What to Do with a Wedding Dress

I have had my wedding dress for 2 years now. I am going to take it and make my son a baptism oufit out of it and (hoping) we are going to try for another baby next year (girl) and Im going to make a little girls outfit out of the remaining fabric - and then I have a cloak (coat) that Im going to make a xmas tree skirting out of - i got patterns from Joann fabrics and they seem ez enuff to do!

I am divorced now, but....I wish I still had my dress. It was in a box with all my dearest belongings and stolen back in '99. I think it was stolen because it was packed in a television box and my husband's cousin staying with us at the time. It came up missing when we told him it was time for him to move on. Even though I am divorced now, I still wish I had it for my girls.

My mom made a Christening dress for my baby. There was some sentament to it and I felt like I got a little more use out of it :)

I also don't have mine. I donated mine to a womens group that turns them in to gowns for women who lose their babies. Don't feel bad though someone who perhaps couldn't afford a nice wedding dress will be able to get one now.

I still have mine somewhere....now that you mention it maybe I should look around:0 I had mine cleaned and put in a special package that is not supposed to yellow. I have heard of some people using their dress for a Baptismal gown though, they take it to the tailor and have it made for their kids to wear at Baptism. I think you should not feel guilty, someone may be able to use it for their wedding money is tight all around and I 'm sure that it may make someone very happy. Are any of us ever going to fit back into them anyway and what are the chances of our daughters wanting to wear a wedding gown from the 90's lol!!!!

My mom has a friend who turns wedding dresses into teddy bears. I recently gave her mine, which is 17 years old, and I should have it back soon.

This isn't advice but maybe there will be a moral to my story? I've been married for over 27 years and I still have my wedding dress.
Why do I have it? Now, I'm not really sure. Years ago I was convinced it was important to keep it. I currently have MY mother's wedding dress, but that is special because she made it herself. Mine was off a clearance rack because my dh & I paid for everything but the food and booze. It's horribly out of style and even with the dry cleaner's special box has yellowed.

Now here's my story- about 4 years ago my youngest daughter and my dh were going through stuff in the basement and came across my dress. As a joke he had her put it on and then called me downstairs. They were laughing themselves silly! It was funny in a strange way, and that dress, with it's sheer sleeves and rows of lace draping the hoop skirt fit Rachel like a glove. I was amazed that I was actually that small, since she wears a 5 or 6 (and I'd swear in 1980 that dress was a size 10!). Well, flash forward to last weekend. Rachel is 22 and engaged to be married in 10/09. We were planning on going wedding dress shopping in the morning. Vic & I were out to dinner and he announces, I'm going to call Rach and razz her about not wearing your dress in her wedding! I was horrified! "No!" I said. He did it anyway, pulled her leg a good one. He almost had her stopping to think about "how upset your mother will be when you don't wear her dress when you get married." We all had a good laugh about it, but later I told him "I really don't know why I'm keeping that dress, no one would ever want to wear it, I should donate it to a theater company or something like that."

And I think I will.
L.

I have my dress, I brought it to a dry cleaners the day after I got married and had it preserved. I will never wear it again. My daughter will probably not wear it either, as times change, so do styles. I think what you did is wonderful. There are so many people who do not have the money to spend on a fancy dress that would love to have a dress they could get for little amounts of money! Dont feel guilty, feel proud! You gave a bride a chance to have the wedding of her dreams!

Don't feel guilty about getting rid of it. I was married about 9 months ago and mine is hanging in my basement. I will keep my tiara and veil for my daughter in case she wants to wear them on her wedding day but I can't imagine my daughter wanting to wear my dress on her wedding day. It was absolutely beautiful and a style that will last, but picking out your own wedding dress is such a special thing to do. I have no idea what I will do with my dress. I did not have it preserved because I didn't want to waste money on something that I will never wear again, and I'm sure no one in my family will ever wear. However, after reading some of your responses, a christening gown would be a great idea for my little girl (I'm due in 2 weeks). Point being, you did the right thing.

I still have my wedding dress. It was made out of my mothers wedding dress and my best friends wedding dress. I plan to save it until someone-hopefully my one of my daughters decides if they want to use any of it in their wedding. Other things I may do with it is use it to make doll clothes for grandchildren. The left over parts of mothers wedding dress was used to make my daughters christening gown.

