8 Things You Can Do With Your Dress After Your Wedding

After months of searching and saving, you've found your perfect gown! And while the dress is certainly is near and dear to your heart right now, one question lingers: what will become of it after the wedding? Many brides are taking a new look at the life of their wedding dress, post-ceremony. We've rounded up eight ideas for what to do with the dress once your big day has passed.

 

 

Photo by: Jordan Weiland Photography on Glamour & Grace via Lover.ly

 

 

1. Donate it. Organizations like Brides Across America and Brides Against Breast Cancer afford brides the opportunity to donate their dresses. Paying your perfect dress forward could turn someone else's dream wedding into reality.

 

2. Make it into a work of art. Dresses, garters, and veils can all be professionally framed into custom art, preserving the happiness of your day for years to come.

 

3. Turn it into a gown for your little one. Christening gowns are becoming a popular way to re-work wedding dresses. You could also have your gown made into an outfit for a naming ceremony or even a first birthday party.

 

4. Have a cocktail...dress, that is! You've worked with your seamstress to have the dress perfectly tailored...so why not reach out post-wedding to have a custom cocktail dress created? A dress that is both loved and fits like a glove could become a great conversation piece at next summer's soiree.

 

5. Transform it. Dresses made of satin, lace, or tulle can be transformed into beautiful evening bags; we love the idea of carrying your dress in clutch form to your first anniversary dinner. If staying in is more your speed, dresses can also be made into pillows or quilts. What better way to add a cherished touch to your home together?

 

6. Sell it. If you're feeling the post-wedding budget crunch, you can make a little cash back by selling your dress. Try a wedding-specific website like Nearly Newlywed or PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, or list it on eBay.

 

7. Preserve it for posterity. Every bride loves her dress, and if the saying "like mother like daughter" proves true in your family, your unique gown may be just what your children may want when their day comes. Even if that seems unlikely, you still may find yourself unable to part with it.

 

8. Trash it! This last idea can be a fun way to send your dress off in style. Brides have swum underwater, played in muddy farms, or even set fire to their frocks. With a photographer standing by, trashing your dress can create fun and beautiful photos.