What to do with my ten year old wedding dress? - Page 2

[alaskanmomma]

I'm keeping my wedding dress(well, as long as we stay married that is...).. it's just one of those things that is so special and priceless to me, that I can't bear to sell or donate it. 

If you've held on to it for 10 years and always had hesitations, I'd say that's a sign to hold on to it :) ONE thing that's life changing, sentimental, and beautiful can stay in the home, even if it'll never be used again ;)

[Caneel]

Originally Posted by goobergrl6 

I guess I am odd. About 2 years ago I put mine up on freecycle. We had been married 11 years at that point and I was tired of it taking up closet space. The lady who came to get it for her daughter was VERY grateful even though it was nothing fancy. They could not afford a dress and now her daughter was going to be able to be married in a "wedding" dress. I don't regret it at all and do not miss it. 

Lisa

Timely appearance of this thread because I am struggling with the wedding dress issue too.  I wish I could come across someone like mentioned above that wanted a dress.  However, I don't think my DH would let it go.  He is far more of a hoarder than I am.  I never got it cleaned so it just hangs in the closet, not taking up much room.

[asherie23]

Mine is very simple but I paid a boatload more than I should have to have a seamstress make it. Lots of hand beading. Been married 5 years and hopefully one of my two daughters will want it someday- it's simple enough that it shouldn't ever look really outdated (I don't think-ha!) but my SIL had hers made into a christening gown and its darling!

[MamaRuga]

My dress was altered from my mother's dress.  It is super simple with a detachable train, so it could be worn again if I ever had some formal or dressy event to go to (not likely).  It was so wonderful to have my mom's dress and I will certainly save it for my daughters.  Of course, since my marriage has ended I don't know if they will want to use it.  But, they can decide what they want to do with it.  It doesn't take up much space at all, though.  If it were a big dress I might have other thoughts.  

Now my big question... that I was actually about to post here when I saw this thread.... is what to do with my GRANDMOTHER's wedding dress????

She was married around 1930.  It is a beautiful all silk dress, hand sewn, with an amazing long lace veil.  I even have her silk stockings and handkerchief.   The thing is that it is practically falling apart it is so fragile.  I can't even touch the veil without it coming apart.  It was in her attic for decades, then my parents had it and didn't know what to do with it.  So I took it.  It can't be worn again.  I don't know that we can even make it into something new since the silk is so fragile.  But I simply can't throw it out.  

I had the thought today that I should at least take it out and take a lot of photos of it so I can at least preserve the memory.  When I was younger we found my great grandmother's wedding dress in an old trunk.  I used to dress up in it, but we never took photos.  I don't know where it is now, I suppose the relative who moved into that house probably tossed it out since it was falling apart.  I'm so sad that we didn't at least take pictures so we could remember what it looked like.  It was so beautiful.

So, I'm wondering what you would do with your grandmother's dress if you had it?  

[asherie23]

How about taking your favorite piece(s) and framing it with the stockings and part if the veil? If there's special beading it embroidery or whatever it'd be pretty to look at.
Take a full picture of it too too keep with it. Like a memory/shadow box frame?
I never thought of using my moms- hers was gorgeous but yellowed like crazy.

[The4OfUs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by *bejeweled* 

I want to make mine into a patchwork quilt, using the wedding dress, parts of DD's baby and little girl dresses, DH's shirts, etc. I really want to do this. I just have to find a quilter I trust.

 

Originally Posted by justmeandmybrood 

Ooh - this is such a great idea!  I have been saving "quiltable" clothes from my children for years to make quilts out of them, but I never considered adding things from DH and me - and that would be such a neat way to repurpose the quilt (and quite symbolic, which I love)!  Thanks for sharing!

Me too!  I have my 3 favorite maternity shirts, and a tub of my favorite baby/toddler clothes and I pick one shirt that is "them" each season now that they're older.....but adding a piece of my wedding dress is BRILLIANT!  I'm pretty sure my daughter wouldn't want to wear my dress as is if she gets married - nor could she, now that I think about it, as I'm 5 feet tall and she's taking after my husband's side and will likely be 5' 6"+.....so this is fantastic.  I bet you my son would even want a piece of it somehow if he gets married- he's a sentimental guy.  I can think of a few of DH's pieces I'll have to snag for this, as well - thanks so much again!!

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by asherie23 

my SIL had hers made into a christening gown and its darling!

That's a really good idea - it can be passed through the family to those that have children. That's a great idea for families that participate in christenings. And for those that don't celebrate that tradition, I wonder if dresses could be refashioned into a coming-home-from-the-hospital outfit or a receiving blanket...

Originally Posted by MamaRuga 

My dress was altered from my mother's dress.  It is super simple with a detachable train, so it could be worn again if I ever had some formal or dressy event to go to (not likely).  It was so wonderful to have my mom's dress and I will certainly save it for my daughters.  Of course, since my marriage has ended I don't know if they will want to use it.  But, they can decide what they want to do with it.  It doesn't take up much space at all, though.  If it were a big dress I might have other thoughts.  

Now my big question... that I was actually about to post here when I saw this thread.... is what to do with my GRANDMOTHER's wedding dress????

She was married around 1930.  It is a beautiful all silk dress, hand sewn, with an amazing long lace veil.  I even have her silk stockings and handkerchief.   The thing is that it is practically falling apart it is so fragile.  I can't even touch the veil without it coming apart.  It was in her attic for decades, then my parents had it and didn't know what to do with it.  So I took it.  It can't be worn again.  I don't know that we can even make it into something new since the silk is so fragile.  But I simply can't throw it out.  

I had the thought today that I should at least take it out and take a lot of photos of it so I can at least preserve the memory.  When I was younger we found my great grandmother's wedding dress in an old trunk.  I used to dress up in it, but we never took photos.  I don't know where it is now, I suppose the relative who moved into that house probably tossed it out since it was falling apart.  I'm so sad that we didn't at least take pictures so we could remember what it looked like.  It was so beautiful.

So, I'm wondering what you would do with your grandmother's dress if you had it?  

I saw an interesting idea on Pinterest awhile back - the framed wedding dress. It was hung in a lady's walk-in closet. Of course, this assumes that one would have quite a bit of wall space to hang such a thing - it's not like we live in the Victorian era with separate dressing rooms and such... but if you have the space, maybe this would be an option.

Or what about using bits of the fabric to make a smaller wall hanging or shadow box? You could do a shadow box with the fabric as the background, the lace or embellishments as the border, a photo of your grandparents on their wedding day and any other mementos that you have or could replicate (like silk versions of the flowers they had at their wedding), their invitation, etc.