Don't feel guilty. You donated it and you'll never know who's day you may have made by that! And...you did so to welcome another child! It's just a material object...if you need to be reminded of your wedding day, go lay a kiss on the real thing! LOL

~L.

I will have been married for 15 years next week, and I still have my dress. I have no idea why, but I just can't part with it. I like the idea of the baby gowns, maybe I'll look into that!

I gave mine to my sister for a halloween costume! I totally hated the way it turned out. (I had it made from a pattern) The lady that made it picked out everything for it and never gave me that choice. When the day came the dress did not fit right at all and looked aweful. It was all I could do to stay in the top. ( tried to hide that with the flowers lol) There was alot of nice material though so maby I will still get to do something sentimental with it. Maby make some naughty nities for your hubby?

Have a seamstress cut off the train or a piece with detail on it and make a throw pillow or frame a piece of it with acid free treatment to it first. We took a piece of my great grandmas quilt and each framed a square of it acid free and keep it away from light. A pillow you could pass down too. If you gave it away to Goodwill anyway what are you losing by cutting a piece of it?

Don't feel bad at all....I lost mine somewhere in a move. It all sounds so romantic to save for a daughter etc but everyone I know has either sold it or given it to Salvation army.

Don't feel guilty...we all tend to save so much stuff that isn't needed. That being said, I did save mine. :) I've heard people making it into Christening or baptism gowns, use part for a crib blanket or pillow, make a decorative pillow for your/your new husband's bed, a runner for the dining table for special occasions, create a quilt, backing for those french memo boards....the list is endless. I am saving mine because I just can't part with it. If I could wear it every day, I totally would. :) (I've been married 4 years and I still feel that way!) I am not sure what I will end up doing with it. I think you should feel good about donating it - what's done is done - and realize that it will go to someone who will appreciate it and love it, too!

I had my wedding dress made into a quilt and it is beautiful. I know someone else who had theirs made into christening clothes for both a boy and a girl. But if you can't sew or know someone who does, these could be costly to pay and have done.
Every time I see my quilt it reminds me of my wedding day and how special I felt wearing my dream dress.
Hope this helps.

I wouldn't feel bad about it. If you have pictures of you from your wedding, which I am sure you do, then don't fret about it. I know this may sound awful, but I took mine to the cleaners and never picked it up. I knew I would hold on to it forever and then pitch it. What is the use of looking at a dress in a box for the rest of your life?

My mom handmade my first wedding dress. She had it cleaned and stored in a special box and it is at her house. As I have since remarried, I would not have kept it if she hadn't made it.

Ideally, one should have it cleaned and preserved, whether you intend to keep it, sell it, or give it away.

If you have no daughters who may want to wear it in future, then donating was a nice idea. You could also use it to make some kind of keepsake with - pillows, quilt, album cover, etc.

Just a few ideas!

Hey Lisa!
I am in the exact same boat...got married in 2000 so this will be out 8th anniversary also! I never even had the dress cleaned (still has dirt along the bottom of the train because we had an outdoor garden wedding). When I looked into it, they were charging $250 to dry clean & "store" the dress in a box. I didn't want to spend the money just to have a box to store for ever more.
My dress is still in our 2nd bedroom's closet also....I plan on keeping it so that my daughter can play dress up with it when she is older! It isn't worth anything to anyone else anyway!!

I kept my wedding dress preserved in a box professionally done in hopes i would have a daughter who would want to wear it on her wedding day....and I was heartbroken after 24 years and many moves that i kept it that long to find out my daughter wanted to wear her own dress....and I didn't have any neices or girlfriends that were interested either...AND....I couldn't fit into it if I tried.....so...why hang onto it? I have pictures of my wedding to see it...and I ended up giving it to a lady that made dolls and she was so excited to make a life size one....so....nobody really keeps theirs anymore....

I still have mine and have been married almost 7yrs (2-24 yay) I plan to keep it, I know my daughter probably won't want to wear it for her wedding, but that doesn't mean we can't cannibalize it for other fun stuff. I used the lace from my mothers wedding dress to edge a hanky to carry on my wedding day.

I knew if I had any daughters they would not wear my dress and they should have their own anyway. My first child was a boy and I had my dress cut up to make a christening suit for him and at the same time if I shoud ever have a daughter a dress was also made. I have two girls, one has worn it the other will in a few weeks, then I am going to have them preserved with the hopes that my grandkids will wear them, if not that's ok I will have the pictures of my kids in them.

