Rhiannon Hendricks
Wedding dresses are traditionally only worn once, but many brides are now opting for rewearable dresses or finding ways to repurpose their dresses. Some brides have their dresses altered into a more wearable garment, such as a charming mini dress, a two-piece set, or a robe. Others choose to dye their dresses a different colour, turning them into formal gowns perfect for special occasions. For those who want to keep their dress as it is, there are ways to style it with jewellery, jackets, and accessories to make it more wearable for special occasions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Occasion | Choose to wear the dress again for a special occasion, such as an anniversary or birthday. |
| Alterations | Alter the dress to make it more wearable, e.g. shorten the length, remove the train, or turn it into a two-piece set or a robe. |
| Dyeing | Dye the dress a different colour to make it less bridal and more suitable for other occasions. |
| Accessories | Layer with jewellery, jackets, and accessories to make the dress more casual. |
| Preservation | Get the dress professionally cleaned and preserved to keep it in good condition for future wear. |
| Heirloom | Pass the dress down to future generations as an heirloom. |
| Art | Frame the dress and hang it on the wall as a piece of art. |
| Donation | Donate the dress to organisations such as Brides Across America, which gives dresses to military brides in need. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Host a wedding dress party
If you're looking for an opportunity to wear your wedding dress again, why not host a wedding dress party? This could be for a birthday, anniversary, or just for fun! Here's how to make it happen:
Pick a Date and Theme
Choose a date for your party and decide on a theme. It could be a simple get-together with friends or a more formal event. If you want to make it extra special, you could tie it to a significant date, like your wedding anniversary or a birthday.
Guest List and Invitations
Create a guest list and send out invitations. You can either make this an intimate gathering with close friends or extend the invite to all your married friends, encouraging them to wear their wedding dresses too.
Venue and Atmosphere
Decide on a venue that suits the size and style of your party. If you're having a more casual get-together, you might host it at your home or a local hall. For a more formal event, consider a venue that fits the theme and atmosphere you're aiming for.
Food and Drinks
Plan a menu that suits the style of your party. Whether it's a sit-down dinner or a casual buffet, choose options that are easy to manage while wearing a wedding dress! Don't forget to stock up on drinks, including celebratory options like champagne or cocktails.
Entertainment
Depending on your guest list size and style of party, consider having some form of entertainment. It could be a simple playlist of fun, danceable music, or you could hire a band or DJ. Games or activities that encourage guests to show off their dresses could also be a fun addition.
Accessories and Alterations
If you want to change up your wedding dress look, consider adding some fun accessories or even making alterations to your dress. You could add a pop of colour with a statement necklace, earrings, or hair accessories. If you're feeling adventurous, you could even dye or airbrush your wedding dress to give it a new look.
Preservation and Storage
After the party, if you wish to preserve your wedding dress as a keepsake, consider getting it professionally cleaned and packaged to maintain its condition. This will ensure that your dress remains stain-free and pristine, allowing you to view it whenever you like.
Hosting a wedding dress party is a unique and fun way to celebrate with your friends and give your wedding dress another moment to shine!
Affordable Wedding Dresses: Spending Less Than $1000
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Alter your dress
Altering your wedding dress is a great way to transform it into a garment you can wear again. You can work with a tailor or seamstress to create a new piece of clothing that you can wear on repeat. Here are some ideas for altering your wedding dress:
Shorten the length
Consider keeping your dress floor-length but removing the train, or go for a more dramatic change by shortening it to ankle, midi, or mini length. This simple hem alteration can make your wedding dress more wearable and versatile. You can style a shortened dress in various ways, such as layering a roll-neck underneath or adding a jumper, jacket, or blazer on top.
Simplify the details
Simplifying certain details can make your wedding dress feel less bridal and more suitable for everyday wear. For example, you can open up a high neckline into a square shape with spaghetti straps, making it perfect for a summer party.
Create a two-piece set
Turn your wedding dress into two garments—a top and a skirt. This way, you'll get multiple wears out of your dress and can adapt it to suit different styles and occasions.
Dye it a new colour
If you're certain you won't wear your wedding dress again but don't want to part with it, consider dyeing it a new colour. This will transform your dress into a formal gown perfect for special occasions. For example, you can dye a white wedding dress a deep blue or a baby pink shade, giving it a new lease of life.
