My hubby is a Star Wars geek. When I met him, Episode 1 had just come out, and he had gone to see it countless times. I had only seen the movies as a kid and barely even remembered them. Of course, my hubby has made sure this is no longer the case. I might even admit to being a little bit of a fan myself these days.
Back to the wedding dress… hubby jokes and says it is frozen in carbonite. In reality it is in a closet at his parent’s house in Tennessee. After our wedding, I took the dress to the cleaners, and was told I should preserve it. I was a bit surprised at the price but figured why not. When I went to pick it up I was handed a box at least 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and a foot deep. The dress will last for over 200 years if not exposed to air.
I didn’t really give much thought to what to do with my wedding dress. I am certainly not enjoying it 3000 miles away. I kind of wanted to peak at it when we were visiting, but I felt like I should not, so I didn’t. I forgot to mention it can’t be stored near an outer wall of the house, in a basement, or an attic! All these restrictions are what landed it at my in-laws. I am a pretty down to earth person, and I am not sure this would have been what I would have done after our wedding if I had realized there are other options.
What can you do with your wedding dress after the wedding?
Donate it. Local charity thrift stores will often take bridal gowns, as well as other organizations. Below are a few ideas.
Brides Against Breast Cancer (headquartered in Oregon)
Priceless Gown Project
Bridal Garden
Glass Slipper Project
Goodwill
Consign it. Some shops take wedding gowns for profit, and will give you a percentage of the sale price. Some online shops, such as Used Wedding Dresses, also buy them.
Book a Trash-the-Dress Photography Session. Ask your wedding photographer to include a trash the dress session as part your photography package. The idea behind this is to do something fun, and maybe dirty in it and have great photos taken. On your wedding day, you probably will be cautious about getting it ripped or muddy. For a day after photo session, you can go for a hike, go to the beach, hang out in the coffee shop you met… or anything you can think of.
Reuse it. Go to a tailor and have it made into a short summer dress, or just use the fabric for anything at all. Below are some creative ideas, courtesy an article in The Eagle Tribune.
- Frame a little piece of satin and lace from your wedding dress and hang it as a wall decoration.
- Make a christening gown for your future children or grandchildren.
- Make a baby blanket or bassinet liner for your future babies.
- Make a decorative pillow for your new bed as a married couple.
Preserve it. You can find tips at Wedding Gown Specialists, and locate a place to have your dress preserved. For romantics, preserving your gown is probably still the right choice. There is a tiny part of me that is glad mine will be there for years to come, just in case my daughter wants to where it one day.