Rhiannon Hendricks
Wedding dresses are often passed down from generation to generation, and incorporating grandma's wedding dress into your own wedding is a wonderful way to add a touch of family history and love to your big day. Whether you're the bride-to-be or the grandmother of the bride, there are many ways to honour grandma on the day, from wearing the dress as a bridal robe to using the fabric to create something old, like a handkerchief, a ring bearer pillow, or a flower girl dress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wear it as your bridal robe | A modified way to wear the dress |
| Wear it as a veil | Modify an existing veil or create a new veil style |
| Wear it as a hair accessory | Wear a lace comb as a small detail in your hair |
| Use it as a handkerchief | Embroidered with both your and your grandma's wedding dates |
| Use it as a ring bearer pillow | Sew tubes from the dress and weave them together for the pillow top |
| Use it as a bouquet wrap | Wrap the fabric around your bouquet |
| Use it as a cake skirt | Embellish a small cake stand with lace |
| Use it as a table runner | Use it as a decoration on the sweetheart table |
| Use it as a pocket square or bowtie | Add a touch of lace to the pocket square |
| Use it as a flower girl dress or vest | Continue to pass it down to new babies and children in the family |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Use the lace to wrap your bridal bouquet
Wrapping your bridal bouquet with lace from your grandmother's wedding dress is a beautiful way to incorporate a piece of family history into your wedding day. It adds a vintage touch and can be a very special way to include a loved one in the ceremony even if they are no longer with you.
To create a bridal bouquet wrap, you will need lace fabric that complements your bouquet and overall wedding aesthetic. The lace should be long enough to wrap around the stems securely with a neat finish. You can source the lace from your grandmother's wedding dress by cutting it from a less visible part of the dress, such as the sleeve, or by asking your bridal salon or seamstress to provide extra lace that matches your dress or veil.
When preparing your bridal bouquet for wrapping, carefully trim and arrange the stems of your flowers, leaving them slightly longer than your desired final length. You can then wrap the lace securely around the stems, using discreet stitching or small pins to secure the fabric in place and create a polished look.
To add a further personal touch, consider attaching a cherished family heirloom such as a brooch, locket, or charm to the lace wrap. Alternatively, you can layer a strip of lace over a satin or velvet ribbon, allowing you to incorporate multiple textures and colours into your bouquet. This style is ideal for heirloom-style weddings and can be further personalised by attaching a family heirloom to the wrap.
Custom Wedding Dresses in NY: How Much Do They Cost?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Sew a patch onto your wedding dress
Sewing a patch onto your wedding dress is a great way to incorporate your grandmother's wedding dress into your big day. It adds a wonderful touch of family history and love to your wedding outfit.
There are a few different types of patches you can use. The first is an iron-on patch, which has a heat-activated adhesive on the back. These are used for quick repairs and are best for light to medium-weight fabrics. The second type is an adhesive patch, which has a sticky back and can be applied directly without heat or sewing. These are good for temporary fixes. The third type is a sew-on patch, which is the most secure option and will be the focus of this guide.
Firstly, gather your supplies: needle and thread, scissors, pins, and a thimble. Choose a thread colour that matches the edge of your patch for subtle stitching. If you want to keep your fabric tensioned and flat, use an embroidery hoop. Decide where you want to place the patch and pin it in place. If the patch is too thick for pins, use fabric glue or double-sided tape to hold it in place temporarily.
Cut your thread to about 18 inches, thread the needle, and tie the ends together. You will sew with a double thread. Start sewing from the backside of the fabric to hide the knot. Push the needle straight through both layers from the back, about one millimeter to the left of where you came up, and then go down through both layers again. Stay as close as possible to the edge of the patch. Move to the side, about a quarter of an inch, and go up again through both layers. Try to keep your stitches small, perpendicular to the patch, and close together. Using a thimble will help when pushing the needle through both layers of fabric.
When you have sewn all the way around, finish off with a little knot to secure the threads. If you run out of thread, simply knot it off and continue with a new thread.
You can also get creative with your patch. For example, you could embroider your wedding date or your initials on it. Alternatively, you could use a piece of your grandmother's wedding dress or veil to create a patch, adding a special touch to your outfit.
Choosing Your Courthouse Wedding Attire: Dress Code Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Make a ring cushion for the ring bearer
A ring cushion made from your grandmother's wedding dress is a beautiful way to include a family heirloom in your wedding. This is a project that can be done by hand or with a sewing machine, and the end result will be a unique and meaningful addition to your wedding day.
Firstly, you will need to cut your fabric. The size of the squares you cut will depend on the size of the cushion you want to make. For a small cushion, cut two squares of fabric that are around 7.5 inches by 7.5 inches. For a larger cushion, cut two squares of fabric that are 10 inches by 10 inches. You can also cut a longer piece of fabric for the top of the cushion, which will create a more three-dimensional shape. This piece should be around 7.5 inches by 17 inches. If you want to add a ribbon for the ring bearer to hold the cushion, cut a piece of ribbon that is around 2 inches long.
