Wedding dresses - storage & kids

[PigletsPal2]

I had mine preserved and DD#1 took it with her to California. She and her roommate had their excess "stuff" in a self-storage unit that burned, so there went the dress!

She had tried it on before she left, and she could have worn it with some alterations - she's broader across the shoulders and at the time I was married, I had an extremely small waist, about 22 inches. The gown was made for me by my cousin, an expert dressmaker, and she left enough fabric in the seams for alterations with the idea that I may have a daughter who might want to wear it.

My only disappointment is that I didn't have a piece of the lace covering the bodice. My aunt (also an expert dressmaker) had brought the lace back from a buying trip to Spain in the early 1950's and it would have been nice to have as a keepsake.

The whole thing is moot, though, because of the fire, and the lace probably would have been dry-rotted by the time DD got married in 1990.

ETA: My dress was almost exactly like the one worn by Kate Middleton, except that my train was detachable. Who knew my dress would still be in style more than 40 years later!

Queen Colleen

 

[MariDisney]

I'm not a very sentimental person. I got married twice and tossed both dresses when I moved to a new house. I just don't like holding onto things that I won't use again. I could have donated them, but I just didn't.

But, if you are more sentimental than I am then by all means hold onto it.

 

[luvmy3]

Mine is stuffed in a Rubbermaid storage tote in the attic. I have no plans to give it to my dd because I'm not really the sentimental type. Next time dh is in the attic I should have him bring it down so I can give it to Goodwill. Someone can make a tablecloth or something out of it.

 

[JessB320]

I donated mine to an organization that turns them into burial clothing for premie babies that pass away.
The founder is a nurse who worked in a NICU for years. She had to watch parents struggle not only with the idea of having to get burial clothing for their babies, but then not being able to find anything small enough to fit.
Her team and her make gowns for even the tiniest micro premie.
Having two premise myself (who pulled through and are healthy kids today) made my heart go out to all those parents not as lucky
They sent back a piece of my gown and an angel pendant which was a really nice gesture.

I realize this is a sad thing most people don't want to think about but it gave me a peaceful feeling knowing my dress may make one thing a little easier for other parents who were going through such a difficult thing.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I had my dress professionally preserved (37 years ago!)
Last November we unsealed it and it was still perfect! DD#1 wore my veil when she got married. DD#2 is planning her second wedding (first was an elopement) so I'll give her the dress and she may want to use pieces of it. If not, that's OK too.

 

[snuggly duckling]

I initially had mine preserved, but then I had it made into beautiful christening gowns (a boy version and a girl version) and bonnets for my kids. The family christening gown had been loaned out to a branch of the family that never returned it, so there wasn't anything special for my kids to wear. I have also saved the remnants to use for tooth fairy pillows for each of them and then ring bearer pillows or handkerchiefs for their weddings.

 

[MrsDuck]

My dress is hanging in my parents house. I haven't gotten it preserved yet because I can't decide if I should chop a portion of it off to save for a possible child (maybe they'd like to use it to turn into a hanky for something used? Or, a wrap for their flowers? I don't know).

I don't think my future kids would want my dress and who's to say if we'd be the same size? I wouldn't expect them to wear my dress for their big day. I wouldn't have wanted to wear my mom's.

 

[tar heel]

Mine has been professionally preserved for almost 31 years. It's pretty classic -- sculptured neckline, fitted bodice, cathedral train -- except the sleeves are a little poufy for now. I have three boys, so no daughters to wear it, BUT my middle son's fiance loves the pictures and says she might want to wear it and her mother's veil. She does not like her mother's dress. I told her I would be honored and all she had to do was say so if she wanted to look at it and try it on. I also told her she could do anything she wanted as far as altering it. She has been trying on dresses but hasn't found anything she really likes. I so hope she chooses mine, but that is her decision.

I am the mother of the groom. My job is to wear beige and keep my mouth shut. (A friend told me that, and I thought it was hysterical. Actually, I look terrible in beige and will wear something brighter. I will offer advice only when asked, though!)

 

[ManyMinnie]

Mine has been professionally preserved for almost 31 years. It's pretty classic -- sculptured neckline, fitted bodice, cathedral train -- except the sleeves are a little poufy for now. I have three boys, so no daughters to wear it, BUT my middle son's fiance loves the pictures and says she might want to wear it and her mother's veil. She does not like her mother's dress. I told her I would be honored and all she had to do was say so if she wanted to look at it and try it on. I also told her she could do anything she wanted as far as altering it. She has been trying on dresses but hasn't found anything she really likes. I so hope she chooses mine, but that is her decision.

I am the mother of the groom. My job is to wear beige and keep my mouth shut. (A friend told me that, and I thought it was hysterical. Actually, I look terrible in beige and will wear something brighter. I will offer advice only when asked, though!)

Too bad not all mothers of the groom get that memo. My MIL was fantastic about wedding stuff and let DH and I make our own decisions and only offered her opinion when asked.

My sister's future MIL, on the other hand...

