What to do with your Wedding Dress after your Big Day
Are you wondering what you can do with your wedding gown after your wedding? If so, then this article was written with you in mind. A wedding dress requires a lot of time, thinking and money yet it is something that is worn for only one night. Therefore, it is good to think of ways to use it even after your wedding. That said, here are 14 things you can do with your wedding dress after your wedding:
1. Preserve Your Wedding Dress
If you would like to repurpose your wedding dress into a family heirloom, consider professional wedding dress preservation. This can cost up to £800. The good thing is that professional wedding dress preservation is worth the cost. Wedding preservation costs can range from £160 to £800 and there are few options to choose from. If you opt for professional cleaning, use a dress preservation specialist.
Note that preservation and cleaning are not the same. If you decide to clean your wedding dress all by yourself, read the label instructions carefully before cleaning it.
Also is also wise to spot test a small, hidden portion of your wedding dress as cleaning agents can react negatively with the fabric. Use a super soft-bristled brush to clean. Since oils from your skin can soak into the fabric, wear white cotton gloves while cleaning the dress. Use acid-free tissue paper in your storage box. Keep the storage box in a place that is not exposed to high temperatures and/or harsh lights or damp places.
2. Turn Your Wedding Dress into Art
Turning your wedding dress into art can be a good way to make your wedding dress last a lifetime. Frame your dress and hang it on your bathroom walls or closet to create a unique and beautiful artwork. You can either choose to have your dress framed by a professional or you can do the framing all by yourself.
3. Reimagine Your Wedding Dress
Photo by: Leah Kelley
You can also recycle your wedding dress by turning it into a brand-new piece of clothing. Your choice on how to do this depends on your preferences and personal lifestyle. For instance, the seamstress you are working with can make your dress a formal cocktail dress that you can wear during a big event or accessories such as lingerie or a clutch.
4. Sell the Dress
Wedding dresses are expensive. The good thing is that you can get back some of the money you paid for your wedding dress by selling it. There are many options for selling your wedding dress on the internet.
You can sell your dress on social media sites like Facebook Marketplace, post a listing on sites that sell used wedding dresses such as StillWhite, Preowned Wedding Dresses, and Nearly Newlywed or visit a Bridal Reloved shop. It is up to you to decide whether or not you want to sell your wedding dress. Sell your wedding dress if:
-If you think you spent a lot of money on your wedding and you want to get back some of the money you spent.
-You feel a tad guilty that your wedding dress was bought for you by a loved one and you would like to repay the kindness to others
-You want some money to spend on your honeymoon
-You are planning to start a vow renewal fund, a healthcare fund (such as a personal FSA), or save for retirement.
It may be a good idea to keep your dress if:
-You can afford professional cleaning and preservation cost
-You are a nostalgic person who would like to relive her wedding day by looking at her wedding dress on a regular basis
-You would like your children to wear their wedding dress during their wedding
-You are a crafty person who would like to repurpose his or her gown into a cocktail dress or something like a quilt that will be passed from one generation to the next
-You would like to wear the wedding gown when you renew your views
5. Donate the Dress
You can donate your wedding dress instead of selling it even after it has been altered. Apart from the fact that it is not a daunting task, donating enables you to give your gown to a person who cannot afford to buy a new gown. You can donate your dressing gowns to your local Goodwill or work with a nonprofit such as Brides Across America. It is a lovely gesture to donate your wedding gown.
6. Create a Costume Closet
You can choose to hang your wedding dress in your costume closet and add other outfits and props as time goes by and use it for photoshoots, costume parties, or for “dress up” if families come over to your house or you have or are planning to have children.
7. Repurpose It for Your Children
You can turn your wedding gown into a piece of formal clothing or christening gown for your children. For instance, you can turn it into an outfit for their first school day picture or Easter dress. Repurposing your wedding dress for your kids or family friends is a very good idea.
8. Make Home Décor Items Out of Your Wedding Dress
Making home décor items out of your wedding dress is a fun way to relive your wedding memories from time to time. There are many creative ways to use your wedding dress including memory cushions or appliqué pictures.
9. Use It to Create New Holiday Decorations
You can use your wedding gown to update your holiday decorations. Some of the ways to use your wedding dress include using it as a Christmas tree skirt, a Thanksgiving tablecloth, heart-shaped Valentine’s Day doilies, and as holiday ornaments. Using your wedding dress in such ways allows you to recycle your gown without compromising the intactness of the dress.
10. Dye Your Dress
If you don’t want to redesign the structure of your dress, consider dyeing it a different color. This enables you to retain the formality of your wedding dress while providing places you can wear the dress such as friend’s weddings, galas, holiday parties and so on.
11. Do a “Trash the Dress” Photoshoot
Trashing your wedding dress for a photoshoot is highly-trendy. You can choose to take photos of you in your wedding dress getting muddy on a farm with horses, in the ocean, having you and/or your children pain your dress like a blank canvas or rolling around in a field of flowers. There are many options when it comes to trashing your wedding dress. Look for some brilliant ideas on trashing your wedding dress on Pinterest.
12. Hold a Themed Party
You can hold a wedding-themed cocktail party for your girlfriends where all those who will attend will wear their wedding dresses. Take many photos during the party. I am sure that your family members and friends on social media will like the photos.
13. Donate the Dress to Your Local Theater
If you would like to watch your dress live on through art, consider donating it to a costume shop or local theater. Who knows? Maybe next time you watch a play, you may see your beautiful gown brought back to life.
14. Wear It During Your Anniversary
Wearing your wedding dress during your first wedding anniversary can be fun. Doing so will make you remember you have beautiful memories of your wedding. If your husband still has his wedding suit, let him wear it to make your anniversary even more memorable.
As you can see, there are many things you can do with your wedding dress after your wedding. I hope that the ideas in this article have helped you know how to put your wedding dress to good use. Up next, discover some of the most unique and beautiful honeymoon destinations in the world.
AUTHOR BIO:
Kunal Madan is the founder and CEO of Trusted Wedding Gown Preservation, a company that specializes in wedding dress preservation, wedding dress cleaning and wedding dress restoration. His company’s main vision is to provide the highest standard of cleaning and care to every gown brought to their attention.
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