What could I do with my mother's wedding dress?

ktprieto

She passed away when I was 10 and I've had her dress ever since. She didn't have another daughter that would have an interest in it and it is not something that I could ever wear (even altered). I'd love to hear some ideas as to what I could do with it! Open to anything, really! 

(I'm not really looking for ways to incorporate it into my wedding specifically, just something I could do with it in general that could preserve her memory)

Thanks in advance

Beachy730

At my shower my mom gave me my wedding purse that she made for me.  She took the headpiece she wore on her wedding day and had it made into a purse.  Then the lace decal from edge of her veil edged the purse.  On the inside is blue satin lining for my something blue.  Then pinned to the inside of the purse are very small pieces of her mom's dress, her grandmother's dress, and her real mom's dress (she died when my mom was young and my Papa remarried).  So on my wedding day I will be carrying a piece of my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents weddings, for a total of over 130 years (approx) years of marriage.  I was so touched by it, and could never have dreamed of anything like it. 

So making it into a purse or bag is an option.  I have also heard of brides cutting a piece off to wrap their bouqet in.

tldh

Is there any part of it that you can use?  I'm wearing the veil from my mom's dress.  If you are okay with cutting it, you can make a handerkerchief from a piece of the material to carry with you.

You could also have a framed picture of your mom on her wedding day at your reception.

vsgal

I used my mom's dress to cover the table that our unity candle. 

I like the idea of using pieces of it.  I read in someone's bio that they displayed their mother's dress at the reception along with a wedding day pic at the memorial table.

 The only thing that is coming to me that is not wedding related is doing something like a flag box.  You know the frames that you put folded display flags in?  Maybe fold it so that it fits in a similar frame? Surround it with some pics of her. 

jagore08

My MIL is going to make Christening gowns and baby pillows and what ever is left over she'll use pieces to incorporate into a baby quilt.

ksmith67

When my grandmother passed away she left her wedding dress to me and we have chosen to have it made into bridal handkerchiefs that will later be used as christening bonnets for my children and my nieces and nephews.  I will be carrying one on my wedding day and my sister will pack one away for when my niece gets married.  I also agree with PP's about making a purse, that's a lovely idea. 

niksterdoodle88

I took the lace flowers off of my mom's dress and dyed them flamingo pink and then sewed them onto the bottom of my wedding dress. You could do something like that. Just to add something special. Or you could use material to make the garter or something. I have also heard of wrapping the boquet with a piece of it. You could do so much with it!

CurlyGirlyGirl

Could you wear it to your rehearsal?

christyhal

I am 4-5 inches taller than my mom is, and I fit into her wedding dress when I was about 13.  Needless to say, I *won't* be wearing it when I get married next year!  She gave me the ribbon that she used for the sash on her dress to tie around my bouquet. 

If you don't want to cut the dress (my mom wants to keep hers intact!), is there a detachable part of it you could use for something?

Knittibell

I took a seam ripper and carefully removed the band of Alcenon lace from the hem of my mother's gown, cleaned it, and had it wrapped around my bouquet.