Displaying your dress after the wedding

dolewhipper

I'm absolutely in love with my dress. I want to figure out a way to display my dress in my home (would either go in my closet or room, it wouldn't be out in my living room or anything like that). I've looked into shadow boxes but I can't seem to find anything large enough, and everything else I'm finding is custom made and $1k+! 

I've also seen where people put them on dress forms, but I'm kind of on the fence with that idea (plus I'm not sure that would really preserve my dress). Any other ideas on making a shadow box or different way to display and preserve my dress?

haleyk620

I was thinking of doing something similar with mine after my June wedding. I'm sad to see that the shadow box frames are so expensive! I figured they would be costly, but not THAT costly. I'm hoping some other knotties have some good ideas for this!

wandajune6

We have no space for any of that so I can't make any recommendations based on experience.

However- and this comes from someone who is not terribly sentimental- could you get rid of some of the tulle and "filler" stuff under the dress to make it fit into a display box better?

Otherwise, I'd research how shadow boxes and the like preserve dresses. If it gets a lot of sunlight, I'd worry about it yellowing if not preserved well.

Good luck!

dolewhipper

wandajune6 said:

We have no space for any of that so I can't make any recommendations based on experience.

However- and this comes from someone who is not terribly sentimental- could you get rid of some of the tulle and "filler" stuff under the dress to make it fit into a display box better?

Otherwise, I'd research how shadow boxes and the like preserve dresses. If it gets a lot of sunlight, I'd worry about it yellowing if not preserved well.

Good luck!

Good point! I will have to look into it. Thanks! & the filler is an idea depending on how thick the box is.

photokitty

Here's some ideas...

https://www.pinterest.com/ambergiannotti/wedding-dress-framed/

MesmrEwe

Custom framing at Michael's or JoAnn's might be your best/cheapest option.  Have the dress cleaned and put into a preservation box as it'll take much of the bulk down and go from there to determine the next move (bonus points to wait for one of the 60-75% off coupon sales).  You should be able to do it for less than $1K unless you're wanting a body-length display. 

chibiyui

photokitty said:

Here's some ideas...

https://www.pinterest.com/ambergiannotti/wedding-dress-framed/

Man. Some of those frame jobs are BAD.

Knottie3135957

If you're handy you can easily build one yourself. Shadow boxes are pretty basic.
A dress form won't preserve your gown from the environment, so it will collect dust, and dinge over the years. They're a great way to display it for a few weeks, but if you want it to last, you'll need to preserve it professionally or put in a shadow box.

levioosa

chibiyui said:

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photokitty said:

Here's some ideas...

https://www.pinterest.com/ambergiannotti/wedding-dress-framed/

Man. Some of those frame jobs are BAD.

Am I the only one who thinks that one at the end of the hallway is kind of creepy?

haleyk620

levioosa said:

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chibiyui said:

photokitty said:

Here's some ideas...

https://www.pinterest.com/ambergiannotti/wedding-dress-framed/

Man. Some of those frame jobs are BAD.

Am I the only one who thinks that one at the end of the hallway is kind of creepy?

Agree with you! If you were going to hang it up somewhere, I think putting in the closet would be better; that way you're the only one looking at it (besides maybe your husband). I doubt everyone living in your house would want to stare at that every time they go downstairs...

LondonLisa

I think a lot of these women should get their money back for the framing service. Although shadow boxing is a great idea, most of them look squashed and wonky! 

ohannabelle

levioosa said:

show previous quotes

chibiyui said:

photokitty said:

Here's some ideas...

https://www.pinterest.com/ambergiannotti/wedding-dress-framed/

Man. Some of those frame jobs are BAD.

Am I the only one who thinks that one at the end of the hallway is kind of creepy?

They almost all gave me the heeby jeebies. The full length boxes with all the bunched white satin looked like coffins to me. 

Like the glass topped coffins that famous dictators or nuns are displayed in, until they kind of look like beef jerky?

That was honestly my first thought when I looked at the page. Ohmygod, these look like the beef jerky nuns. 