TRASH IT! Go to www.trashthedress.com

I still have mine hanging in a closet in the basement. My oldest daughter just tried it on for fun not too long ago. She didn't think she would wear it on her wedding day because it's not "in style". Anyways, a friend told me that I should save it to make a card purse or garter or something for my girls to use/wear on their wedding day.

I laughed when I read your post. My wedding dress has also been hanging in my guest room closet since our wedding almost 4 years ago. I had originally planned to get it cleaned and stored in one of those boxes, but it would still probably end up in a closet somewhere. I'll probably end up doing the same thing you did when baby #2 comes around.

My daughter donated her wedding dress, veil, and shoes to our local theatre group. When they used in it The Sound of Music they gave her a free ticket. We went too and it was great to go and see her dress recycled in such a useful way.
Love and prayers,
M.

Obviously, this sugg. is too late for you, but may help others faced with the same decision. (maybe you can go back and get it, if you like any of these ideas)
First, let me say, it all depends on the person. Some are more sentimental than others. After 28 yrs, mine is still in a closet. I just can't do anything, even at this point. I do have to say, when my dad told me my mother was taking hers to the curb, after 50 yrs. of marriage, I sent him to retrieve it. I also, just used their cake top on top of their 50th anniv. cake too. That was cool. It was a bit yellowed, so we used butter cream frosting to make it match. Everyone was impressed, I have to say. The cake top was in perfect condition.
Having said all that,
Sugg. #1
I know women who have had their gowns cut up for baptism gowns for their babies. (and/or bonnet's too)
Sugg. #2
This is my favorite and will probably do this some day.
Have someone, if you can't sew, make up Christmas tree angels
for the tree top. I know a great grandmother who did this for all her grand daughters. They think of them as very special, and there was enough for everyone. Even if the fabric is fragile, this sugg. is probably OK since there isn't much use and handling.
Sugg.#3
If either of the two above have been done, you will have scraps left over for this one. Have same rectangles cut and monogrammed with your initials and wedding date. They can be sewn inside the under side of your daughters wedding gowns for their something old and its sentimental, again. Like carrying grandma's old handkerchief.
I hope this helps. Us ladies, who are sentimental, have to get creative. There are things all the time we feel we should get rid of. Now we can justify saving our STUFF! :)

Yes I do still have my Wedding Dress. Iv`e been married for almost 15 yrs. My Mother-in-law has it cleaned & put in a box .
P.

Mine went to the Salvation Army as well! Someone will get use out of it! That is much better than it sitting in a closet. Good choice!

Hi, I have been married for 16 1/2 years, and I still have my wedding gown.
I just can't make myself give it away. I have two boys, so it isn't like I have a daughter
that I can hand it down to. Mine was dry cleaned and is in a special box, and I have it under my bed. Don't know where else I could put it. It is a beautiful dress, and just can't make myself give it up.
My sister got married last June and she told me that she was going to send hers off to Greece where there is a church that takes in orphan girls and raises them. They take care of the girls as if they were their own children. My mom once asked if they would let her adopt one of the girls there, and they told her that they are in God's hands now. They don't
have the girls be adopted.
These girls stay at this special orphanage until they meet someone and get married.
I think that is wonderful that my sister wants to send her dress there to help those girls out. I would love to do the same, but I really am not ready to give up my dress yet.
Maybe one day I will.
My mom had her wedding dress for a very long time too, but when we moved from our old house in Chicago she forgot it there. She had it all packed away upstairs in an attic closet, and forgot it there. The people that bought our old house, had 8 children of their own. I don't know if she ever asked them if they found the dress in the attic. Well, she thinks that since this family was so big that when they found the dress, they decided to keep it for themselves. My mom was not mad at all, of course she would have wanted the dress, but thought that if that family was so big, maybe they would get some good use out of it.

This is ironic because I was lying in bed last night wondering what I would ever do with my wedding dress. My parents has it professionally preserved and boxed. It has been under my bed, in the closet and now in the attic. I think, from reading these other posts, that I will donate my dress so that someone else can feel the way I did on their special day. Almost 9 years in a box is a waste. I think you did the right thing.

I do still have my dress, how ever I to think why am I storing it. but something the paster had said to me when we got married was that is such a beautiful dress and will make great baptsim gowns for the children. I looked at my husband and said I could never cut up my dress. But after storing it for 17yrs I now wish I had done something like that with it just to pass it on and keep it in the family.Our children are now to old for any of that so what do ya do with them anyway. I gess now my only wish is maybe someday one of my daughers will want to ware it or whats 15 more years maybe grandchildren.

