Franklin Dean
There are many ways to repurpose an old wedding dress. Some people may opt to redesign it for a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower outfit, while others may use pieces of it for a wedding handkerchief, a ring bearer pillow, or a bridal bouquet wrap. If you're feeling crafty, you could also make bow ties, a quilt, a tree skirt, or Christmas ornaments. For those who want to keep the dress as a family heirloom, you can transform it into a custom wedding garter or a wedding morning robe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Accessories | Wedding purse, garter, pendant necklace, bow ties, pocket squares, bridal veil, wedding morning robe, bomber jacket, custom bridal sneakers |
| Decorations | Christmas ornaments, angel ornaments, bird ornaments, tree skirt, photo mat, photo frame, wedding album cover, memory bears |
| Functional items | Quilt, ring bearer pillow, tooth fairy pillow, handkerchief, bridal bouquet wrap, patch for the inside of a wedding dress |
| Clothing | Christening gown, wedding handkerchief, bridal shower outfit, rehearsal dinner outfit |
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What You'll Learn
Create a wedding handkerchief, garter or ring pillow
There are many ways to repurpose an old wedding dress, including creating a wedding handkerchief, garter or ring pillow. Here are some ideas and instructions to get you started:
Wedding Handkerchief
A wedding handkerchief is a thoughtful and useful gift for the bride or groom. It can be made from the fabric of the old wedding dress, preferably with a bit of lace or beadwork included. If you're handy with a needle and thread, you can sew a rolled hem to give it a neat finish. Alternatively, you can glue the fabric together if you're not confident with sewing. This is a simple way to create a meaningful keepsake.
Garter
Creating a garter from an old wedding dress is a beautiful way to incorporate something old into a new wedding. Start by washing and drying the dress, then cut it into sections to work with. Cut a tube of fabric from the dress, with elastic measuring about 2/3 of the tube length. Sew the ends of the elastic together, then fold and stitch the tube ends together. You can add embellishments like fabric flowers, bows, lace or beading. You could even add some blue stitching for the bride's "something blue".
Ring Pillow
A ring pillow is a unique way to showcase the wedding rings during the ceremony. You can send your dress to companies such as Unbox the Dress, who will transform it into a ring pillow. They offer custom designs and embellishments, such as satin ribbons to secure the rings. Alternatively, you could cut and sew the fabric yourself, adding embellishments and creating a square pillow to showcase the rings.
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Make a pendant necklace or other jewellery
There are many ways to repurpose an old wedding dress to create beautiful jewellery pieces, especially pendant necklaces. This is a great way to preserve a piece of your wedding dress and always have a token from your special day close to your heart.
One way to make a pendant necklace from your old wedding dress is to cut out a small piece of the dress fabric, preferably with some lace detailing, and place it between two pieces of glass that fit inside a pendant. You can use a small amount of clear glue to keep the fabric from sliding and add a little super glue to the pendant's latch to prevent it from accidentally opening. You can then attach this pendant to a necklace chain.
If your wedding dress has beading or other details on the lace, you can remove them with a seam ripper and save them to incorporate into your necklace or other jewellery pieces. For example, you could create a bracelet with the beads or sequins from the dress.
You can also create a pendant by cutting out a piece of the wedding dress fabric and placing it inside a pendant tray. You can get creative and use fabric stiffening products or liquid starch to shape the fabric into an ornament and add a ribbon to hang it as a necklace.
Another idea is to create a picture frame ornament with a piece of lace from the wedding dress. You can also decoupage small pieces of the fabric onto a globe ornament using mod podge or similar products. These ornaments can be hung as necklaces or displayed as sentimental keepsakes.
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Sew a patch for the inside of a wedding dress
There are many ways to repurpose an old wedding dress, from creating a quilt to making Christmas ornaments. However, this answer will focus on sewing a patch for the inside of a wedding dress.
Choosing a Patch
First, you must choose a patch that suits your purpose. Do you want to repair a hole, or are you looking to add a decorative touch? If you want to repair a hole, consider whether it might get bigger over time. If so, sew it closed with a hand stitch before adding the patch.
Preparing the Patch
Select a thread that matches the outer edge of your patch if you want the stitches to be subtle. Pin the patch to the fabric, or, if the patch is too thick for pins, use fabric glue or double-sided hem tape to hold it in place temporarily. If the patch has a sticky back or is an iron-on, follow the instructions to attach it to the fabric, but it is still advisable to sew it down to secure it.
Sewing the Patch
When sewing the patch, use a double thread and start from the backside of the fabric to hide the knot. Try to keep your stitches small and perpendicular to the patch, staying as close as possible to the edge. Using a thimble will help when pushing the needle through the fabric. Finish off with a little knot to secure the thread.
