Franklin Dean
Wedding dresses are often stored away in closets for years, but many people have found creative ways to repurpose their wedding gowns. Some choose to sell or donate their dresses, while others opt for transforming them into new garments or keepsakes. There are various ways to give your wedding dress a new life, such as dyeing and refashioning it into a new dress, turning it into a christening gown, or creating accessories and home decor items like scarves, earrings, pillows, or lampshades. Repurposing your wedding dress allows you to extend the life of a special garment and create new memories while promoting sustainability and reducing waste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Repurpose for future use | Sell it on a preowned wedding dress seller such as Nearly Newlywed, or a resale or consignment service |
| Repurpose for others' use | Donate to organisations such as Brides Across America, Every Girl's Dream, Operation Prom, Cinderella's Closet, or Brides for a Cause |
| Repurpose for personal use | Transform into a different dress, a Christmas tree skirt, stockings, pillow covers, a lampshade, a scarf, a pendant, a photo mat, a newborn photo shoot prop, a christening gown, a tree skirt and tree topper, a kimono, a robe, a bouquet wrap, a memory bear, doll clothes, purses, blankets, tooth fairy pillows, fabric flowers, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Donate to charity
Donating your wedding dress to charity is a great way to give back to the community and help someone in need. Brides for a Cause is a popular organisation with several locations across the US that accepts wedding dress donations. They then resell the dresses and use the proceeds to support women-focused charities. Brides Against Breast Cancer is another organisation that accepts wedding dress donations and uses the proceeds to raise money for breast cancer awareness and early detection.
If you're looking to donate your wedding dress to a military bride in need, Brides Across America is a great option. They provide free wedding dresses to military and first responder brides at Operation Wedding Gown events twice a year. The NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown program and The Emma and Evan Foundation are charities that accept wedding dress donations and turn them into gowns for infants who have passed away.
If you're looking for more local options, consider reaching out to your nearest thrift store or bridal store. They may be in need of wedding dress donations, which they can then pass on to local brides-to-be who can't afford a new dress. Donating your wedding dress to charity is a wonderful way to give back and help someone in your community. Not only will you be providing a bride with a beautiful dress, but you'll also be supporting various important causes and giving your wedding dress a second life.
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Sell it online
Selling a wedding dress online is a great way to recoup some of the costs of the big day. There are many online platforms that allow users to sell wedding dresses, such as Stillwhite, which has already sold $115 million worth of dresses. Nearly Newlywed is another online platform that allows users to sell wedding dresses and cares about the safety of both the seller and the buyer.
Before selling, it is important to get the wedding dress cleaned to remove any stains or smudges, such as mud or cake. This will ensure the dress looks its best and can help achieve a higher selling price. It is also important to take good photos of the dress, and perhaps even a video to showcase how it moves and sparkles.
When creating a listing, it is important to include as many details as possible, such as the designer, style, alterations, fit, and any accessories that are included. It is also a good idea to write about what made you fall in love with the gown and share why you chose it. This will help the listing stand out and attract potential buyers.
Selling a wedding dress online is a great way to give the dress a new life and help another bride-to-be find their dream dress, while also earning some extra cash.
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Transform into a christening gown
Many people repurpose their wedding dresses, and one popular option is to transform it into a christening gown. This is a great way to create a family heirloom and ensure that the dress is not forgotten at the back of a closet.
There are several companies that offer this service, such as Unbox the Dress, Infinity Keepsakes, and Lovell, who will transform your wedding dress into a christening gown for your baby. The process usually begins with a virtual or in-person consultation, where you can share your vision for the transformation. You can decide how much of the original design you want to keep, and whether you want to incorporate any special details.
If you plan to make the christening gown yourself, you can find a free or inexpensive wedding dress to practise on through online marketplaces or thrift stores. You can also ask friends and family if they have a dress they no longer want. When you have your dress, you can start planning the design of the christening gown. Consider taking fabric samples from inconspicuous areas of the dress to help you choose materials for the new design.
It is recommended that you get your wedding dress cleaned before beginning the transformation process, to remove any stains or discolouration. This will ensure that your new christening gown looks its best and can be cherished for generations to come.
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Create a keepsake
If you're looking to create a keepsake from your wedding dress, there are several options to consider. Firstly, you could transform your dress into a christening gown for a new baby, as seen in the example of a mother-in-law's wedding dress being repurposed to welcome the newest member of the family. This idea can be extended to create baptismal blankets, with names and birth dates embroidered inside, which can be used for generations.
Another option is to create a tree skirt, matching stockings, and decorative pillow covers from your wedding dress fabric. You can also use the fabric to create a photo mat for displaying wedding photos, a special way to keep those memories alive. If you're looking for smaller keepsakes, consider creating lace earrings, scarves, or a pendant necklace from the wedding dress fabric.
For those who want to preserve the dress in its entirety, you can opt for professional cleaning and preservation services to ensure its longevity. This is ideal if you wish to pass the dress down to future generations or display it as a cherished heirloom.
Additionally, you can repurpose your wedding dress into a special outfit for a significant anniversary celebration. This allows you to wear the dress again and create new memories, although this option may be more suitable for non-traditional wedding dresses or those comfortable with a clearly repurposed look.
There are endless possibilities for creating keepsakes from your wedding dress, and you can choose the option that best suits your personal preferences and sentimental values.
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Wear on your anniversary
There are several ways to repurpose your wedding dress and wear it on your anniversary. Here are some ideas:
Restyling
You can upcycle your wedding dress into a new design and wear it again on your anniversary. Companies like Unbox the Dress offer this service, allowing you to transform your gown into their existing designs or create custom restyling. You can decide how much of the original design you want to keep and collaborate with their design team to create a fresh look.
Accessories
If you don't want to wear the entire dress, you can repurpose parts of it into accessories to wear on your anniversary. This could include:
- A scarf made from the wedding dress lace.
- Jewellery, such as earrings, necklaces, or bracelets made from the dress fabric.
- A silk robe or lingerie with delicate lace and details from your gown.
Christening Gown
If you have a baby or are planning to in the future, you can transform your wedding dress into a christening gown for your little one. Companies like Unbox the Dress offer this service, allowing you to safely ship your dress and collaborate with their design team to create a cherished family heirloom.
Before repurposing your wedding dress, it is recommended to get it professionally cleaned to remove any stains or smudges from your wedding day. This will ensure that your dress looks its best for its second life.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to repurpose a wedding dress. Some people choose to donate their dress to organisations such as Brides Across America, Every Girl's Dream, Operation Prom, Cinderella's Closet, and Brides for a Cause. Others may choose to sell their dress on platforms such as Nearly Newlywed. There is also the option to transform the dress into something new, such as a christening gown, a tree skirt, a scarf, a pillow, or a pendant necklace.
Repurposing your wedding dress can help cut down on waste and reduce the carbon footprint associated with the wedding dress industry. It can also give your dress a new life and allow someone else to create new memories with it.
There are several companies and organisations that can help repurpose your wedding dress, such as Unbox the Dress, Fairy Godmother Creations, and Angel Gowns or Baby Gowns for Eternity. You can also find individuals or local businesses that specialise in dressmaking or custom creations.
Before repurposing your wedding dress, it is recommended to have it cleaned to remove any stains or smudges. This will ensure that your dress looks its best for its second life. You may also want to consider taking photos in your dress before making any alterations.
