Married Ladies, what did you do/will you be doing with your wedding dress? and Why?

Stina51286

I am having a hard time deciding. Right now it is just hanging in the closet and I need to do something with it. While we don't plan on having kids, if it happens, we aren't going to stop it. That being said, what if it did happen and it was a girl? Would she want to use it/part of it for her wedding in the future? Would by niece consider using it? By selling it, I could try and get back some or even half what I paid (only alterations done were boob cups added and the bustle). I just don't want to regret my decision and I fricken love the dress, but what will I do with it? Also, H said he doesn't want to be part of my decision.

[Deleted User]

I will be honest:  I've been married over two years, and my dress is hanging in my spare bedroom closet.  and I show it to people.  I love my dress, and I don't know what to do with it.  I love being able to go in there and see it.

JUDGE AWAY, but I don't care!    I didn't spend a buttload on my dress, and I'm a very funky size (4'10"), so I don't really think it'll ever be reused.  I just like to have it there!

Stina51286

@CocaBellaF That is one area that it might be hard to sell it. Its a Casablanca and ordered hallow to hem so it is made for a 5'1 girl.

CASK85

I haven't done a thing with mine. I took it off on my wedding night and it is hanging in the closet. Dirty. lol. I don't really know what I'll do with it. It got ripped I think (the bottom hem seemed wonky at the end of the night). So I'm sure I couldn't sell or reuse it. It was pretty cheap. Ah well! 

thejucheidea

Donating it to from whence it came: Brides Against Breast Cancer. The only think I'm keeping is the veil because it's my mom's.

motoLyn

I don't know either, I wanted to clean it and preserve it but its been a year and still hanging in my closet since the day I got back from Maui.  I really need to decide. I could donate it or cut it up and make something else.  Keep it and let my some day daughter play dress up?

CASK85

@motolyn - daughter  

suzie211

Mine's still in a bag in my closet.  I didn't even hang it up yet.  Oops.  I'm leaning towards cleaning it and donating to a charity like Brides for Breast Cancer. 

I like the idea of passing it to a daughter, but realistically it probably wouldn't be worn.  My mom had hopes for hers with my sister or I.  She'd had it preserved, but it still yellowed.  Honestly, 70's empire waist gowns really aren't my style, so even if it was wearable I wouldn't have. 

cu97tiger

Count me in the group of ladies with their dress hanging in their closet, 18 months after the big day. I haven't gotten it cleaned yet, and I know the hem is dirty. Otherwise, I probably COULD sell it. I just don't know if I want to. With alterations, I spent $1,000. What could I get for it? $200? $400? Would that amount of money be worth not having the dress in my possession? Probably not. Even if I never have a daughter that wants to wear my gown, I can still decide to make a baby blanket out of it, or a quilt, or something. I guess by not deciding to sell it, I've really decided to keep it...

loves2shop4shoes

Mine is hanging in a closet in my mother's house.  I'm not going to go through the effort of having it cleaned/preserved... Idk what I'll do with it TBH.

KeptInStitches

My mom had hers preserved. When we lost my childhood home in a natural disaster, it was one of the few sentimental things to make it out. (Not because of prioritizing, but because the world is random.) I'm grateful she did - it is a beautiful dress and I'd love to be able to wear it if I could (we're different sizes, so my heart isn't fully set on it). If nothing else, I want to wear her hat (no veil) because the hat has family history.

Blackbird230

My mother managed to preserve her dress and although my sister didn't use it and my shoulders are too broad, we're now passing around her veil. Took it off the cap, but so far my sister wore it and I might too depending on when it comes time and what my dress ends up being.

labro

I'm not an OMH but I can maybe still have input. Like others, my mom preserved her wedding dress. None of us are as petite as she is so even if we wanted to wear it (80s, poofy sleeves, lace Victorian neck, sleeves to her finger tips, etc) we wouldn't be able to. She ended up having 3 daughters so I'm sure at least one of us will end up cutting up part of it to use in some way. @southernpeach89 is not for her wedding I think...but I may use some of the lace in my bouquet whenever I get to plan a wedding or something small along those lines.

FWIW at the wedding I went to this weekend the bride did not use her mother's gown either. She DID wear her aunt's veil though. She stained it using tea (I think the veil was super white and her dress was not) and then sewed some beading along the edge. It was very beautiful and a great way to recycle her "something old" IMO.

Peaseblossom55

I'm 4'10" my dress is also being made hem to hollow, I doubt anyone will be able to fit into it.  I will probably just preserve and save it.  I haven't even gotten it yet ( probably March).  I love it so much I can't wait to wear it.

Blackbird230

Side note: I'm so happy I'm not the only short one. I'm 4'11. It's actually super encouraging to hear from other short girls!

Maggie0829

My dress hung dirty in its garment bag for over a year before I finally got around to getting it cleaned and preserved.  I contemplated selling it or donating it or even chopping the train off and putting it in a shadow box.  But in the end I just can't part with it even though it is just taking up space in our closet and will probably never see the light of day again.

lilyandsparrow

I'm not married but I'll be buying an inexpensive dress and doing a "trash the dress" shoot.

"It’s not known exactly how the trend started.

The result is often very beautiful..something about the contrast of the raw or unkempt environment and the elegance the most expensive dress a woman will ever own."

cu97tiger

lilyandsparrow said:

I'm not married but I'll be buying an inexpensive dress and doing a "trash the dress" shoot.

"It’s not known exactly how the trend started.