Next, you will need to prepare the fabric for sewing. On the longer piece of fabric (if using), make small chalk marks at 2-inch intervals along the long sides. On your ironing board, fold the fabric so that every other chalk mark matches up, and press with an iron. Stack the squares of fabric with the right sides together, and secure the edges with pins. If you are using a printed fabric, ensure that the print is facing in the correct direction on both pieces.
Now you are ready to sew the pieces together. Using a needle and thread or a sewing machine, sew along the edges of the fabric, leaving a small opening. If you are using the longer piece of fabric for the top, sew along the three sides without the marks. Clip the corners, turn the fabric through the opening, and press the raw edges into the opening.
Finally, you will need to stuff the cushion and add the finishing touches. Stuff the cushion with wadding, and hand-sew the opening closed. You can then hand-sew a piece of twine or ribbon to the centre of the cushion, creating a bow to tie the rings to. If you are using ribbon for the ring bearer to hold the cushion, sew or glue this to the underside of the cushion.
Your ring bearer cushion is now complete! This is a wonderful way to include your grandmother's wedding dress in your special day, and it can be passed down to future generations.
Wedding Guest Dresses: May Edition
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$129.99
Create a bridal purse or clutch
There are many ways to incorporate your grandmother's wedding dress into your bridal look without wearing the dress yourself. One option is to create a bridal purse or clutch from the dress fabric. This can be a wonderful way to have your grandmother with you on your special day.
One option for creating a bridal clutch from your grandmother's wedding dress is to use a service like Love, Amarie. They offer custom-made clutches crafted from heirloom dresses. You can discuss the style, colours, and design elements with the designer, and they will work with you to create a beautiful clutch that incorporates your grandmother's wedding dress fabric.
If you're feeling crafty, you could also try making your own bridal clutch from your grandmother's wedding dress. This option may be more stressful, especially if you are very sentimental about the dress, but it can be a rewarding experience. You could use parts of the dress, such as the sleeve, and add embellishments like D-rings or a strap to create a unique clutch. You could also hand-stitch lace and beading from the dress onto the outside of a simple envelope clutch, as described in this tutorial.
When creating a bridal clutch from your grandmother's wedding dress, consider adding personal touches such as a hand-embroidered wedding date or a custom lining with a monogram, initials, or a special message. You could also add a pocket inside the clutch made from a piece of your grandmother's dress. These special details will make your clutch a cherished memento of your wedding day.
In addition to creating a bridal clutch, there are other ways to incorporate your grandmother's wedding dress into your wedding day. You could use the fabric to create a ring bearer pillow, wrap your bridal bouquet, or add a lace detail to your hair. No matter which option you choose, including your grandmother's wedding dress in your celebration will add a wonderful touch of family history and love to your special day.
Viktor&Rolf Wedding Dresses: How Much Do They Cost?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Wear it as a bridal robe
If you want to wear your grandmother's wedding dress but don't want to wear it as your wedding dress, consider wearing it as a bridal robe. This way, you can still honour the sentimentality and symbolism of the dress while also choosing your own wedding dress.
You can wear your grandmother's wedding dress as your bridal robe in its original form, or you can modify it. For example, you could have it made into the 'I Do Wedding Day Robe', which can be crafted from your grandmother's dress and beautifully trimmed with her lace. This option will ensure you feel like a bride all day long, and you will love the photos of yourself getting ready in the morning.
If you want to wear your grandmother's dress as a robe but also want to take a piece of it down the aisle with you, consider using some of the fabric to wrap your bouquet. This way, you can carry a piece of your grandmother's dress with you as you walk down the aisle. You could also use the fabric as a lace cuff or buttons on your bouquet wrap, adding some beautiful detail to your flowers.
If you want to wear your grandmother's dress as a robe and also want to keep it in its original form, you could consider wearing it only while you get ready on the morning of your wedding. This way, you can still feel like a bride all day and have photos of yourself in the dress, but you can also choose your own wedding dress and not have to worry about modifying your grandmother's dress.
Pink Dresses: Wedding Wear or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to include a piece of grandma's wedding dress in your wedding. You could use the fabric to make a handkerchief, wrap your bridal bouquet with it, or make a ring pillow from it. You could also use the fabric to make a clutch, handbag, or pocket square.
You can modify the dress in a number of ways to wear on your wedding day. You could use the fabric to create a bridal robe, a veil, or a hair accessory such as a lace comb. You could also add an embroidered patch made from the fabric to your wedding dress.
If you don't want to wear a dress, you could use the fabric from grandma's wedding dress to create a bowtie, pocket square, or other accessories. You could also wear a modern and chic grandmother-of-the-bride dress, such as a one-shoulder column gown or an off-the-shoulder option, and accessorize it with a piece of the wedding dress fabric.
If you have a young family member who will be acting as a flower girl or ring bearer, you can have a flower girl dress, vest, or ring pillow made from the wedding dress fabric. You can also have a piece of the fabric made into a keepsake, such as a glass locket, for yourself and your family members.
