Awesome Things You Can Do With Your Wedding Dress after Your Big Day

After the wedding is over and things have settled down, you might be wondering what to do with your wedding dress. With so many memories attached to this major milestone article of clothing, choosing how best to save it or get rid of it can be confusing. In this article, we’ll provide you with 13 ideas of what to do with your wedding dress ranging from reinventing or repurposing it to letting it go, so no matter what, we’ve got you covered!

1

Preserve it

Keep your wedding dress perfect forever by preserving it. The most popular solution to figuring out what to do with your wedding dress is to preserve it. If you have dreams of cherishing your dress for many years to come, or saving your dress for a family member to wear, preserving your dress might be your best option.^{[1]
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- Preservation is a unique cleaning and packaging process you can pay for that ensures your wedding dress will retain its color, fabric quality, and embellishments. A dress that hasn’t been preserved runs the risk of deteriorating over time.
- Cleaning and preserving your dress are two different processes. While cleaning your dress is essential to the preservation process (removing stains before they turn brown over time, etc.), only having your dress cleaned will not protect it from deteriorating in the years to come.^{[3]
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- You may want to preserve your newly cleaned wedding dress in an acid-free heirloom box that your local dry cleaner can do for you.^{[4]
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2

Display it

Show off your wedding dress by displaying it in your home. If you can’t get enough of your wedding dress and looking at it brings you joy, displaying it in your home could be a beautiful reminder of your special day. There are countless display options, but the two most popular by far are framing your dress or displaying your dress in a shadowbox.^{[5]
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- Shadow boxing is the process of cleaning and preserving your dress in a glass-covered memory box, much like a frame. Consider framing or shadowboxing your entire dress or the element of your dress you like most such as the bodice, to hang in your home.
- Framing or preserving your dress in a shadowbox can be pricy. Some retailers offer DIY shadowboxing kits which might better suit your budget.

3

Alter it

Alter the length of your dress to make it more wearable. Just because your wedding day is over doesn't mean you have to stop wearing your dress. Altering your wedding dress into a cocktail or party dress means getting to wear your dress whenever the occasion arises!^{[6]
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- For most wedding dresses, the train is the first thing to go. Simply cutting off the train and hemming the area will radically change your dress from wedding to special event. Consider working with a seamstress if you’re scared to alter your dress yourself.
- Cut and hem your dress to tea-length, knee-length, or a length you are most comfortable with. By shortening the length of your dress, you’re no longer limited by the formality the dress might have suggested at its longest length.
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4

Wear it as-is

Break out your dress to wear on special occasions. If you like your dress just the way it is and don’t want to have it professionally preserved and packaged, no one’s stopping you from wearing it whenever you want. Many people enjoy trying on their wedding dress for fun or wearing it on their anniversary or Valentine's day to celebrate their love.
- While you can wear your dress whenever you’d like, keep in mind that wearing white to a wedding is considered a major slight to the wedding couple.^{[7]
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5

Have a themed party with it

Call your friends and have a wedding dress-themed party! A fun way to further enjoy your dress is to call up your friends and have a wedding dress-themed party. This is a great way to get your dress back in action and, for some, the final hurrah before donating, selling, or trashing their wedding dress.^{[8]
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- If you don’t have many married friends, not to worry! Let your friends know they can purchase a wedding dress second-hand from places like thrift shops to get in on the fun.
- Costume parties are a blast, and having a wedding-dress-themed party could be a great opportunity to further the happy memories in your dress or turn bad ones into good ones!
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6

Dye it

Spice up your dress by changing its color! If the only thing stopping you from wearing your wedding dress is the color, don’t be afraid to dye it. Many people opt to die their wedding dress after the big day, so it’s more wearable for special events and parties.
- Dying clothes at home is a fun DIY project to take on. With hundreds of dye colors to choose from online and in-store, you’re sure to find the perfect color for your special dress.
- Keep in mind clothes don’t always turn out perfect when dyed at home. Make sure your dyed dress turns out great by pre-washing and letting your garment sit in the dye solution for at least 30-60 minutes to ensure a rich and vibrant color pay-off.^{[9]
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7

Make jewelry with it

Change your dress into statement jewelry. Cutting out specific parts of your wedding dress, such as lace or embellishments, is a gorgeous way to wear your dress daily. Consider using the following elements from your dress to make:^{[10]
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- A necklace from the lace of your dress. Some people take lace from other loved ones' wedding dresses and combine them to make a multi-generational piece.
- A bracelet featuring embroidery embellishments from your dress, like pearls.
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8

Make hair accessories with it

Turn your dress into beautiful hair pieces. Much like transforming your wedding dress into wearable jewelry, turning bits of your wedding dress into hair pieces are a great way to wear your favorite elements of your wedding dress. You can cut and glue elements of your dress like lace, embroidery, and beading onto:^{[11]
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- Hair clips
- Barrets
- Combs
- Brushes

