What did you do with your wedding dress?

[Auspicious]

So, this is a group that's been married for varying lengths of time.

What did you (or your spouse) do with your (or her) dress after the big event? If you could go back now, would you make the same choice? If you saved it, do you have some kind of future plan for it?

Frivolous question, but I'm just curious. The "what should we do with this dress that's still hanging in our spare room" question came up when I was talking to my parents last night, and surprisingly it was my father who had strong opinions on the matter. (He's full of surprises, that dad!)

[migirl]

I had my dress cleaned and now it sits in a plastic storage bin in our basement. I'm sure this is not the recommended method of storage that is advocated by the wedding-dress-cleaning industry, but it's what I've done. As for future plans for it ... I don't really have any. I figure I'll just hang onto it and see what happens.

Just curious, what is it that your dad thinks you should do with it?

Well, I get mine out every month and wear it around the house! Just kidding.

It's funny that this question came up. Just the other day, DH and I were discussing selling mine on Ebay. It's a Reem Acra, although the least expensive one, very simple. I could get it altered and dyed so that I could wear it again but that would probably cost more than buying a new dress. Since I have put on a little bit of weight, I don't know if and when I could fit into it (size 4) again.
Maybe I will try to sell it this week!

[Auspicious]

The things I had heard others mention that appealed to me were donating it or making it into a baby blanket. My father was kind of appalled that I would consider any option other than preserving and storing it. Apparently because my children will be clamoring for me to pull it out so they can look at it.

My mom kept hers, but it was sort of a sheath that folded down into a shirt box. In comparison mine is a highly structured feat of modern engineering with a built-in crinoline that won't be folded into a shirt box in this lifetime. It wasn't that foofy, but it does practically stand up by itself.

He says "But it cost so much!" (not complaining, but more because in his mind this means it has earned a place in the family museum or something). But I'm like "that's exactly why I'd like to see it put to a second use instead of spending its best days in a box."

Hmmm. Maybe not a baby blanket per se--I don't think the dress needs to be enshrined, but I'm not sure I could handle seeing it vomited upon, either. But having it reappear in some kind of baby item (cushion for a rocking chair?) might be cool in a continuity-of-our-family-life kind of way.

I think for now it's going to be cleaned and kept at my parents' house. It would be kind of jinx-y to create some kind of baby item without a baby on the horizon, probably.

DW's dress was cleaned and stored in shrink wrap(or something, I dunno) that won't allow it to yellow and get all old and musty smelling...then we placed the beautiful dress in a box to be laid to rest in the confines of a closet amid the hundreds of other clothes that will never be worn again....
What will be done with the dress, we haven't a clue. We will move it with us and look at that cool box being thankful we don't have to carry it around on a hanger.

I did the preservation thing at a local dry cleaner and there it sits in a box in the attic. I had thought that maybe I could loan it to a friend....a friend of a friend borrowed her wedding dress and it had been borrowed 5 times before and each woman's initials were embroidered on the tag.

I have loaned my veil and headpiece a few times. I am torn about what to do with the dress. It seems silly to let it just sit there but I also can't quite bear to part with it. Just this year, I finally ditched my wedding shoes!

[samssugarmomma]

Mine was also cleaned and preserved. The box has a window in it so that you can see the dress. It is sitting on the floor in our closet. I do pull it out occasionally and look at it....

My "current" wedding dress was a simple champagne colored silk dress that I am almost skinny enough to wear again. Suitable for Sunday brunch at a nice hotel's resturant.

My "not thinking clearly wedding" dress was donated to the Salvation Army. It was 1988...the big bow on the butt was popular then.

The thing I wish I had kept is the longline bra that I wore the first time...having a heck of a time finding one that fits that isnt like $75.

I have a garter with a button from DH's great-grandmother's wedding dress that his aunt gave to me as a shower gift.

I like the idea of saving it in case your kids would like to wear it, or maybe make it into christening/baptism/dedication outfits for the grandbabies.

I had mine preserved and put into a box as well and right now it is sitting at my parents house. I was so freaked out that the movers were going to lose it that I decided to leave it with my parents and have them ship it to me eventually. At least UPS has tracking whereas you can't really trust movers!

Mine is sitting in my parent's basement. It hasn't been preserved or cleaned. I couldn't see shelling out the money to do that when I wasn't going to be wearing it again anyway. I guess I'm the kind of person who doesn't really need the entire dress for a keepsake. And I don't have the room to store the thing myself.

My mom made a part of my garter out of her dress. (per tradition in my family) She even re-strung beads. She said it was hard to cut it up, but so worth it in the end. The garter also had some of my grandmother's wedding dress in it. If/when DD gets married some day, I think it would be cool to add fabric from my dress to the garter...if she'll let me. I thought it was so cool, and satisified the "something old" requirement.

[SuzySunshine]

Mine is also preserved and sitting in a box in my closet. It was a very simple dress so I guess I do have hopes that someday one of my children will wear it, if I have girls. If not then I'll probably make something out of it. When my older sister has her first child my grandmother made us a christening gown and the under lace is from my mother's wedding dress. So maybe if I don't have girls I can do something like that for my grandkids.

[DCJenn]

My first gown went to http://www.makingmemeories.org to benefit breast cancer research and support. My mother donated hers at the same time.

My second gown was preserved and is in the storage unit. I probably won't bother schleping it all over the world though and will more than likely donate it to the same organization.

I loved my gown, but hopefully Nikolai will not have any need for it...

Jenn

I loved my gown, but hopefully Nikolai will not have any need for it...

[Meenah]

I cannot remember what happened to my not thinking clearly dress. My "current": thank goodness we got married outside beside the river in jeans!!!!
Luanne

Actually I wore a skirt & sweater & then changed the skirt to jeans.

[Michele]

Mine was cleaned, preserved and boxed. My sister just took it out though because she is going to wear it in April! Then we are going to box it again, for daughters/daughters-in-law, only if they WANT to wear it. I was honored when my sister asked me.