The result is often very beautiful..something about the contrast of the raw or unkempt environment and the elegance the most expensive dress a woman will ever own."

I'd rather keep my dress hidden in a dress bag in my closet than get it all wet and dirty on purpose... But that's just me.

Stina51286

cu97tiger said:

lilyandsparrow said:

I'm not married but I'll be buying an inexpensive dress and doing a "trash the dress" shoot.

"It’s not known exactly how the trend started.

The result is often very beautiful..something about the contrast of the raw or unkempt environment and the elegance the most expensive dress a woman will ever own."

I'd rather keep my dress hidden in a dress bag in my closet than get it all wet and dirty on purpose... But that's just me.

I am the same way! I paid way too much and it is way too pretty to destroy it.

radleyboo

I, too, don't really understand the Trash the Dress thing, but to each her own.  I cringe when I see photos of those beautiful gowns wet/muddy/etc.  I even saw one where she set the train on fire for a photo opp, which I thought was scary and an unnecessary risk.  But that's also the mom in me.

My dress is in its' garment bag on the top shelf of my closet.  I'll have it cleaned and repaired and preserved.  I doubt it will ever be worn or used again, but I can't bear to part with it.

I didn't know about Brides against Cancer.  My dress from my first wedding is still at my mom's house someplace, I think I will donate it there!  

tuarceatha

Mine is hanging dirty in one of the closets of my parents' house. I actually haven't looked at it since last year. It got wicked dirty and even ripped from people stepping on it when I wore it. But I freakin' love that dress. Even so, I have zero desire to spend money on fixing/preserving it.

leia1979

Obviously we needed a "hang it in the closet" option in the poll. Mine went back in the bag right after my wedding and hasn't seen the light of day since. It's in very good shape--just a little dirt at the hem. I joke with H that we can have a vow renewal on the beach and I'll wear it again.

Hummingbird125

I also do not get the "Trash the Dress" trend - if you really have no use for/desire to keep your wedding dress, why not donate it? Also - how many photos shoots does one really need in life? To each his own, but the trend just seems silly to me.

Maggie0829

radleyboo said:

I, too, don't really understand the Trash the Dress thing, but to each her own.  I cringe when I see photos of those beautiful gowns wet/muddy/etc.  I even saw one where she set the train on fire for a photo opp, which I thought was scary and an unnecessary risk.  But that's also the mom in me.

My dress is in its' garment bag on the top shelf of my closet.  I'll have it cleaned and repaired and preserved.  I doubt it will ever be worn or used again, but I can't bear to part with it.

I didn't know about Brides against Cancer.  My dress from my first wedding is still at my mom's house someplace, I think I will donate it there!  

Holy crap, really?  That is so freaking dangerous and all just for another photo of yourself in your dress?

Count me as another one who just doesn't get the whole TTD thing.  I mean how many pictures does one need of themselves?  Between engagement shoots and wedding pictures and TTD shoots and boudoir shoots it is just self overload!

polkadot111

I had big plans to clean/preserve my dress but it's still hanging in the closet dirty. I love that thing. I have put it back on a couple times just for fun because its so pretty!!

thejinxchan

I think it would be nice to keep it.. I think I would keep mine but I know I could change my mind. My sister's was made by my mom, so she is obviously keeping hers. My mom's was hand embroidered but she left it back in the Philippines (actually I don't know what happened to it) and I have always wanted to see it in person. Maybe it could be nice just to keep it for posterity's sake?

radleyboo

Maggie0829 said:

radleyboo said:

I, too, don't really understand the Trash the Dress thing, but to each her own.  I cringe when I see photos of those beautiful gowns wet/muddy/etc.  I even saw one where she set the train on fire for a photo opp, which I thought was scary and an unnecessary risk.  But that's also the mom in me.

My dress is in its' garment bag on the top shelf of my closet.  I'll have it cleaned and repaired and preserved.  I doubt it will ever be worn or used again, but I can't bear to part with it.

I didn't know about Brides against Cancer.  My dress from my first wedding is still at my mom's house someplace, I think I will donate it there!  

Holy crap, really?  That is so freaking dangerous and all just for another photo of yourself in your dress?

Count me as another one who just doesn't get the whole TTD thing.  I mean how many pictures does one need of themselves?  Between engagement shoots and wedding pictures and TTD shoots and boudoir shoots it is just self overload!

Yup, really.  There was some guy standing there with a fire extinguisher to put it out right away.  Here's a link to the whole thing, could have ended really, really badly:

http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/bride-sets-gown-fire-extreme-trash-dress-photo-182200633.html

doubleSS07

I have no clue what I'm doing.  Eventually I'll get it cleaned but for now it's still in my airtight bag that it traveled in from TX to CA to the Dominican Republic back to TX.  It's a world traveler!

Pepper6

I had my dress packed up and shipped off to Brides Against Breast Cancer about 3 weeks after our wedding.  I loved my dress, but it wasn't doing me any good sitting in a closet, and I figured it was a win/win to donate it because someone else would get the chance to love my dress too, and the money would go to a good cause.

ranzzo

I plan on eventually having it turned into a quilt.  My H and the groomsmen/ushers wore black pants, a white shirt and a vest/tie combo we bought of eBay, I plan on using some of the vests and ties in the quilt as well. 

lilyandsparrow

I think leaving something to rot/go out of style in a closet is sillier than doing something fun, creative and artistic.. but you're right, to each their own! Also to me, couples who spend more than a little on a ring are wasteful and self-obsessed.. but hey.