shop F.O.X Nails USA online to find exactly what you want.
How to dress sexier and look super-attractive when overweight, from my gorgeous friend Marlena Stell, of Makeup Geek:
6. Get a makeover
Sure, get your hair, makeup and wardrobe overhauled (if you can afford it), but cleanse your home and closet first! Rid your space of old things that remind you of old ways of thinking.
For gold, gemstone, diamonds, watches and gold jewelry, CashforGoldUSA is a quality choice to sell your jewelry online, quickly, for the highest price. Be sure to first learn more about what your gold is worth.
CashforGoldUSA has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, and pays within 24 hours.
Literally, pretend that you feel sexy and confident until you actually do.
Make eye contact with an attractive man, even if inside you are absolutely going to die a thousand painful deaths.
Strut into a meeting in which you are intimidated with your shoulders back and head held high.
Call a meeting with someone who scares the crap out of you.
Ask for the promotion as if you know you’ll get it.
Reach out to a guy on the dating site ignoring any nasty murmurs in your mind that suggest he is out of your league or will reject you.
Just go about your life as if you are the confident, sexy woman you want to be.
8. Note someone in your life who walks about as if they are confident and sexy all the time
Fact: They are faking it at least some of the time, too.
When I was in college and finding my own sexuality, I read a book in the cafe/bookstore where I worked about ‘How to Make Man Crazy In Bed' or somesuch. In the forward, the author recounted how when her circle of girlfriends went out, one woman always got all the attention from men when.
The other women couldn’t figure it out — after all, their friend was heavy and not particularly pretty. So they asked her secret. “I know I’m not a natural beauty,” the woman said. “But before I walk into a bar or club, I tell myself: ‘You are the hottest woman in there.’ I believe it, and men then do, too.”
Serious self-images are usually rooted in old trauma. Never be ashamed to get the help you need.
Therapy can help you get to the root of your lack of confidence — and turn it around. I’m a huge fan of online therapy, which is affordable, anonymous, and convenient since you connect with the counselor via text, phone or video. BetterHelp has an A+ BBB rating. Prices start at $65/week for unlimited messaging and weekly live sessions. Financial assistance available. Read about my experience with BetterHelp.
10. Just get out there already
Thinking about dating after divorce and babies can be beyond daunting.
After I stopped nursing (a blissful period during which my round hips narrowed, my small tits swelled, and my acne-prone skin cleared and glowed), it has been all downhill for this bod.
A newly poofy stomach, C-section scar and boobs that would not stop lactating — all while my thighs grew increasingly gooey.
But once out on the dating scene, I got over it quickly.
That I don’t look like Heidi Klum or Kim Kardashian (that butt, I mean, really) has zero to do with my ability to find really amazing sex (keep reading) and love.
While this may not always be the case, Sunday is often a day when people don’t have a lot going on. Even if you choose a different day to dote on yourself, try to make it a weekly habit. Why? It helps you recharge and take on the rest of the week.
People define self-care differently, depending on what they need. In general, self-care is centered around taking a break from the demands of life and focusing on things that make you feel good.
Some people also incorporate supplements like glutathione to support skin health and overall wellness, but understanding what to avoid when taking glutathione ensures safe and effective use. Proper supplement knowledge helps maximize benefits while avoiding potential interactions. If focus, mental clarity, or stress are dimming your confidence, some women explore Ginkgo biloba as part of a self-care routine; learn about the effects of taking Ginkgo biloba, including attention, memory, mood, and circulation benefits, plus typical dosages and possible side effects, before trying it. Always consult your provider if you’re pregnant, nursing, or on blood thinners.
Setting aside time for weekly care can improve your mental and physical health, productivity and overall well-being. It’s important to find what works best for you.
And even though making time for self care might be difficult at first, it’s a worthwhile pursuit — when you feel whole, you are at your best.
Need a new (or bigger) circle? It’s good to surround yourself with people who share common interests, but it’s even better to find people who challenge you to become the best version of yourself.
And it doesn’t mean you have to abandon your current friends. It just means you are willing to be open to new relationships.
Maybe you want to start jogging, riding a bike, or cooking gourmet meals. You can connect with others who want to do the same.
If you don’t know here to start, here are a few tips:
Try a friendship app like Patook or We3
Go to networking events
Find a club for a new hobby
Participate in girl’s night out events
Join single mom groups on Facebook
Invite a coworker out to lunch
Look for opportunities to be around new people. It’ll give you an opportunity to talk and learn more about people in your community.