Except for the ones that were displayed with their tails whimsically off to one side and up. One of those looked like a mermaid, and one looked like a flying dress.

That one was a little scary, too.

(No. I'm not smoking weed at 9:45 AM.)

CMGragain

dolewhipper said:

I'm absolutely in love with my dress. I want to figure out a way to display my dress in my home (would either go in my closet or room, it wouldn't be out in my living room or anything like that). I've looked into shadow boxes but I can't seem to find anything large enough, and everything else I'm finding is custom made and $1k+! 

I've also seen where people put them on dress forms, but I'm kind of on the fence with that idea (plus I'm not sure that would really preserve my dress). Any other ideas on making a shadow box or different way to display and preserve my dress?

Wonderful!  You are in love with your dress.  I hope you get fabulous pictures of you wearing it on your wedding day.  FRAME THOSE!
Share your love.  Donate or sell your fabulous dress so that another bride can wear it with as much pleasure as you will have on your wedding day.  Putting it in a shadow box is too much like putting it in a coffin, IMHO!

MollyandD

CMGragain said:

show previous quotes

dolewhipper said:

I'm absolutely in love with my dress. I want to figure out a way to display my dress in my home (would either go in my closet or room, it wouldn't be out in my living room or anything like that). I've looked into shadow boxes but I can't seem to find anything large enough, and everything else I'm finding is custom made and $1k+! 

I've also seen where people put them on dress forms, but I'm kind of on the fence with that idea (plus I'm not sure that would really preserve my dress). Any other ideas on making a shadow box or different way to display and preserve my dress?

Wonderful!  You are in love with your dress.  I hope you get fabulous pictures of you wearing it on your wedding day.  FRAME THOSE!
Share your love.  Donate or sell your fabulous dress so that another bride can wear it with as much pleasure as you will have on your wedding day.  Putting it in a shadow box is too much like putting it in a coffin, IMHO!

As thoughtful as the advice is, I doubt she is willing to get rid of the dress right now. She seems pretty set on not only keeping it, but displaying it so she can continue to see the real dress in her home. 

CMGragain

I understand very well.  I still have my dress from 39 years ago.  It is taking up space in my storage room.  Big mistake!  I really wish I had donated it when it was still fashionable to wear long sleeves and high necklines.  It was the most beautiful dress I ever wore.  The truth is that when I am gone, it will be thrown out in the trash.  Very sad.

JennyColada

^ You can still donate the dress. Many dresses can be altered for a different style or even a different purpose. If you want to donate it then you are the only one stopping you from doing so.

CMGragain

JennyColada said:

^ You can still donate the dress. Many dresses can be altered for a different style or even a different purpose. If you want to donate it then you are the only one stopping you from doing so.

I have thought about it.  My daughter advised me that a dress with 39 year old perspiration stains on the bodice wasn't a cool donation.  Thank you for the thought.

dolewhipper

CMGragain said:

show previous quotes

dolewhipper said:

I'm absolutely in love with my dress. I want to figure out a way to display my dress in my home (would either go in my closet or room, it wouldn't be out in my living room or anything like that). I've looked into shadow boxes but I can't seem to find anything large enough, and everything else I'm finding is custom made and $1k+! 

I've also seen where people put them on dress forms, but I'm kind of on the fence with that idea (plus I'm not sure that would really preserve my dress). Any other ideas on making a shadow box or different way to display and preserve my dress?

Wonderful!  You are in love with your dress.  I hope you get fabulous pictures of you wearing it on your wedding day.  FRAME THOSE!
Share your love.  Donate or sell your fabulous dress so that another bride can wear it with as much pleasure as you will have on your wedding day.  Putting it in a shadow box is too much like putting it in a coffin, IMHO!

Great 2 cents! FTR, although it's none of your business, I will keep my dress, for reasons beyond it being just my wedding dress.

Thank you for those who have made their suggestions on framing. It is something for me and me only, and I believe I will place it in my walk in closet.