Deborah Chan
Wedding dresses are often only worn once, but there are many ways to reuse, repurpose, recycle, or resell them. Some brides may choose to pass their dress down to a family member, donate it to a bride in need, or sell it to recoup some of the cost. There are also creative ways to repurpose the dress, such as turning it into a christening gown, a piece of jewellery or home decor. For brides who want to keep their dress, getting it professionally cleaned and preserved can ensure it stays in good condition for years to come.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reuse | Dye and transform your wedding dress into something amazing that you can wear again |
| A shorter hem or the removal of sleeves can make all the difference | |
| A beautiful print can be painted on the dress | |
| Lend your dress via clothing rental services | |
| Repurpose | Turn your dress into a piece of jewellery or a bag |
| Create a DIY lace headband | |
| Create a wedding memory pillow | |
| Create a tree skirt, stocking, or fabric flowers | |
| Create a christening gown for your baby | |
| Turn your dress into art by getting it framed | |
| Store | Get your dress professionally cleaned and preserved |
| Store your dress in a viewing box | |
| Store your dress correctly if you want to hand it down to your daughter one day | |
| Donate | Brides Across America, Cinderella's Closet, Brides for a Cause, Angel Gowns, and many more organizations accept wedding dress donations |
| Charity Cherished Gowns accepts worn wedding dresses, which they then turn into clothing for babies that have passed away | |
| Sell | eBay, Vinted, Bridal Reloved, Still White, Recycle My Wedding |
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What You'll Learn
Donate your dress to someone in need or a charity shop
If you're looking to give your wedding dress a new lease of life, donating it to someone in need or to a charity shop is a great option. Not only will you be helping out a good cause, but you'll also be freeing up some valuable storage space. Plus, if you donate to a federally certified charity, you can claim a tax deduction when filing your taxes.
There are several organisations that accept wedding dress donations, each with its own unique mission. Brides for a Cause, for example, collects and resells wedding dresses to raise funds for women-focused charities. They accept new and once-worn dresses and make it easy for donors to pop their dress in the mail or drop it off locally. Adorned in Grace is another option, particularly if your dress is no more than five years old. This faith-based organisation uses donations to provide other brides with new or gently used items, with sales going towards anti-trafficking mentoring for youth. If you're looking to support military and first responder families, Brides Across America is a great choice, as they gift weddings and wedding gowns to these communities.
Before donating, it's important to assess your wedding dress for any signs of damage, tearing, fraying, mould or discolouration. While minor issues can be fixed by a qualified seamstress, significant damage may disqualify your gown from donation. It's also essential to have your dress professionally cleaned before donating, ensuring it's in the best possible condition for its new owner.
If you're feeling creative, you might consider repurposing your wedding dress into something new. Unbox the Dress is a company that transforms wedding gowns into modern bridal gifts, family keepsakes, or entirely new designs. Fairy Godmother Creations offers a similar service, turning wedding dresses into christening gowns, memory bears, purses, pillows, and more. Donating or repurposing your wedding dress is a wonderful way to ensure its legacy continues long after your special day.
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Get it professionally cleaned and preserved to pass it down to future generations
Wedding dresses are often stored away in closets for decades, but they can be given a new lease of life by being passed down to future generations. One way to ensure your wedding dress stays in good condition is to get it professionally cleaned and preserved.
Professional cleaning and preservation services can help to remove stains, prevent future yellowing, and keep the dress protected for years, decades, and even centuries to come. This process involves multiple steps, including inspecting and cleaning the gown of visible and invisible stains, and then placing it in a preservation chest to prevent permanent pleating or creasing. It is recommended that you use a company that offers a guarantee that your wedding dress won't yellow, with some companies offering a 100-year anti-yellowing guarantee.
There are several companies that offer wedding dress preservation services, including Wedding Gown Preservation Kit and The Knot. Wedding Gown Preservation Kit has been trusted by over 3 million brides since 1913 and offers a 100-year guarantee. The Knot offers a range of packages where you can choose your preferred option, ship your dress, and they will take care of the rest.
Preserving your wedding dress can also save you money compared to having your gown cleaned and preserved locally. In many cases, local dry cleaners will outsource their cleaning to the same online services anyway, but with a steep markup.
If you want to pass down your wedding dress, it is important to get it professionally cleaned and preserved as soon as possible after your wedding day. Even if your wedding gown seems to be in good condition, there may be invisible stains that will set in, oxidize, and darken over time.
