What should I do with my dress after the wedding?
First and foremost, choose your dress because you LOVE it FOR your wedding day. Choose a dress that fits a budget you are comfortable with.
DON’T choose a dress because of what you think you can do with it AFTER your wedding.
So let’s start with what NOT to do:
DON’T Buy your dress because you can “Shorten it and wear it again”
Of course, you CAN hem your dress shorter. But have you ever seen anyone actually wearing a shortened wedding dress? It seems like a good idea in theory, and I think it makes brides more comfortable with the idea of spending so much on a dress if they can wear it multiple times. But in all likelihood, you’re probably not going to re-wear your wedding dress. And that’s fine!
DON’T Dye your wedding dress
Wedding dresses are usually made of several fabrics, all with different fiber contents. Each fabric and fiber on the dress will react to the dye differently, so your dress will never be a uniform color. Also, synthetic fibers (poly, acetate, nylon, lycra/spandex) barely take dye at all, and you would need special dye for synthetic fibers. All in all, it’s also just not a realistic option, and may end up ruining your dress.
So what CAN you do with your dress?
SAVE IT!
This is my favorite option. Wedding dresses are more than clothing- they are family heirlooms. I often recreate mom’s dress or grandma’s dress into something totally new, and it is so incredibly special and sentimental. I know it’s the long game, but it’s a sweet one. They are such cherished items, so if you are able to save it, you should! A quick google will give you several Gown Preservation options, but you can also just fold her up and carefully store it at home.
DONATE IT!
There are SO many gown donation options! Martha Stewart gave us a little round up here.
SELL IT!
There are several second hand sites to sell your wedding dress and make a little cash back! Bridal Musings covers it all for you here!
WEAR IT AGAIN!
Keep it, travel with it, and wear it all over the world!
Whatever you choose to do with your dress post-wedding, if you had the best time in your dress on your wedding day and felt like a damn queen, then your dress did her job!
xo Marteal