Rhiannon Hendricks
The wedding dress is a symbol of love, romance, and happily ever after. But what happens after the celebrations are over? There are several options to consider. You could repurpose the dress into another garment, such as a mini dress or a two-piece set, or even a robe. You could also pass it on to a family member or donate it to a charity that provides wedding dresses to underprivileged brides. Another option is to sell the dress, either directly or through a consignment service, to give another bride the opportunity to wear it and create new memories. If you decide to keep the dress, consider getting it professionally cleaned and stored in a specialised box or display case to preserve its beauty and sentimental value.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preserve the dress | Get it professionally cleaned and preserved for storage |
| Store in a specialised box or display case, or frame the dress | |
| Hang correctly to avoid creases or damage | |
| Repurpose the dress | Transform into a new garment, such as a party dress, lingerie, or christening gown |
| Use the fabric for small decor pillows, a quilt, or other keepsakes | |
| Donate to organisations such as Angel Gowns or Baby Gowns for Eternity, which make gowns for stillborn infants | |
| Sell the dress | Resell through a dress shop, eBay, or a consignment service |
| Put money back in your pocket or raise money for charity |
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What You'll Learn
Donate to charity
Donating your wedding dress to charity is a great way to give back to the community and help those in need. Many charitable organizations accept wedding dress donations and use them to raise funds for various causes. One such organization is Brides for a Cause, a nonprofit organization that collects and resells wedding dresses to support women-focused charities. They accept donations from designers, manufacturers, and brides across the country and have raised over $3,000,000 for local and national charities.
Another option is Brides Against Breast Cancer, which resells gently used wedding gowns to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and early detection. The Brides Project in Michigan also raises money for cancer support services and programs through the resale of donated wedding dresses. If you're interested in supporting military brides, Brides Across America donates wedding dresses to military and first responder brides, outfitting over 28,000 women since 2008.
Your wedding dress can also be transformed into Angel Gowns or Baby Gowns for Eternity, which are burial gowns for stillborn infants. These organizations provide comfort to grieving families by offering these gowns free of charge. Donating your wedding dress is a selfless and generous act that can help make a difference in the lives of others. Not only does it provide much-needed support to various causes, but it also gives your wedding dress a new purpose and ensures it continues to spread joy.
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Sell it
If you're looking to sell your wedding dress, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, you could use a resale website such as Still White, eBay, Vestiare Collective, or Kleinfeld. These sites typically charge a fee for listing your dress, and you may need to pay a commission on the sale. Another option is to consign your dress to a bridal boutique, which will take care of the selling process for you, although you will only receive a percentage of the selling price.
Before selling your dress, it's important to ensure it is in good condition, as this will help it find a buyer. Consider having it professionally cleaned to remove any stains or marks. You should also be prepared to provide detailed measurements, high-quality photos, and a video if possible, to showcase the dress's movement and sparkle.
It's worth noting that you may not recoup a significant portion of the dress's original cost. However, selling your dress can be a sustainable option, as it extends the lifespan of the garment and offsets the resources needed to create a new dress. Additionally, your dress can bring joy to another bride who may not be able to afford a brand-new gown.
If you're unsure about selling your dress, you could consider other options such as repurposing it into a new garment, donating it to an organisation like Brides Across America, or having it professionally preserved to pass down to future generations.
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Repurpose it
If you're not ready to part with your wedding dress, repurposing it is a great option. You can transform your dress into a new garment, such as a formal dress for different occasions, or dye it a different colour. You could also turn it into lingerie, a christening gown for your baby, or a dress for your daughter to wear on her wedding day. If you don't want to cut up your dress, you could use the fabric to make small decorative pillows or a quilt that can be passed down for generations.
If you're feeling crafty, you can repurpose your wedding dress yourself. You could transform it into a new garment or use the fabric to create something new. Alternatively, you can work with a tailor or seamstress to create a new piece of clothing. There are also companies that specialise in repurposing wedding dresses, such as Unbox the Dress, which offers a range of design options to transform your dress into a bespoke keepsake.