Embroidering the Patch
You can also embroider the patch before sewing it into the wedding dress. You could embroider the couple's initials, their wedding date, a heart, or a monogram. You could even make it blue to be the bride's "something blue"!
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Design a bridal jacket, veil or sneakers
Design a Bridal Jacket
You can design a bridal jacket out of an old wedding dress by simplifying the details that make the dress feel too bridal for everyday wear. This could involve removing lace details, beading, or sleeves. You can strip the design back to a simple silk design, which will allow you to style it with your favorite accessories. You can also cut the dress into two pieces, a top and a skirt, and wear the top with jeans, skirts, leather trousers, or shorts.
Design a Bridal Veil
Making your own bridal veil is a great way to save money and create a unique accessory for your wedding day. You don't have to be an expert seamstress to make your own veil, but it does require some basic sewing skills and a sewing machine. First, decide on the style and length of your veil. You can find many tutorials and patterns online or in bridal magazines. Choose the appropriate fabrics for your veil, such as bridal illusion tulle, silk, or English net. These fabrics may be difficult to find in regular craft stores, so consider ordering them online or from a specialty fabric store. Cut and pin the fabric according to your pattern, and then start stitching. If you're not confident in your sewing skills, you can always enlist the help of a friend or family member.
Design Bridal Sneakers
Custom bridal sneakers are a unique and comfortable option for your wedding day. You can start with a pair of plain white sneakers or choose any color and style that you feel comfortable in. Then, decorate the sneakers with crystals, pearls, rhinestones, glitter, embroidery patches, or paint. You can also add gold chiffon or satin shoelaces to match your wedding theme. Clean the sneakers with wet wipes before starting to ensure they are free of dirt or stains. Use a syringe to fill glue into the needle tip, allowing for precision when adhering decorations to the sneakers.
Other Ideas
If you're looking for other ideas to make out of your old wedding dress, consider simplifying the design to make it more suitable for everyday wear. You can remove any overly bridal details and change the neckline to give it a different feel. Alternatively, cut the dress to ankle length and pair it with heels or boots for a more playful look. You can also make a quilt, purse, or tree skirt out of your old wedding dress, allowing you to cherish the memories of your special day for years to come.
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Craft a bow tie or pocket square
If you're looking to craft a bow tie or pocket square from an old wedding dress, there are a few ways to go about it.
Crafting a Bow Tie
Firstly, decide whether you want to sew the bow tie or not. A no-sew bow tie can be made in a hurry, whereas a sewn bow tie may take a little longer. If you're going down the no-sew route, you'll need some elastic bands and safety pins, as well as the fabric from your old wedding dress. Cut the fabric into rectangles, using pinking shears to prevent fraying. Wrap a strip of fabric around an elastic band to form the centre of the bow tie, securing it at the back with a safety pin. Repeat this process until you have enough bows, then thread some fishing wire through the centre to hang them.
If you're sewing the bow tie, you'll need to cut out the fabric and iron the interfacing onto the "wrong" side. Sew the seams together, leaving the ends open, then flip the fabric right side out. Sew the open edges to close them, and iron the fabric flat.
Crafting a Pocket Square
Pocket squares can be decorative or functional. If you're going for a decorative option, consider a patterned design or a fabric that can't be tossed into the wash, like silk. If you're going for a functional option, a handkerchief can serve as a pocket square and be used to clean glasses or dab away tears.
When it comes to folding the pocket square, there are multiple ways to do it, including flat, one-point, two-point, three-point, four-point, puff, winged-puff, and presidential. The type of fold you choose may depend on the formality of the occasion and the outfit it will be paired with. For example, a tuxedo may call for a more formal fold, like the "presidential", usually in a solid colour like white.
There are services available that can help you craft a pocket square from your old wedding dress, such as Unbox the Dress. They provide a secure shipping container, the DressBox, which you can use to send in your dress along with your preferred design.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to repurpose an old wedding dress. Some ideas include:
- Using the fabric to make a ring bearer pillow, which can later be used as a tooth fairy pillow.
- Redesigning the dress into a bridal shower outfit or rehearsal dinner outfit.
- Creating a wedding handkerchief, garter, or bridal veil.
- Making a pendant necklace or other jewellery.
- Creating Christmas ornaments.
Some ideas for repurposing an old wedding dress for men include:
- Bow ties.
- Pocket squares.
Some ideas for repurposing an old wedding dress for non-wedding purposes include:
- Creating a quilt.
- Using the fabric as a cover for a wedding album.
- Making a tree skirt.