Remember, the cost of altering your wedding dress will depend on the level and complexity of the changes. However, the cost of rewearing your dress can outweigh spending on a new one, and you'll get to cherish the memories of your special day each time you wear it.
Sheer Magic: A-Line Wedding Dresses for Your Dreamy Day
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dye your dress
Dyeing your wedding dress is a great way to transform it into a formal gown that you can wear to special occasions. If you're not planning on wearing your wedding dress again, but don't want to part with it or cut it up, consider dyeing it a new colour. This will give your dress a new lease of life and present you with more options for re-wearing it.
Dyeing your wedding dress can be a fun DIY project, and there are many natural dyes you can use to achieve your desired colour. You can also seek the help of a professional dyer to achieve a more complex colour or to dye a delicate fabric. For example, Cavan Jayne, a natural dyer, helped a bride dye her wedding dress a deep blue colour. Similarly, stylist Gemma Sort Chilvers turned her wedding dress into a baby pink shade, inspired by Gwyneth Paltrow's 1999 Oscars gown.
If you're feeling creative, you can experiment with different dyeing techniques such as tie-dye, shibori, or batik to create a unique pattern on your dress. You can also try airbrushing your wedding dress with fabric paint to switch up the look.
Keep in mind that dyeing your wedding dress may require some alterations to make it more wearable for everyday use. You can consider shortening the design to ankle, midi, or mini length, or removing the train to create a more relaxed feel. These simple hem alterations can make your wedding dress more versatile and suitable for various occasions.
Scholarship Secrets: Wedding Dresses for Less
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$13.59 $16.99
Frame your dress
Framing your wedding dress is a unique way to preserve and display your dress. It is a wonderful way to admire your dress every day and be reminded of your special day.
There are companies that specialize in framing wedding dresses, such as The Beautiful Frame Company, Outrageous Framing, and Bespoke Framing. These companies can work with you to create a stunning art piece that you can hang on your wall.
Before framing your dress, it is important to consider the size of the frame and whether you have a wall large enough to accommodate it. The cost of framing can also vary, with quotes ranging from $1200 to $5000, so it is recommended to shop around and get multiple quotes from local framing stores.
Additionally, if you are handy and want to save money, you could consider framing your dress yourself. This could be a fun DIY project, and there are many resources available, such as Pinterest and other online forums, that can provide ideas and inspiration for framing your wedding dress.
Stay Dry on Your Big Day: Tips for Your Wedding Dress
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Pass it down
Passing down a wedding dress to future generations is a great way to preserve a family heirloom. To ensure the dress stays in good condition, it is recommended to get it professionally cleaned and packaged. This will prevent the dress from staining or yellowing.
Another way to pass down your wedding dress is to repurpose it into something else. You can work with a tailor or seamstress to create a new piece of clothing, such as a charming mini dress, a two-piece set, or a robe. You can even create multiple garments, such as a top and a skirt, from one dress. This will allow you to get more wear out of your wedding dress and adapt it to your style.
If you want to keep the dress as it is, you can still wear it again by styling it with different accessories. Layering jewellery, jackets, and other accessories can transform your wedding gown into an outfit suitable for a wedding guest.
You can also pass down your wedding dress by using the fabric to create something new for future generations. The fabric can be used to create a family heirloom, such as a baptism or christening gown for future children, or other mementos like jewellery and headbands. Other ideas include crafting baby blankets, bassinet covers, pillows, tablecloths, table runners, or napkins.
The Dual-Tone Wedding Dress Trend: Two-Tone Gowns for Brides
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to rewear your wedding dress. You can get it altered into a more wearable garment, such as a mini dress, a two-piece set, or a fun party dress. You can also dye it a new colour to give it a new lease of life.
One of the easiest ways to make your wedding dress more wearable is to shorten the design. You can keep it floor-length and remove the train, or shorten it to ankle, midi, or mini length. By doing this, you can take away the 'bridal' element that may make you hesitant to wear your dress again.
You can create something special for your home, such as a throw pillow, quilt, artwork, or even a teddy bear. You can also frame your wedding dress and hang it on your wall as a stunning art piece and a sentimental reminder of your wedding day.
You can wear your wedding dress again whenever you feel comfortable. Some people choose to wear their wedding dress on their first anniversary, while others opt for a special date night or a birthday celebration. You can also host a wedding dress party with your friends and create new memories in your dress.