 

[Disneychix]

My dress has an all tulle princess skirt. I did not preserve it because I figured there's not too much too it so why would anyone even want to possibly wear it again? Plus, I didn't think the tulle would stay white even preserved. Turned out ok though because I had 2 boys!
I did try it on once on my 4th anniversary. Maybe I'll pull it out to give myself a laugh for my 10th in a couple years?

 

[ZephyrHawk]

My dress is currently hanging in the closet in my daughter's nursery because that's the only closet in the house with any room left in it. I have no particular attachment to the dress and I have no thought that my daughter will ever want to wear it. Personally, I wanted to sell it on eBay or something, but just never got around to it (10 year anniversary this summer). DH, though, gets emotionally attached to "stuff", and has told me he'd be disappointed if I got rid of it. Sigh.

 

[Diznotyzed]

My friend made my dress for my small beach wedding, from a Gunne Sax style pattern. It's just been on a hanger in our basement. I have two daughters who are both engaged. I never expected either of them to wear my dress, but to my delight my oldest is going to wear it when she's married on her fiance's aunt's farm this August. It's a shorter length and very light and airy, and I can't believe what fits her now ever fit me!

My 86 year old MIL recently gave us her wedding gown, which was originally her grandmother's and first worn in the 1880s. It's child sized by today's standards and weighs a ton! She was hoping we might be able to use something from it for my girl's dresses.

 

[LuLuO]

I wanted to donate mine for burial gowns as a previous person has mentioned. My MIL had a fit because she wanted me to keep it in case we had a daughter. We do have a daughter but I can't see her wanting to wear it. It is kind of a renaissance looking dress with angel sleeves and corset bodice. I love it, but I'm sure by the time she gets married, if she gets married, that she will want something new. But anyway, it is preserved and sitting in my basement. I will probably still donate it. I looked into it again a while back but she wasn't taking dresses at that time.

 

[chris1gill]

I love the new TLC show, the designer has done some amazing work. I saved my dress, I hope of course my daughter might have the dress re-designed. She loves the train. Maybe someday she will wear it, maybe she won't, maybe she'll think of my dress on her day and realize that's where her life began so even if she doesn't wear it, she can remember it's own significance in her life and be happy with starting her own tradition with her own dress.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I have a dry cleaner's box in our spare bedroom closet. - It supposedly contains my preserved wedding dress, but I've heard stories of the process not being done correctly, or dresses being mixed up, so I guess I won't really know until I open it?? Anyway, I will offer it to my nieces if any of them want to wear it.

 

[Robbi]

Our daughter is expecting our first grandchild, Andre, a baby boy due in September. I'm going to make his christening gown from my dress.
It's been hanging in my closet for 31 years and still looks like the day I bought it.

 

[jetskigrl]

I have a dry cleaner's box in our spare bedroom closet. - It supposedly contains my preserved wedding dress, but I've heard stories of the process not being done correctly, or dresses being mixed up, so I guess I won't really know until I open it?? Anyway, I will offer it to my nieces if any of them want to wear it.

Does it have an outside box and an inside box, maybe? My dress is preserved in a gold box with a window in the front so that you can see it. But that entire box is inside of the dry cleaners box.

 

[ariel71]

My mother's dress was also worn by her sister (my aunt) a few years later. My mom kept the dress even though there was never a sense that my sister or I would wear it.

My aunt died from cancer in her late 40s, about 12 years ago. Recently my cousin got married; his sister was also in the wedding party. At the bridal shower, my mom presented my cousin's fiancee with a drawstring bridal purse and my female cousin with a pillow for her young son. When it was announced that they had been made from their mom's wedding dress, there wasn't a dry eye. I don't think they knew that both our mothers had worn the same dress and that my mom still had it all these years later. I'm glad my mom was able to use it in a meaningful way.

 

[usd2bmd]

I had mine preserved shortly after we were married. It's in a box wrapped in a box in my basement. At least I think it is. Shortly after I picked it up from the cleaners I watched some talk show and they did a story about women who had their dresses preserved only to open the box and find bricks or bags of rice.

My daughter has mentioned possibly using pieces of my dress but since she's only 17 and no where near ready to be married we will leave it in the box and see what happens.

I do like the idea of using the lace to wrap around the flowers,.

 

[aprilgail2]

So what did you do with your wedding dress? Mine was "preserved" and has been sitting in a box in my parents basement. My mother made some noise about giving it to me when we visit this summer. Ugh.

Have you saved yours for your kids? I can't imagine either of my girls wearing mine. Neither DD is the same height or weight I was and the style is so dated. My mom saved her for years and finally donated it. I kinda wish she had kept it so we could have made something from it.

That new TLC show made me wonder about a second question - do you expect your kids to wear your dress or get a new one? I assume mine will want to choose their own but there was a mom on the commercial that said she'd be upset if the DD didn't wear her dress.

I will probably hang onto it for sentimental reasons but I'm not sure anyone will ever use it.

I wouldn't save it for my child- who would want to wear a used dress on their wedding day? I would hope my daughter would want to pick out her own style dress and have one that is just hers for her wedding.

DH, though, gets emotionally attached to "stuff", and has told me he'd be disappointed if I got rid of it. Sigh.

Did he have his tux from the wedding cleaned and stored away like your dress? You should be disappointed if he didn't!