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Repurpose it into a christening gown for a new baby
There are many ways to repurpose your wedding dress, including transforming it into a christening gown for a new baby. This is a great way to create a family heirloom and cut down on waste.
If you're handy with a sewing machine, you could transform your wedding dress into a christening gown yourself. Start by creating a vision board on Pinterest and saving gowns you like. When you have your design planned out, you can begin deconstructing the wedding dress. You can also order fabric samples to help you narrow down your choices.
If you'd rather leave it to the professionals, companies like Unbox the Dress, Fairy Godmother Creations, and Janice Martin can transform your wedding dress into a christening gown. Unbox the Dress provides a custom-designed, secure shipping container for you to send in your dress, along with packing instructions and a prepaid return label. The process can take up to 15 weeks and includes a call with a designer to finalize your design plan.
You can also use your wedding dress to create other items for a new baby, such as blankets, loveys, and Christmas tree skirts. These items can become cherished heirlooms, creating new memories for your family.
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Transform it into a piece of jewellery or a bag
Wedding dresses can be transformed into jewellery or bags, giving them a new life and allowing brides to cherish their dresses for longer.
Jewellery
When it comes to jewellery, there are endless options for customisation. Brides can opt for vintage-inspired jewellery, featuring filigree and milgrain, or choose diamond hoops or a whimsical necklace to complement a structured outfit. If you want to play up the romance of a lace dress, vintage-inspired jewellery with pearls or diamond studs could be a good choice. For a laser-cut lace gown, consider pairing it with oxidised silver and turquoise stones for a bohemian vibe. For gowns with clean lines and structure, diamond hoops or an airy, ethereal necklace can be a great choice. Mixing metals is also an option, especially if you want to follow the latest trends. If your gown is white or black, cool-toned accessories like platinum or silver can complement it well. Ivory or champagne-coloured gowns, on the other hand, pair beautifully with gold jewellery, enhancing their warm tones. For a blush-coloured gown, rose gold jewellery is a perfect match, with the pink cast in the metal coordinating with the soft pink of the dress.
Bags
Transforming a wedding dress into a bag is another way to reuse the fabric and create a unique accessory. Brides can work with companies like Unbox the Dress™ to create bespoke designs, turning their dresses into bags, clutches, or even christening gowns for a new baby joining the family.
The process of repurposing a wedding dress into jewellery or a bag can take some time, but it is worth it for those who want to give their dresses a second life. Whether it's creating a family heirloom or simply enjoying the dress in a new form, reusing wedding dresses is a sustainable and creative option for brides.
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Dye it and wear it again for a special occasion
Dyeing your wedding dress is a great way to give it a new lease of life and ensure you get more wear out of it. It's a common choice for those who want to hide any stubborn stains, or for those who would like to wear their gown in a new shade for a future special occasion.
There are many reasons why you might want to dye your wedding dress. Perhaps you're aiming for a specific colour you've not yet seen on the market, or maybe you want to wear your dress again for a special occasion, such as an anniversary or a vacation. Dyeing your dress can also be a way to save money, as you won't need to buy a new outfit for future events.
Before you start dyeing your dress, it's important to test out the dye on a small piece of fabric to see how it will turn out. You can use any scrap or sample fabric that you may have left over from alterations. Once you've chosen your colour, add your wet garment to the dye bath and stir slowly and continuously for ten minutes to avoid splotching. The exact amount of time your dress should remain in the liquid beyond that point depends on the fabric, but an hour is usually the maximum.
After dyeing your dress, be sure to rinse it in cool water until the water runs clean. Then, wash it with mild detergent and warm water, rinse again, and hang to dry. Now you're ready to show off your unique, beautifully dyed wedding dress at your next special occasion!
If you're feeling inspired by the idea of dyeing your wedding dress, why not give it a try? With the right materials and a methodical approach, you can create a one-of-a-kind gown that you'll cherish for years to come.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to reuse a wedding dress, including:
- Dyeing it a different colour to wear it again for a non-wedding special occasion.
- Transforming it into a christening gown for a new baby.
- Framing it as a piece of art.
- Donating it to a charity such as Brides Across America, Cinderella's Closet, or Brides for a Cause.
Some ways to repurpose a wedding dress include:
- Creating a DIY lace headband.
- Sewing a piece of the dress into a monogrammed wedding memory pillow.
- Making a drawstring bag.
- Getting a piece of fabric turned into a necklace.
To preserve a wedding dress, it's recommended to get it professionally cleaned and packaged to keep it in pristine condition. You can also store it in a viewing box, which will allow you to display it without the risk of staining or yellowing.
