Deborah Chan
There are many options for what to do with your old wedding dress. Some people choose to keep their wedding dresses as they have nostalgic value. Others decide to repurpose their dresses, either by cutting them up to make items such as headbands, bracelets, bags, cushion covers, pillow slips, or even christening gowns for their children. There are also companies that can transform your dress into bespoke keepsakes. Alternatively, you could donate your dress to a charitable cause, such as Brides Across America, which provides free wedding dresses to military members and spouses, or The Emma and Evan Foundation, which transforms dresses into burial gowns for infants who have passed away.
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What You'll Learn
Donate to a charitable cause
Donating your wedding dress to a charitable cause is a great way to give your wedding dress a new life and support a good cause. Here are some options to consider:
Donate to a Bride in Need
You can donate your wedding dress to an organisation that supports brides who cannot afford a new gown. For example, organisations like Brides for a Cause and Brides Against Breast Cancer in the United States sell second-hand wedding dresses and donate their profits to charities. This way, you can give another bride the opportunity to wear your dress and support a charitable cause at the same time.
Support a Cancer Charity
Donating your wedding dress to a cancer charity is another option. Some organisations sell donated wedding dresses and use the profits to support cancer research or provide services for cancer patients. For example, one Reddit user mentioned a boutique in their town that sells donated dresses, with all profits going to a cancer support charity.
Angel Gowns for Babies
There are charities that transform wedding dresses into funeral gowns for babies who have passed away. These angel gowns are provided to grieving parents free of charge, offering them some comfort during their difficult time.
Before donating your wedding dress, it is a good idea to get it cleaned and ensure that it meets any requirements of the organisation you plan to donate to, such as any limits on the age of the dress. Donating your dress is a meaningful way to give back and create new memories for yourself and others.
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Repurpose into accessories
If you're looking to repurpose your wedding dress into accessories, there are several options to choose from. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Christening Gowns
You can transform your wedding dress into a christening gown for your baby or donate it to a charity that makes wedding dresses into christening gowns for babies who are stillborn or pass away shortly after birth. This is a beautiful way to create a family heirloom and pass on your wedding memories to the next generation.
Robes and Mini Dresses
Consider altering your wedding dress into a charming mini dress, a two-piece set, or a robe that you can wear on special occasions or even on your first anniversary. This allows you to wear a piece of your wedding day and relive those memories.
Accessories and Home Decor
Use the fabric from your wedding dress to create unique accessories such as a DIY lace headband, a pendant necklace, or a bouquet wrap. You can also incorporate pieces of your dress into home decor items like pillows, tablecloths, table runners, napkins, or even a photo mat for displaying wedding photos. These accessories and decor items will serve as daily reminders of your special day.
Keepsakes and Heirlooms
Create one-of-a-kind keepsakes and heirlooms from your wedding dress. You can make cushion covers, pillowcases, or quilts that can be passed down through generations. You can also add finishing touches like jewellery or other accessories to make these creations even more special.
Repurposing your wedding dress into accessories is a wonderful way to extend the life of your dress and create sentimental pieces that you or your loved ones can cherish for years to come.
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Transform into a christening gown
Transforming your wedding dress into a christening gown is a great way to preserve the memories associated with the dress. This project can be challenging, but the end result will be rewarding.
To begin, you will need to decide whether you want to deconstruct the wedding dress yourself or have it professionally deconstructed. If you choose to do it yourself, be sure to use the highest-quality materials you can afford and work carefully to avoid damaging the fabric. You may also want to create a vision board on Pinterest to help you plan the design of the christening gown. Once you have a design in mind, you can start deconstructing the wedding dress and cutting the fabric accordingly.
If you are using a section of fabric with a specific design element, be sure to centre your pattern pieces accordingly. Cut each piece in a single layer to ensure everything is lined up correctly. If your skirt has multiple layers, cut the overlay fabric about 2 inches longer than the lining to allow for hemming and gathering at the waist. You can always trim the excess fabric later.
When attaching gathered sections to flat pieces, such as setting the sleeves or attaching the skirt, sew with the gathered side on top to prevent the fabric from jamming. Avoid sewing over pins, especially when working with gathered elements, as this can lead to broken needles.
