7 Things to do with your Wedding Dress
So, your wedding is over and you’re in that wonderful post-wedding phase where you’re using your new surname at every opportunity. What do you do with your dress once it’s over? Well, you could have it dry cleaned then store it away in the loft, only ever to come out of storage when you move to a new house. But, quite frankly, that’s boring and wasteful. Here are 7 things to do with your wedding dress post wedding.
Wear it!
This is the dress of your dreams and wearing it once is just a shame. So, don’t. Get it cleaned and wear it every anniversary when you go out. And not just you. Insist he dresses up too. And to make it even more fun, wear a badge with your anniversary number on it.
Convert it
If rewearing your dress as it is isn’t feasible, then have it altered. Source a good seamstress and have them convert your dress to something still glamorous and fairy tale, but easier to wear.
Image Source – https://www.instagram.com/p/BYwMUF9l_bj/?taken-by=maria_modes_bridal
Christening
There is precedence for this. Women used to make christening gowns for their children out of their wedding dresses. This is a lovely idea and repurposes your dress for your legacy; your children.
Image Source – https://www.instagram.com/p/BkdS_6OAjj6/?taken-by=adeavabridal
Angel Gown
An angel gown is the gown that a baby born sleeping is buried in. There are charities that turn your wedding dress into burial gowns and then donate them to hospitals and parents in the UK. The small act of donating your dress can provide some support to parents at the most heart-breaking time of their lives.
Image Source – https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkh67SthOe-/?taken-by=theconsciousbride. Photo Credit- https://www.instagram.com/charlottepalazzophoto/
Donation
Another form of donation is to give your dress to a charity shop for another bride to wear. This country has massive divides in wealth. Some don’t think about the cost of their wedding dress while others have such a tight budget, the dress is secondary to paying for the basics like a venue. If you’re never going to wear your dress again, donate it to someone who will reuse it and make their wedding as magical as yours.
Or give it to a theatre. It’s something they can adapt and reuse for performances.
Image Source – https://www.instagram.com/p/BirbwxNhsnY/?taken-by=theconsciousbride
Trash the Dress
This idea has been around for a while but it’s moved on from tramping around in the mud. Underwater shots, so beautiful. Powder paint fights. Walks along the beach. Horse riding. Whatever. Use your imagination and have a great time wrecking your dress.
Image Source – https://www.instagram.com/p/BkBVB8JgalW/?tagged=trashthedressshoot. Photo credit – https://www.instagram.com/inaglimpsephoto/
Memory Quilt
A memory quilt is a patchwork quilt made up different segments, each of which has meaning for you. You can use your wedding dress, a section of fabric from your bridesmaid dresses, material with the flowers from your bouquet, anything that reminds you of your day. It’s usable and can grow as your family does and you add more squares.
A word of warning here, apart from the first idea, these will all permanently alter your dress. My mum has just decided after 30+ years of marriage to have hers turned into an angel gown. She’s put much thought into it and decided this is what she wants. So, don’t rush into a decision you may regret and whatever you do decide be proud of your choice.
