Junior Rasmussen
Wedding dresses are often kept in storage for years, but there are many ways to reuse or repurpose your wedding dress. You can either have it professionally preserved, donate it, or repurpose it into home decor. You can also sell your dress to make some extra cash and give it a new life. There are many ways to repurpose your wedding dress, such as dyeing and transforming it into a new outfit, or creating smaller items like pillows, purses, or even a christening gown.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reuse | Donate, sell, or repurpose into a new item |
| Repurpose | Frame, display as art, or transform into a new item |
| Transform | Dye, cut, or sew into a new item |
| New item | Gown, christening outfit, pillow, purse, blanket, tree skirt, stockings, etc. |
| Donate | Give to a company that repurposes wedding dresses for charity |
| Sell | Use a preowned wedding dress seller or a general resale or consignment service |
| Preserve | Professionally preserve to maintain quality and pass down to someone else |
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What You'll Learn
Get your wedding dress framed
A wedding dress is perhaps the most special piece of clothing you will ever own, so it is understandable if you don't want to part with it. Framing your wedding dress is a great way to preserve it and turn it into a keepsake or piece of decor that you can proudly display in your home. Here are some tips to help you get your wedding dress framed:
Choose a professional framing service
While it is possible to frame your wedding dress yourself, it is recommended to seek the help of a professional framing company. They can guarantee that your dress will not be damaged during the framing process and can advise on the best ways to preserve your dress, such as maintaining the pH balance, using museum-grade UV protective glass, and stitching through seams to keep the dress in place. The Beautiful Frame Company and Outrageous Framing are two companies that offer wedding dress framing services.
Prepare your dress
Before framing your wedding dress, it is important to have it professionally cleaned to remove any stains or smudges. This will ensure that your dress looks its best and is well-preserved for its second life. You may also want to consider having it dry-cleaned and stored in an acid-free box before framing.
Decide on the framing style
There are several options to consider when framing your wedding dress. You can choose to display the entire dress or just the accessories, such as the veil, jewellery, and shoes. If you opt for a full-size frame, you can decide on the angle and positioning of the dress to create a visually appealing display. Alternatively, you can choose a half-size frame, where the bodice is the main focus and the skirt is folded up behind.
Consider the cost
The cost of framing your wedding dress will depend on the company you choose and the type of framing you select. Full-size dress framing will typically be more expensive than half-size or accessory-only framing. Prices for dress framing services can start as low as £900, and you can expect to receive a quote from the framing company before committing to the service.
Find the right display space
Before framing your wedding dress, ensure that you have a wall large enough to accommodate the frame. Consider displaying your framed dress in your bedroom, on a large landing area, or in your office. You may also want to think about the lighting conditions of the space and choose a frame that offers UV protection to prevent the dress's colour from fading.
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Dye and transform your dress into something new
Dyeing your wedding dress is a great way to transform it into something new and give it a second life. It can be a fun project to embark on, and you can end up with a unique piece that you can wear for years to come.
If you're feeling creative, you can try dyeing your dress at home. Tasha, a bride from THE OWN STUDIO, shared her experience dyeing and tailoring her wedding dress. She first cut off the train of her dress, which she later dyed a beautiful dark blue with a touch of teal. She also cut out a piece of the original white fabric and added it to the inside of the dress as a memento. She now has a 'new' blue dress that she has worn multiple times and continues to cherish.
When choosing a colour, consider shades that you love to wear, especially for occasion wear. You can also look at occasion wear from the brand of your wedding dress for inspiration. It is important to choose a colour that will also disguise any marks on the dress. You can purchase liquid fabric dye from local shops or online, such as RIT dye, which comes in various shades, including black, chocolate brown, and tan. The amount of dye you need will depend on the desired shade and the weight of the fabric. For a very light dress, you may need to double the amount of dye to achieve a darker colour.
If you're unsure about dyeing your dress at home, you can seek professional services. Andrea Hawkes Bridal offers a natural dyeing and botanical print service, allowing you to transform your wedding dress into something unique that you can wear again for special occasions. Their process includes cleaning the dress, dyeing it, and making alterations to the shape, such as changing or removing sleeves and necklines, and altering hemlines and length. The cost of their service depends on the complexity of the alterations, with prices starting at £775 for dress shortening.
Another option for professional dyeing is Nicola Killeen Textiles, recommended by THE OWN STUDIO. They offer a range of shades to choose from and can help you select the right colour for your dress.
Whether you choose to dye your dress at home or seek professional help, always remember to test the dye on a small portion of the fabric first to ensure the colour turns out as expected. You can also cut off a piece of the original fabric before dyeing, allowing you to preserve a part of your wedding dress as a memento.