If your wedding dress hasn't been professionally cleaned, consider having the christening gown dry-cleaned at the end of the project to save costs. You can also add embellishments from the wedding gown to the christening gown for a special touch.
Transforming your wedding dress into a christening gown is a meaningful way to create new memories and pass down a cherished item to the next generation.
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Create new keepsakes
Wedding dresses are often cherished mementos that hold a lot of memories and can be transformed into various keepsakes. If you're handy with a sewing machine or know someone who is, you can turn your wedding dress into something new that you can use and love. Here are some ideas to create new keepsakes from your old wedding dress:
Clothing and Accessories
Transform your wedding dress into a charming mini dress, a two-piece set, or a cocktail dress that you can wear again on special occasions or even on your anniversary to surprise your partner. You can also create robes, allowing you to enjoy a piece of your wedding day every morning and night. If you have a simple gown, you can style it with non-bridal accessories and wear it as-is.
Home Decor and Keepsakes
Create sustainable home decor items such as tablecloths, table runners, napkins, curtains, or pillowcases embellished with fabric from your wedding dress. You can also make small keepsake items such as fancy headbands, hair bows, clutch handbags, or small bags for holding jewellery.
Baby and Christening Items
If you're expecting or know someone who is, you can transform your wedding dress into baby blankets, bassinet covers, or christening gowns for the new addition to the family.
Christmas and Holiday Decorations
Turn your wedding dress into Christmas tree skirts, angel tree toppers, guardian angel ornaments, or other sustainable Christmas decorations. You can even create small dove Christmas ornaments, following in the footsteps of a user on Reddit whose great aunt made similar ornaments from her mother's wedding dress, now treasured for over 40 years.
Heirloom Pieces
Create one-of-a-kind heirloom pieces that can be passed down through generations. Companies like Unbox the Dress specialise in transforming wedding dresses into bespoke keepsakes, including bridal robes, Christmas tree skirts, and angel ornaments.
Remember, if you're not sure where to start or need inspiration, platforms like Pinterest and Etsy offer endless DIY ideas and visuals for repurposing your wedding dress into meaningful keepsakes.
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Sell it
If you're not too emotionally attached to your wedding dress, selling it is a great way to recoup some of the money you spent on it. Wedding dresses are often very expensive, so selling yours can help ease the financial burden of your wedding. It's also a more sustainable option, as it gives your dress a second life and offsets the resources needed to make a new one.
There are several ways to sell your wedding dress. You could list it on a site like eBay or Craigslist, or use a website that specialises in selling used wedding dresses, such as Stillwhite.com, PreownedWeddingDresses or Nearly Newlywed. You could also sell it through a local bridal resale shop or consignment store, which will take care of the marketing for you. If your dress is 20 years or older, you may be able to sell it to a vintage store.
Before you sell your wedding dress, it's important to make sure it's in good condition. Get it professionally cleaned, and inspect it for any stains or strong smells. If your dress has been altered, make sure to disclose this beforehand. You should also be prepared to lower the listing price if you want to sell it quickly.
When selling your dress online, it's important to present it well. Take clear, full-length photos of the dress from every angle, and include some close-up shots of any intricate details. You may also want to include photos of yourself wearing the dress, so potential buyers can see how it fits. Provide a detailed description of the garment, including accurate measurements.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several options for what to do with your old wedding dress. You could repurpose it, donate it, keep it, or sell it.
You could transform your wedding dress into something else, such as a christening gown, a bridal robe, a bouquet wrap, a hankie, a veil, or a purse. You could also cut up the fabric and use it to make headbands, bracelets, bags, cushion covers, pillowcases, or photo frames.
You could donate your wedding dress to charitable organisations such as Brides Across America, Cherie Sustainable Bridal, or The Emma and Evan Foundation. These organisations pass on wedding dresses to brides in need, such as military and first responder brides, or transform them into angel gowns for infants who have passed away.
Donating your wedding dress can free up space in your closet and help others in need. It can also come with benefits such as tax deductions.
You could try selling your wedding dress online, either by yourself or through a partner store of a bridal organisation.
