Marchesa Tulle Rosette Princess Gown (Photo : Nearly Newlywed)

In a rough economy, some women are looking to cut wedding costs any way they can.  Others are even looking to earn some extra cash from their special day. 

For the non-sentimental woman, bridal gown consignment has become a great way to make money off a one-time used dress.  It has also become a viable option for brides who want a designer dress at half the price. 

According to a recent Mashable Business article, bridal gown consignment has picked up speed lately thanks to a new start-up company called Nearly Newlywed.  The online social media-powered boutique offers customers once or twice used designer gowns from names like Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Rodarte and Carolina Herrera at a discounted price.  The company also accepts dresses that meet the Nearly Newlywed criteria to be placed on consignment, where profits from the dress are split 70/30 between the seller and the site.   

Jacqueline Courtney, the founder of the Brooklyn-based company, also uses Pinterest for personal shopping consulting and providing ideas for brides based on wedding inspiration boards.  

"I think we are doing something unique," Courtney told Mashable Business.   "We are using social media to connect with brides and make the experience special and personal."

Also making use of other social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, the company is in direct contact with customers to deal with any questions or concerns for brides wanting to sell, or brides-to-be wanting to save. 

Brian Wilson, a consignment expert and ConsignPro developer, attributes the company's success to the direct contact they have with their customers.  

"It's the personal relationship between the shopper and the customer that really differentiates Nearly Newlywed from other online businesses," he said in a press release.  "That relationship, inspired by social media sites like Pinterest and Facebook can really build a dialogue that leads to both a happy customer and happy retailer."

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