If you don’t know what to do with your wedding dress, you are not alone.
Once you’ve had your wedding dress dry-cleaned, you might look at it and think to yourself, ‘now what’? Should you put it in a box in the attic? Under the bed? Either way, it’s a little sad to neglect such a meaningful garment. Below, we list some of our favourite alternatives for what to do with your wedding dress.
RE-WEAR IT
What to do with your wedding dress might depend on the kind of wedding you actually had. If you had a registry ceremony or a low-key day, chances are you wore something that could be accessorised differently in order to achieve an entirely different look.
Lose the veil, change the colour of your shoes, ditch the bouquet, pare back your makeup – the opportunities are endless. So are the occasions for which you could wear it. You might decide to embrace the idea of buying a shorter style that you could wear again on your honeymoon, or in the future for anniversary celebrations.
REINVENT IT
Your gown can reincarnate with just a few alterations. An adjustment here or an embellishment there gives it a second life. And wearing your newly tailored dress on a special occasion doubles up as a wonderful reminder of the big day! Maybe you could amend it to be shorter and add a little sparkle. You’ll love wearing it again.
HAND IT DOWN
If you’re planning to have children, saving your wedding dress for your daughter to wear on her big day (though, remember, fashions change!) can be a lovely thing. We prefer a more fun option… Let them play dress up with it! It’s far better for it to be enjoyed rather than forgotten about.
DIG IT OUT
Donning your gown years down the line can be a brilliant way to have some fun. Make your partner laugh by greeting them in it when they wake up (this works particularly well if it’s a princess number!) Or why not wear it to a fancy dress party? It saves you buying a costume – Day of the Dead Bride? The possibilities are endless…it just depends on how daring you are.
REINVEST IT
Selling your dress and using that money for something meaningful is a beautiful way to ‘continue its legacy’. Is there a course you want to complete? A piece of art you’d like to have for your newly married home? Or maybe you want to buy yourselves a pet! Selling your dress can help build your future – rather than hanging onto something from the past.
TURN IT INTO SOMETHING FOR YOUR LITTLE ONE
Christening gowns are becoming a popular way to re-work wedding dresses. You could also have your gown made into an outfit for a naming ceremony or even a first birthday party. We recently also saw a beautiful crib that used a brides veil as decoration over the top of it, the options are endless so get creative!
DONATE IT
Knowing your wedding dress has been put to good use will bring a smile to your face, we’re sure. If you don’t want a big dress taking up most of your space in your wardrobe, donating is a fantastic idea. Donate it to your local charity shop where you know it will be looked after and where you know the money for it will be put towards a good cause, or a similar charity like Brides Against Breast Cancer for example.