9

Transform it for children

Use the fabric from your dress to make one for a child. A great way to reinvent your wedding dress is to use its fabric to make one for a child. Consult with a seamstress or find a dress pattern to make a gorgeous dress or article of clothing for the little one in your life.
- Ideas for clothing to make for your child include a baptism dress, christening dress, flower girl’s dress, holiday dress, or birthday dress.
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10

Make keepsakes with it

Convert your dress into keepsakes you’ll cherish. A fun way to keep the memories of your wedding day circulating is to transform your dress into a variety of different objects. Popular keepsakes to change your dress into include:^{[12]
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- Teddy bears made from your dress’s fabric
- Holiday ornaments for your tree
- A pillow covered with your wedding dress fabric
- A lace table runner

11

Donate It

Give your dress to a good cause! If you’re ready to let go of your dress and want to give it a second life, consider donating your dress to charity. Remember to ask for a donation slip so you can add your wedding dress to your list of charitable donations come tax time.^{[13]
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Research source} If you’re looking to get rid of it quickly, simply drop off your dress at a local thrift shop, but if you have more time on your hands, check out some of these popular dress donation programs:^{[14]
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12

Sell it

If it’s time to let go, why not make some extra cash? Wedding dresses aren’t cheap, so if you’re ready to get your dress out of your life, make some money back by selling it. Most online clothing consignment platforms allow the selling of wedding dresses, so you have room to shop around and find what sites suit your needs as a seller best. Additionally, several sites specifically buy and sell second-hand wedding dresses, like:^{[15]
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- Still White
- Nearly Newlywed

13

Trash it

Get rid of it. If your wedding dress doesn’t bring you joy, don’t feel bad about throwing it away. For many, a wedding dress represents one of the happiest days of their life, but this isn’t the case for everyone.^{[16]
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Research source} Getting married is often a complex and emotion-filled process. It’s ok to not be attached to your wedding dress and want to get rid of it.
- Throwing your wedding dress in the trash can be a cathartic, emotional release.
- Your wedding dress doesn’t have to be more important than any other item of clothing in your closet. Don’t let anyone tell you how you should feel, your emotions are valid.
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Should you get your wedding dress dry cleaned after the wedding?

Rhonda Hale
Couture Fitting Tailor
Rhonda Hale is a Couture Fitting Tailor & Clinical Hypnotherapist based in New York City with additional design studios in Nice, France. With over 12 years of experience in both professions, Rhonda puts the highest vibration and good energy into every stitch she makes. She has been a master tailor and designer since 1990 and works with brides, celebrities, and high-profile clients around the world to serve all their couture needs. Her custom attention to each client has made her voted the Best Couture Fitting Tailor every year since 2015. Rhonda is also certified in Medical and Subconscious Hypnotherapy and Past Life Regression and uses her skills to help clients heal from trauma and accomplish their personal, professional, and life goals. She has been published in Bride Magazine and was recently filmed for a YouTube documentary series, The American Medium in Ireland, on the Paranormal Resident Channel.

Rhonda Hale

Couture Fitting Tailor

Expert Answer

Read the care label and cleaning instructions on your dress—don't assume that it should be dry cleaned. If your dress is dry clean only, take it to a dry cleaning professional and carefully go over all the stains together and have any stains or soil marked for special care. Be sure to get your dress cleaned no more than 7 days after your wedding day.

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Question

Can you hand wash a wedding gown?

Rhonda Hale
Couture Fitting Tailor
Rhonda Hale is a Couture Fitting Tailor & Clinical Hypnotherapist based in New York City with additional design studios in Nice, France. With over 12 years of experience in both professions, Rhonda puts the highest vibration and good energy into every stitch she makes. She has been a master tailor and designer since 1990 and works with brides, celebrities, and high-profile clients around the world to serve all their couture needs. Her custom attention to each client has made her voted the Best Couture Fitting Tailor every year since 2015. Rhonda is also certified in Medical and Subconscious Hypnotherapy and Past Life Regression and uses her skills to help clients heal from trauma and accomplish their personal, professional, and life goals. She has been published in Bride Magazine and was recently filmed for a YouTube documentary series, The American Medium in Ireland, on the Paranormal Resident Channel.

Rhonda Hale

Couture Fitting Tailor

Expert Answer

Read the care label and see what it says. If your dress is hand wash only, clean it yourself in a clean bathtub filled with hot water and delicate detergent. Use a clean wooden spoon to fully immerse the dress and gently swish it in the hot water, turning it over every 15 to 30 minutes. You may need to drain the water and repeat this a few times until all the soil is gone. Drain all the water, and then turn on the cold water to gently rinse your dress until the water is clear. Fold the wet dress at the waist over a clean, strong hanger, and let it fully drip dry.

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