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Create a miniature replica of your dress
If you're looking to reuse your wedding dress, one option is to create a miniature replica of it. This can be done by commissioning a custom-made miniature from a boutique design label such as BelaFabrica, which specializes in one-of-a-kind handmade miniatures in 1:6 and 1:12 scale. You can also order a made-to-order miniature replica of your wedding dress from The Mini Wedding Dress Company, which offers replicas in a glass display dome.
Creating a miniature replica of your wedding dress allows you to preserve the memory of your special day in a unique and sentimental way. It can be displayed as a keepsake or even used as a cake topper or centerpiece at future celebrations.
If you're feeling crafty, you could also try making the miniature replica yourself. This option may be more cost-effective, but it requires time, patience, and some level of sewing and crafting skills. You can use the original fabric from your wedding dress or source similar fabrics and embellishments to create a miniature version.
When creating a miniature replica, consider the following steps:
- Start by taking detailed measurements of your wedding dress, including the length, width, and any unique features such as the train or sleeves.
- Create a pattern or template based on your measurements. You can find basic patterns online or in craft stores, which you can then modify to match the style of your dress.
- Choose the fabric for your miniature. If you're using the original fabric, carefully take apart the dress, preserving each piece as a pattern for the miniature. If you're using new fabric, select materials that match the color, texture, and weight of the original as closely as possible.
- Cut out the fabric pieces according to your pattern, taking care to allow for seams and any desired alterations.
- Sew the pieces together, following the structure of the original dress as closely as possible. Pay attention to details such as darts, pleats, and embellishments, as these will add to the overall resemblance of the miniature.
- Finally, add any finishing touches, such as beading, lace, or other decorations, to capture the essence of your wedding dress in miniature form.
Creating a miniature replica of your wedding dress allows you to cherish the memories of your special day while also giving new life to the fabric and design. Whether you commission a custom-made piece or create it yourself, the miniature will become a cherished memento for years to come.
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Sell your dress to make some money back
If you're looking to make some money back after your wedding, selling your dress is a great option. There are several online platforms that can help you sell your wedding dress, such as:
- Stillwhite: The world's largest wedding dress marketplace, where you can list your dress for a small one-off fee and set your own price. You can also keep your contact details private and accept secure online payments.
- Nearly Newlywed: A preowned wedding dress seller that offers gown cleaning as part of the selling process.
- Preowned Wedding Dresses: A platform to buy or sell new, sample, and used designer wedding dresses, accessories, and bridal party gowns.
Before selling your dress, it's a good idea to get it cleaned to remove any stains or smudges from your wedding celebrations. This will ensure your dress looks its best for its new owner.
It's worth noting that some companies only accept dresses that are less than five to seven years old, so be sure to research local companies that may take older dresses. Selling your dress is a wonderful way to recoup some of the costs of your wedding while also helping another bride find their dream dress at a more affordable price.
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Donate your dress to someone in need
Donating your wedding dress is a great way to give it a ''second life'' and allow another bride to wear it. It is also beneficial to the environment by reducing waste and pollution, and it helps free up storage space. There are several organizations that accept wedding dress donations and redistribute them to brides in need.
Brides for a Cause is a nonprofit organization that collects and resells wedding dresses to raise funds for various local and national charities. They accept donations from designers, manufacturers, and brides all over the country. You can pop your dress in the mail or drop it off at one of their locations.
Cherie Sustainable Bridal in Maryland is another option. They support Success in Style, a nonprofit that offers professional clothing and basic interview skills to clients in crisis. They stock designer gowns less than five years old and also accept bridesmaid dress donations. You can drop off your dress in person or mail it following the instructions on their website.
Brides Against Breast Cancer is another nonprofit that resells gently used wedding gowns to raise money for breast cancer awareness and early detection. They have sold over 50,000 donated wedding dresses, with proceeds going towards their mission of helping people detect breast cancer earlier and prevent misdiagnosis.
The NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown program accepts wedding dress donations and uses the fabric to create gowns for photos and burial services for infants who have passed away. This is a great option if you want to help bereaved parents honor their infants.
In addition to these organizations, you can also consider donating your dress to a local donation center or a specific cause that resonates with you. Donating your wedding dress is a selfless and generous act that can bring joy to someone in need while also helping the environment and creating more space in your closet.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to repurpose your wedding dress. You can either get it professionally preserved, donate it, or sell it. If you want to keep it, you can turn it into a piece of art by framing it or displaying it in a shadow box.
There are several online platforms that allow you to sell your wedding dress. Some of these include Nearly Newlywed, Etsy, and preowned wedding dress sellers.
You can dye your wedding dress and transform it into something you can wear again. You can also use parts of your dress to create other items such as a pillow, a clutch, a robe, a christening gown, a wreath, or a tree skirt.
