Wedding Gowns — After the Event
So many brides spend literally thousands of dollars on perfect wedding gowns, it can seem a real shame just to discard those same precious wedding dresses after the day is done. But, let’s face it, when else would you actually have the opportunity to wear a wedding dress? So, unfortunately, most wedding gowns simply end up in storage. There must be a better way.
Fashion comes and goes, and wedding gowns are no exception. You may find that within a couple of decades, today’s wedding gowns come back into fashion, and might be of considerable value — sentimental, at least! So store your gown wisely and you may get to see your daughter or grand-daughter enjoying the same dress in years to come.
If you’ve opted for one of the simple wedding gowns that are classical and timeless, your chances of seeing your gown being worn by a future generation is even greater. Don’t be embarrassed to mention your stored gown to the younger members of your family; they could be delighted to save some money while carrying on a family tradition.
Another popular choice involves altering wedding gowns, so you can use them as other dresses or items of clothing. This is a particularly good idea if you have chosen one of the two-piece wedding gowns that are currently so popular. With these types of wedding gowns it’s particularly easy to use either the top or bottom of the dress as a separate item of clothing.
If you’ve chosen a one-piece wedding gown, then you can still ask a seamstress to split the bodice from the skirt, creating two different items of clothing you can use on other dressy occasions.
Many wedding gowns end up being sold after the big day. This is a great way to supplement the initial costs of married life … and it also provides others with an opportunity to purchase a cheap wedding gown!
If you’re feeling a little more giving, then why not donate your wedding gown to a local charity? By giving your wedding gown to a charity you can feel that you are really helping out, while clearing a little space in your closet.
For those who choose to throw away their old wedding gowns — and yes, they do exist — it’s helpful to at least keep a small section of the material, so you can put it in your wedding album and keep it as part of your wedding memories.
Wedding gowns are such an important part of the wedding day that deciding what to do with your gown after the big event should be a priority.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:23 am
hey that is a very great cause. my mother does this through a different group and there are quite a few groups that do this work. also, there is a group called “making memories” bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/ that i bought my gown from. they take donated gowns from brides and also new ones from manufacturers and sell them at charity events and the money goes toward a make-a-wish type organization for women losing the battle from breast cancer. just another option for used dresses.
May 4th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Hey there. It is the Mary Magdeline Project - that website makes me want to cry
www.marymadelineproject.org/
April 25th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
I heard once about a place to donate your wedding gown and I’d like to find it now. It was a group that makes burial gowns for stillborn babies out of donated wedding dresses. I’m recently divorced and have no sentimental reason to keep my dress. It’s 25 years old and probably isn’t really very much in demand as a dress for another bride, but to cut it up and make something for babies would be great. Do you know anything about this group?