What do I do with my wedding dress?
Question! What do I do with my wedding dress?
Right now, it’s hanging in my daughter’s closet because there’s no room for it in mine. My daughter is nine years old and already up to my shoulders, so she’s going to outstrip me soon. There’s no way she’s going to be able to fit into this, assuming she wanted to wear it. I would never assume she would want to, mind you, but the option isn’t going to be there even if she did.
Also, I don’t think butt-bow poofy sleeves is going to come back into style – assuming it ever actually was in style. Hey, I was a Southern bride. That’s what we do. I looked like a giant marshmallow, but I was a stunningly beautiful giant marshmallow, so nyah.
On the up side, I’m pleased to see that my skin actually has cleared up a lot since my mid-20’s.
Anyway, I’m cleaning my stuff out of my daughter’s closet to make more room for her toys, currently scattered all over the house. There are business suits in there I haven’t worn in ten years. Even if I could fit into a size 8 again, I’d want new business clothes more suitable for someone – holy moly – 40 years old, which I’ll be next year. Those clothes, I’ve given to Goodwill. The wedding dress has been hanging in that closet for almost 15 years now, and I’m not sure Goodwill is the best use of it. Then again, maybe it is. I’m clueless.
The places that I’ve checked that want donated wedding dresses don’t take ones more than ten years old because they’re out of style or otherwise timeworn. Sooo… now what?
ETA: My mother would like me to clarify. Even if my DRESS looked large and poofy (although I loved it and loved wearing it), I myself looked absolutely beautiful. I know she thinks so, and yes, I do too.
Also, I’m pretty sure that my mom will beat up anybody who says anything bad about me, and she’s really strong for a grandmother, so you should probably think twice about any snarky comments.
Can you take the fabric and make something out of it for Emily?
Can you take the fabric and make something out of it for Emily?
One of the dry cleaners we go to does this thing where they nicely clean and box it up for you, make it into a permanent keepsake type thing. If you want to keep it, that is.
But don’t rule out the Goodwill, if you want to get rid of it. You never know, someone might want to be a Corpse Bride or something for Halloween!
One of the dry cleaners we go to does this thing where they nicely clean and box it up for you, make it into a permanent keepsake type thing. If you want to keep it, that is.
But don’t rule out the Goodwill, if you want to get rid of it. You never know, someone might want to be a Corpse Bride or something for Halloween!
Can? Yes. Will? Probably not. My sewing skills are adequate for small tasks, but not exactly l33t.
Can? Yes. Will? Probably not. My sewing skills are adequate for small tasks, but not exactly l33t.
This is your mom. You looked gorgeous.
This is your mom. You looked gorgeous.
But don’t rule out the Goodwill, if you want to get rid of it. You never know, someone might want to be a Corpse Bride or something for Halloween!
Exactly what I was thinking. There is someone out there that would love it for a halloween costume, I’m sure. If you’re willing to give it up to be a halloween costume.
But don’t rule out the Goodwill, if you want to get rid of it. You never know, someone might want to be a Corpse Bride or something for Halloween!
Exactly what I was thinking. There is someone out there that would love it for a halloween costume, I’m sure. If you’re willing to give it up to be a halloween costume.
I got my packaged up by the dry cleaner’s. Assuming I have a daughter, she’ll likely be way taller than I am (nobody, including the women, on Joe’s side are less than 6 feet tall!). I’m still keeping it. I figure paying for alterations (changing the sleeves, length, taking it in/out, etc) is still way cheaper than buying a whole new dress.
You could also use it to have baptism / first communion stuff made for your future grandchildren, or use parts of it for her ringbearer’s pillow for her wedding and/or strips of the material wrapped around the base of her bouquet. The lace from the bow could edge her veil — you get my drift! You can always pay to have someone make those things, and it might be meaningful for her / her grandkids later. 🙂
I got my packaged up by the dry cleaner’s. Assuming I have a daughter, she’ll likely be way taller than I am (nobody, including the women, on Joe’s side are less than 6 feet tall!). I’m still keeping it. I figure paying for alterations (changing the sleeves, length, taking it in/out, etc) is still way cheaper than buying a whole new dress.
You could also use it to have baptism / first communion stuff made for your future grandchildren, or use parts of it for her ringbearer’s pillow for her wedding and/or strips of the material wrapped around the base of her bouquet. The lace from the bow could edge her veil — you get my drift! You can always pay to have someone make those things, and it might be meaningful for her / her grandkids later. 🙂
If you can think of something that you’d want to make out of the dress… we can talk about it… might could work something out. 🙂
~Cat
If you can think of something that you’d want to make out of the dress… we can talk about it… might could work something out. 🙂
~Cat
Here’s an organization that accepts wedding dresses:
http://heavenlyangelsinneed.com/HomeMenu.php
Another option I’ve seen is to put it on freecycle, so some sad bride who can’t afford a dress will be able to have one. I think yours doesn’t look especially outdated.
Here’s an organization that accepts wedding dresses:
http://heavenlyangelsinneed.com/HomeMenu.php
Another option I’ve seen is to put it on freecycle, so some sad bride who can’t afford a dress will be able to have one. I think yours doesn’t look especially outdated.
When I got married I bought an “out of date” dress through the penny saver. I was very much the lower end of finances and had a budget of $1000 to do the entire wedding. I mean ENTIRE. For a church wedding, that was very tight. I was so grateful to find a dress that somewhat fit me and only needed extra room added to the bodice … and cost under $100.
While I love the ideas of keeping the dress and using the material to have someone else make special occasion niceties – if you’d really rather not do that I would suggest putting it on EBay and letting some other young girl who dreams of a pretty wedding but has very little money buy your dress and love it so very much for making part of her dream come true.
When I got married I bought an “out of date” dress through the penny saver. I was very much the lower end of finances and had a budget of $1000 to do the entire wedding. I mean ENTIRE. For a church wedding, that was very tight. I was so grateful to find a dress that somewhat fit me and only needed extra room added to the bodice … and cost under $100.
While I love the ideas of keeping the dress and using the material to have someone else make special occasion niceties – if you’d really rather not do that I would suggest putting it on EBay and letting some other young girl who dreams of a pretty wedding but has very little money buy your dress and love it so very much for making part of her dream come true.