I have been married for 10yrs and I still have my wedding dress. I plan on using the train of it to make something for my daughter when she gets married as her "something old". Another idea is to use it to make a christening gown for your child. I'm very sentimental so I can't imagine ever getting rid of it even though right now it's only taking up space.

I think it is great that you donated your dress. I agree with Lacy. I have a friend who couldn't afford a wedding gown at full price, but she got one at the Salvation Army for $100-and she looked gorgeous!! It made her day that much more special, and she deserved it. You have many other material symbols of your special day, your ring, pictures, etc. Kudos to you for giving some other woman the opportunity to feel as good as you did wearing that dress.

I am a professional seamstress and the most clever thing I've seen done with a wedding dress so far is to have a first communion dress cut from the mom's wedding dress. It turned out absolutely sweet and what a special thing for those daughters to have first communion in their mom's wedding dress.

Dont feel guilty! People hold onto things for sentimental reasons or to pass it on to another family member, etc, but really, unless you are REALLY attached to it, or it was your grammas dress, etc, then dont give it a second thought. Some other bride will be thrilled to have it, you helped a good cause and freed up some much needed space.

Shake it off!!! :)

Hi Lisa
Great question! I personally saved mine and when I had my second child before I knew it was a b/g I decided if it was a girl I was going to have a nice blanket made out of the material from the dress. Well I ended up with a boy so I threw it out. Sounds incensitive but my dress was just something I wore not something that represents my marriage/vows/etc.

Right after I got married -5 years ago- my mom took it to the dry cleaners and they cleaned it then put it in an airtight display box, about the size of a full sheet cake box. Its supposed to keep it clean and safe indefinitely. Ever since then its been under the guest bed at my mom's house but at least I know where it is and its not taking up space. Someday I'd like my daughter to at least see it, even if she doesn't want to wear it.

Amazing how we are programmed to feel guilty for getting rid of something we don't want to keep. My thoughts... it is done, let it go. The dress was just a symobol. Sounds like your marriage is going great. That is what your wedding was about so put your energy into that and not into guilt about the dress that you wore that day!
M.

i sold mine to a co-worker and was then able to watch my dress come down the isle. that was pretty cool to see it and for someone else to enjoy it as much as i did.

Oh Lisa ! What a kind and generous person you are !
There is a girl out there who will be beautiful on her wedding day all because she could afford a wedding dress -Yours- The one you so lovingly married your husband in, and the one the one you so lovingly donated to a good cause!
God Bless You Lisa!

Don't feel bad about it. I had my best friend's mom turn my dress into pillows.

There are some great wedding dress charities you can donate to:

Making Memories (for breast cancer)
The I Do Foundation
The Ruby Room (for bridesmaids dresses too)

Good to luck to all!

Wow ! How did your husband feel about you getting rid of your wedding dress? If you have 2 children is, neither child a girl that might have wanted to wear that dress someday ? Or possibly a sister or other female relative that might have felt a sentimental connection to you and/or the dress. I have been married for 32 yrs and absolutely I have my wedding gown. That was one of the happiest days of my life, bar none. I'd feel guilty too, if I were you. Maybe you could go and get it back and keep it. You obviously love your husband enough to have children. Go get the dress back and keep it forever.

I bought my dress for $650 and promptly sold it for $400!! As it turns out, I had 2 sons!! Even if I had girls, who's to say they would have wanted to wear my old dingy dress? So what was it hanging downstairs for? I still have my vail and shoes and earrings though! we girls are so sentimental! K. S.

Hi Lisa,

I have been married for just a year now and of course I still have my gown. Right now I actually still put it on sometimes. I put it on the Christmas after our Dec 2 2006 wedding because I wanted certain pictures that I couldn't get until after the wedding. I was also going to put it on this past Valentine's Day to present my husband with his official wedding ring. After I'm Done playing around with it i plan to have it preserved and placed in the proper box so i can display it in my scrapbook room. I know some might think this is a bit much but this is just my idea of what to with my wedding gown.

Sincerely,
A.

I still have mine and have not a clue as to why... I've gotten a lot of good ideas from your question though. And am thinking of donating it as well. Or there is always eBay, lol :)
J. in Macomb

I've been married 23 years, but I'm lucky -- my wedding dress was also my mom's, and it's made from very high quality materials (not a lot of other choices in 1963!), and no beading.

