The dress post wedding

[MaryFrances]

What are you going to do with your dress AFTER the wedding? And, what would you do with a relative's dress(mom's, grandma's, sister's, aunt's) that's been given to you? I'm thinking about starting a non-profit organization that puts on wedding gown fashion shows for charity. You know, similar to the great shows that designers do for brides shopping for dress but this would be showing dresses of the past with tidbits about the original bride/groom/wedding details to raise money for a good cause.

What's your vote? Am I thinking we'd all like our wedding dresses and memories used for a good cause or is this a stupid idea?

 

[Mara]

well i''m not sentimental at all typically, but i wouldn''t want to give up my wedding dress....it was just sitting in my closet until my husband said he wanted me to get it cleaned, pressed, stored etc in that special box and he paid for it too, it was rather sweet. i probably wouldn''t have done it, but now it''s all done and its on a shelf in my closet. not that i think any future child would necessarily want to wear it but even not being sentimental, i like knowing it''s in our home. i''d rather give money to charity than my dress.

 

[Caribou]

I''ll probably eventaully get mine cleaned, pressed, and stored, also. I''ll be keeping mine forever.

 

[AmberWaves]

I was thining of renting a dress, but then I thought about how I felt when I found my grandma''s dress in the attic, and I realized I want to keep mine, too. For that exact moment I had. My parents never married, so I won''t get a dress from her, and that''s another reason I want to pass mine down to my children.

 

[monarch64]

Oh Lord, thanks for reminding me...that dress has been hanging in my coat closet for almost two years now! It''s dirty, zipped up in the bag (probably hanging wrong), and my husband''s been after me a million times now to take it in for cleaning! I could never, ever, ever, part with it, though. Even if it doesn''t get passed down to a future bride, it''s one of those things I want to keep just in case. There are so many memories attached to it (my mom seeing it on me for the first time, my best friend and MOH there, my dad telling me I looked great in it before he walked me down the aisle), that I could never let go of it. My mother is a "professional" quilter, and someday even if she''s not able to do the work, I would like a part of it to go into a special quilt for a future child or relative, or even a keepsake wall-hanging for our home.

That''s it, I''m re-prioritizing and putting getting it cleaned and preserved on top of the list.

 

[flopkins]

I''m definitely cleaning and storing mine!

 

[Tybee]

It is really funny how sentimental I''ve become.
Amber, finding your grandmothers wedding dress, in the closet, well, wow, what a moment!
I never really thought about what I''d do with mine, but actually, after reading these posts,
I really think I''ll keep preserve it and keep it forever.
We''re not actually planning on having children at this point, so I don''t know who''d have
that opportunity to discover it, but...

 

[Logan Sapphire]

I actually don''t really care about the dress, to be honest. I never was into the whole dress thing. Mine is just sitting there on the back of my bedroom door, needing to be cleaned over a year later. I thought about selling it, but I think I''ll have my kids'' baptism gowns made out of my dress.

 

[lawmax]

Funny to read this post. My daughter just asked me the other day where my wedding gown is. It has been sitting in its preserved box in my grandmother''s house for years! I should just sell it. Of course, I don''t know that anyone would want it style-wise (priscilla of boston circa 1990)! My daughter will probably be too tall/big for it. sigh....

 

[moon river]

You could display your veil and a few other special mementos in shadow box. Like your garter, a preserved flower from your bouqet, invitation, maybe your something old etc..., that way if you do get rid of the dress you''ll still have something special to hold onto and pass down to your children.

 

[Kaleigh]

lawmax, I wore a Pricilla of Boston wedding gown too. Mine was 1986!! I did have mine cleaned and pressed it''s in a box somewhere.

My daughter is way too tall to wear it, and probably wouldn''t want to wear it if she could. Mine is not sooo 80''s, it''s a sleek dress and had small capped sleeves with lace. Maybe I should donate it?? If I can find it. When we moved a lot of stuff went into the upstairs attick. I haven''t been up there in years.

 

[lawmax]

Mine was white silk over pale pink tulle...it gave it a very pale blush color, which was nicely warming to my pale skin...redhead with fair skin and blue eyes. White made me look much more pale and ivory just didn''t give me the warmth. I think if it was made into a strapless, it would be alright for someone today. (It had these little cap sleeves off the shoulder that I think could be easily removed if someone didn''t want them.) It wasn''t busy...it was fairly simple really with buttons down the back I think. I think a sweetheart neckline and princess skirt? I am so clueless about style vocabulary.

I guess there are consignment shops and donations to charities that sell consignments.

 

[Mara]

Kaleigh don''t give it away! What if your grandkids want to see it one day?

 

[E B]

If I get the dress I''ve fallen in love with, I''ll have to sell it to re-coup the cost (the dress is around $2700). If I buy a cheaper gown, I''d probably donate it. The chances of my daughters wanting to wear it are slim, and I''m about as opposite a pack rat as they come. A bit of a neat-freak, you could say. If I don''t use it, it''s gone!

 

[Rebemdee]

Some ideas:

http://www.idofoundation.org/resources/dresses/

It''s easy - send us your dress, and we''ll sell it through our consignment partner. We''ll donate 20% of the proceeds from the sale of your dress to the charity of your choice, and use the remaining funds to support the I Do Foundation''s ongoing work to encourage charitable giving at weddings. In addition, you receive a tax write-off from the I Do Foundation for the value of the dress.

http://www.makingmemories.org/howtodonate.html

You can make dreams come true! The gift of your wedding gown helps Making Memories fulfill wishes for terminal breast cancer patients and makes a new bride''s special day even more meaningful. We also accept veils, slips, shoes, mother’s gowns, evening and special occasion dresses, flower girl gowns and sets of bridesmaid dresses. Other items specific to weddings, including jewelry, books, ring pillows, wedding purses, etcetera are gladly received.

http://www.bridalgarden.org/index.html


I think after the wedding I''m going to try to sell mine, and if it doesn''t sell, donate it. I hope my future kids will be able to fit in a much smaller dress!

 

[MaryFrances]

I am so glad to see these replies! Your wedding gown is so full of memories and love -- they should be shared, not just stored. I''ve given lots of thought to my endeavor and used your input to develop a charity that will take in used wedding gowns not for resale but to preserve cherished memories and the dress. Money from fashion shows will go toward a selected local charity where the event takes place. I was really touched by the two groups posted. Thanks!