If you're planning to repurpose your dress, it's important to get it professionally cleaned first to remove any stains, dirt, or sweat that may have accumulated during your wedding day. This will ensure that your dress is in the best possible condition before you start the transformation process.
Repurposing your wedding dress is a great way to give it a new life and create something special that you can cherish for years to come. Whether you do it yourself or work with a professional, there are endless possibilities for transforming your wedding dress into something new and unique.
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Get it professionally cleaned and preserved
Wedding dresses are often made from delicate materials and fabrics such as lace, taffeta, and silk. These are prone to damage and discolouration, even if they are stored away in a closet. Sugar stains, sweat, grass, and food and beverage stains are the most common types of damage that a wedding dress will face. The compounds found in sugar cause the fibres in the dress to break down, giving the fabric a yellowed appearance over time. Other stains that can cause yellowing include sweat, grass, and other food-related stains such as oil.
Having your wedding dress professionally cleaned and preserved is the best way to guarantee it will remain in perfect condition. This can be done at any time, but the sooner it is done after the wedding, the better the outcome. Professional cleaning will completely eliminate all the blemishes that accumulate from your wedding day activities. The process is not a one-size-fits-all offering, so a team of fabric experts will first identify and document each individual fabric in your dress. They will then formulate a wet and dry cleaning program unique and safe for your dress.
After your wedding dress is perfectly restored, it will receive a gentle pressing and be carefully boxed. It is important to store your boxed dress in a cool, dark place away from humidity, such as your closet or under your bed. Avoid storing it in your attic or cellar, as these areas are prone to temperature fluctuation, air and water leaks, and vermin damage.
There are mail-in wedding dress preservation services available that are safe, insured, and guaranteed for over 100 years. These services are also much cheaper than local dry cleaners, who will often outsource their cleaning to the same online companies.
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Wear it again
If you want to wear your wedding dress again, there are several options to consider. You could have it altered into a more wearable garment, such as a charming mini dress or a two-piece set, which you could even surprise your partner by wearing on your first anniversary. Simplifying any details that make it feel too bridal for everyday wear can help make it more versatile for multiple wears. For instance, you could remove the train or shorten the length to make it ankle, midi or mini length. You could also open up the neckline or create a top and skirt set, allowing you to adapt it to your style and get multiple wears.
Another option is to dye your dress a new colour, transforming it into a formal gown perfect for any number of special occasions. You could also host a party with your friends, giving everyone a chance to wear their wedding dresses again.
If you're feeling creative, you could even transform your wedding dress into a completely new garment, such as a christening gown, baby blanket, bassinet cover, or a robe that you can wear every day. You could also create something for your home, such as a throw pillow, quilt, artwork, or even a teddy bear.
If you're not ready to part with your dress but don't want to wear it again, you could have it professionally cleaned and preserved. This will keep it in pristine condition for years to come, and you can even store it in a viewing box so you can admire it whenever you like.
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Frequently asked questions
You could repurpose it, donate it, or preserve it. Repurposing could mean altering it into a garment you'd wear again, using the fabric for lingerie, or even making it into a christening gown for a baby. If you want to donate it, you could give it to an organisation that accepts wedding dress donations, such as Brides Across America, which gives dresses to military brides in need. If you'd like to preserve your dress, you could get it professionally cleaned and stored in a specialised box or display case, or you could frame it.
You could alter it into a garment you'd wear again, such as a formal dress for different occasions. You could also use the fabric for lingerie or a christening gown for a baby. If you're crafty, you could cut up the dress and use the fabric for other projects. You could also pass it down to someone else in your family.
You could give it to an organisation such as Brides Across America, which gives dresses to military brides in need, Brides for a Cause, which will resell the dress and use the proceeds for charity, or Cinderella's Closet, which turns wedding dresses into low-cost prom dresses for students from low-income families. You could also donate it to a charity that provides wedding dresses to underprivileged brides, or to a museum that exhibits wedding gowns and other bridal memorabilia.