Not to second-guess you, but the beads could easily have been replaced at minimal cost. I'm shocked the consignment store didn't know that.

My wedding dress is in a box under my bed... probably yellowing nicely, but cleaned and largely untouched since I wore it.

Dear Lisa,
I wish you would've asked that question before you got rid of it. A little Italian lady helped me make a christening outfit & crib set for our child. We made a short version of the veil for a communion veil. My Asyrian friend made a keepsake pillow, purse, & picture frame for her daughter out of her dress. All keepsake items, but they are beautiful to look at & have such lovely memories.
K.

Lisa, Don't feel guilty about donating your dress to the Salvation Army. I just looked at gowns today and at $3000-$6000 a pop, you are helping a bride-to-be have a beautiful gown that she may never be able to afford any other way. As far as yellowing beads, soak an gown in tea in the bathtub and you get a wonderful 'vintage' tint gown all the rage now. Best to your future as a Mother or Mother-in-law of a bride someday! Brin

It took me 15 years before I ended up sending my wedding dress to a thift store. I was attached to it and I just had a girl so I was thinking I could save it for her. But then I thought of how much fun it would be to buy her a new one when her time comes. I saved my veil. Maybe you could do that. It takes up a lot less space. Hope this helps. S. K.

I still have mine, and I am torn on what to do with it. I'll have been married for 8 years this coming July. My dress is also taking up space, yellowed and the skirt is torn up(thanks to my cat) but my husband always wants to hang onto it when I bring it up and say I want to just get rid of it. He says it can probably be fixed and cleaned, but I don't know if it's worth all the money to most likely just hang in the closet for another whoknowshowmany years. My daughter is 2 1/2 and if she's anything like she is now when she gets married, she'll want to choose her OWN wedding gown!!
So, I totally understand your guilt. I also think it's good to get rid of things you don't use, or will never use again. I purge things every few months and my hubby is kind of a pack rat. I keep telling him we have a hundred pictures of it and I'll never forget what it looked like, but he's not ready yet.
So, I'm just kind of waiting for the day he gets over it and lets me get rid of it without any guilt! :)

A dry cleaners by my house (clinton township, mi) has a deal where they clean your dress and store it in a box with a see-through front for about $100.

Just remember to claim that on your taxes. Turbo tax has an estimated amount for any piece of donated clothing.

I kept my wedding dress. I had it dry cleaned and stored in a special box. Will my daughter want it? I don't know she is 10. But I know that I could use it for the material for a 1st communion dress in the distant future for her daughter. It is special to me and I just can't get rid of it.

I've heard of people making it into a christening dress for their children. Or a 1st communion. You could also make it into a special blanket for your child.

Mine is in the closet at my mom's....I haven't done anything with it yet.

My mom had mine made into boy and girl christening outfits. They are amazing. Luckily I got to use both. Since an aunt of mine who passed away 3 months after my wedding had bought my dress for me, it was very special. Now we have those heirlooms to pass on for future generations.

Hi Lisa,

My sister wore my mother's wedding dress, 23 years after my mom's wedding. It was lovely, made with Italian silks and it fit my sister like a glove. So romantic.

Four years into my marriage, my daughter was born. The wedding dress, embalmed and set aside for her day... During a move, I found the box and thought IIII would love her to wear it one day. But, how about her? Would she not enjoy picking out her perfect one? As I once did? That is when I decided to put it up for sale at a ridiculous price (probably $50). An add in the paper and a few days before it went. Someone loved it and could probably not afford it new. It made me happy to make it accessible to her. My daughter: she is free to pick her own one day, if she decides to engage in marriage without the emotional charge of my expectation.

My Sister-in-law kept hers. It was also yellow in the beads. She has four children, all in the process of getting married. At her request, I took her dress apart and made four ring-pillows and set aside the fabric to make four Christening outfits. (Don't know how the new parents will feel about having someone planning out such an important detail...) But there it goes!

That is my take on it. I bet many other perspectives out there. Good Luck.

Lisa -

I have been married for 5 years. And yes, I still have my dress. I got it dry cleaned and boxed. I wanted to keep it. Maybe someday my daughter will want to wear it?!!! It is just taking up space right now, but I never felt more beautiful than on my wedding day!! Maybe some day you and your husband can have a re-commitment ceremony and you can buy a new dress!!!!