After the wedding day is over, the vows have been said, and the wedding cake has been cut, you probably want to get down to the business of being married. However, before you get started on the road to wedding bliss, you probably would like to figure out what you are going to do with your wedding dress. Luckily, you have a few options with how to deal with the gown now that it has been worn down the aisle. We’ve collected four different ideas for what to do with your wedding gown after the big day is over.
1. Preserve It.
You may want to keep your dress safe for future use, whether for a friend, a future daughter, or another family member. To do this, you’ll need to get the gown cleaned and preserved as soon as possible after the wedding day. Most professionals advise brides to bring a gown in no more than 30 days after the wedding day. This makes it easier to get any stains out and to keep the dress safe from fabric destroying elements. To preserve the dress you’ll want to find a professional who deals with gown preservation and cleaning. The first step is cleaning the dress to remove all stains. The dress will then be steam ironed, and placed in an acid-free box for safe keeping.
2. Make It Into a Cocktail Dress.
If you are the type of bride who likes to get more than one use out of an item of clothing, you can have your dress changed into a cocktail dress or an evening dress. To do this, find a local seamstress or dressmaker who can take one item and turn it into another. You will want to check on the fabric of your gown, as some fabrics do not stand up to altering well, especially if you plan to dye the dress a different color. Speak with a seamstress about exactly what you want, and she should be able to work with you on your vision. If you go this route, you can wear the dress on your 1st anniversary.
3. Donate It or Sell It.
While many women like to keep their dress for sentimentality’s sake, you can also donate your dress. There are several charities that take worn wedding gowns and disperse them to low-income brides who couldn’t possibly afford a beautiful and expensive wedding gown. To go this route, simply search for wedding dress donation charities in your area. Some have dress requirements, so read the rules carefully before sending off your gown. You may also be able to sell your dress to a secondhand store, or a consignment shop.
4. Display It.
If none of the above options appeal to you, you can always take your gown and turn it into a work of art to be displayed in your home. A small piece of the dress can be removed for display, or the entire dress can be framed. This has become a popular choice with modern brides, but cleaning and preserving are necessary steps before a display can be completed.
Regardless of what you decide to do with your dress, the first step is to have the dress cleaned. Cleaning your dress as soon as possible after the wedding is instrumental in ensuring that any stains are removed and the dress is as beautiful tomorrow as it was the day you put it on.
Photo credit: …love Maegan / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
