Every four hours in Australia, a wedding dress is sold on eBay with everything from wedding gowns, rings to decorations turning up on the site, eBay represents a fantastic source of new and used bridal booty. It's possible to organise your entire wedding via the website - even your honeymoon.

eBay Bride
"I purchased half of my wedding items on eBay, from the seat covers to the accommodation for my wedding night," says Amber Potter who married in Melbourne. She even snapped up a designer wedding gown (worn once) for just $830. "Online shopping gave me the flexibility to organise my wedding while caring for my young kids. Everything was delivered to my doorstep."

Going, Going, Gone
There are 89 million items up for grabs on eBay at any one time. A bridal fashion accessory sells every hour, while many other big day items go under the virtual hammer every 45 minutes, says eBay spokesperson Angie Cursley. Also a bride-to-be herself, Cursley says she is organising a lot of her big day via the website.

"While today's weddings continue to uphold tradition, brides are now using the Internet as one of the primary tools for wedding planning," she says. "Recent results from a US wedding industry survey show 77% of couples use the Internet to help plan their wedding. You don't have to compromise on style or tradition."

Waste Not, Want Not
It can also be a great way to recoup wedding expenses. The big day is over and you're left with two choices: box up your memories or try to get some of your money back. Michelle Hopley from NSW did just that - eight months after she said 'I do' she put her gown up for sale on eBay and received $500 for her dress - the dress then made its way to the new owner's wedding in Nigeria!

Bridal retailers are also finding the Internet is a great vehicle to get their wares out to the world. Melissa Killen of Wedding Perfection Bridal and Formalwear began selling her wedding wares on eBay at first to free her shopfront from excess stock.

"I really think eBay is a great outlet for every bride-to-be, whether you're living in a remote area and have limited access to bridal boutiques or you're living in the city but don't have time to visit retailers," she says.

Safe Trading Tips

• Get to know your seller and review their feedback rating which gives you an idea about their online reputation
• Check pictures and descriptions closely and review the seller's other items to assess the quality of products they trade
• Ask the seller questions about the item and their sales policies before you bid
• Use www.paypal.com.au, an online payment service that covers transactions up to $1500
• Visit www.eBay.com.au/securitycentre for safe shopping tips and information