Common Questions & Info

  • We operate by appointment only, with few exceptions. If we have open hours, like for an event, we will post about it on instagram and our site. otherwise, please see our booking page to find a time to visit!

    We are located in Santa cruz, california. (Our san francisco pop-up has now closed.)

    We often participate in wedding and vintage fairs around the bay area and central coast, so you may also spot us there!

  • We have had plenty of experience helping brides find their perfect match in a vintage dress.

    As such, we have noticed that shopping TOO EARLY can really detract from the experience, and often leads to overwhelm!

    We recommend shopping for your vintage dress NO MORE THAN 12 MONTHS before your scheduled wedding date. Four to nine months before your wedding date seems to be the sweet spot, but we also help brides who are nearer to their date… and sometimes, have supported brides finding something to wear as soon as the day before—or even the morning of!

    You should expect that alterations specialists/seamstresses require at least six weeks to work on a dress, and prefer more like three months of flexibility.

    As our appointment slots are limited (we are a very small team!), and because our vintage stock is delicate (we have to preserve the pieces’ integrity for their future purchasers/brides by minimizing try-ons, where possible), we need to enforce the following booking limitatons:

    -Bookings made without a date and venue noted may be refused (canceled & refunded)
    -Bookings made by brides with wedding dates further than 12 months out will be refused (canceled & refunded), with limited exceptions (i.e., you have seen a specific dress on socials and would like to try it, you are looking for a dress to re-work and require additional time for the project, etc…)
    -Bookings where the date of event is more than nine months out may be refused (canceled & refunded)

    Our system does not allow us to pre-approve bookings (we are working on it!), so please note that if you do proceed in booking too far in advance of your event date, you do risk facing cancellation. Thank you for your cooperation.

  • Please see most updated info on what’s currently in stock on our Instagram page (@playdatebridal). We are also working on galleries to add to the site, which display a small sample and give a general sense of our collection. However, stock is always changing, and most dresses are one-of-a-kind!

    Still, we assure you that our collection of vintage gowns is varied and vast. At any time, we can have upwards of 150-200 unique dresses in-shop. Vintage sizing can skew smaller than modern, but we make a very intentional point of sourcing dresses in varied sizing, including plus-sizes.

    Our collection’s oldest dress (to date) is from the 1870s; our newest dresses are from the “oughties” (early 2000s). The bulk of the collection comes from 1965-1990, or so, most of the time.

    If you’re looking for a specific style or are curious about range within your size, please feel free to email us. Please note that we cannot keep pace with updating a full photographed inventory, but the surprise in store when you come to shop the full collection is part of the fun!

  • Thanks for asking! We often collaborate with other industry experts and love to share our recommendations to help you plan a seamless special event.

    To date, we have worked with (and love!):
    -Alicia Telfer/Midtown Creative (photography)
    -Sabine Scoffone/Regular Sweetheart Images (photography)
    -Natasha Lozanoff (photography)
    -Shannon Christerson (photography)
    -Jason Rogers/Big.Fun.Day (photography)
    -Ellie Gomez Events (coordination/styling)
    -Lindsay Hastings/Relic Events (coordination/styling)
    -Italia Diaz/Italia Dee MUA (makeup)
    -Ani Castillo/Glammed by Ani (hair)
    -Tulipa Florals (florals)
    -Vintage Fusion Jewelry (accessories)
    -Aveline (venue)
    -La Marea (food/catering)
    -Meg Ryan Design (alterations)

  • We do not purchase or consign vintage pieces from individuals. However, if your old dress is taking up way too much space in your closet/attic/storage, we’ll be happy to accept it as a gift! We’ll do minor repairs, cleaning, and honor your story in presenting it to the next generation of happy brides-to-be! Please email info and pictures to us at hello@playdatebridal.com

  • We charge a flat rate of $20 for standard USPS shipping, within USA. For expedited shipping or international shipping, please contact us prior to placing your order to inquire about rates.

    We use recycled packaging materials whenever possible, in accordance with our company ethos of sustainable practice.

    Local pickup in the Santa Cruz, California area is available without a fee.

  • All sales are final and returns are not accepted. Exchanges may be possible on a case-by-case basis. Restocking/cleaning fees may apply in these cases.

  • As all of our items are secondhand, shoppers can expect that they may have minor flaws (think: missing sequin or bead(s); loose threads; very small stains, snags, or holes; minor discoloration at hem…). We only source and sell items in very good vintage or used condition, and do our best to represent any flaws in item descriptions. We also try to repair some minor flaws and do our best to keep items clean and pressed. Shoppers acknowledge these terms in purchasing our items as-is. Furthermore, items may become wrinkled in shipping, which is to be expected.

  • We would love to help you find the dress(es) of your dreams! Please use the contact form to reach out to us for assistance with styling you and/or your bridal party for your wedding or event.

  • See a dress you love, but the price feels out-of-reach? For some items, we will consider rental. Typically, the rental cost is approximately half the price of the dress (full price to be charged if damage occurs). Please use the form to contact us if you’re interested in this option!