What did you do with your gown after?

[KT27]

I was wondering what everyone did with their gowns after the whole wedding was over? Mine has been cleaned & boxed (not preserved) with my tiara & veil. Did you keep it, sell it, give it away etc? Or did you do something else?

~Katie

 

[snowwhite17]

I sold my dress...My x-husband and I are divorced!!! I did keep the head piece though.

 

[georgiajaimie]

I am going to keep mine in the hope that maybe my daughters can do something with them in years to come.

 

[karentan]

i got mine cleaned and preserved (they couldnt get all the dirt completely off cos i left it too long before i got it cleaned, oops!) and its all boxed up. i dont intend selling it cos i spend a lot of money on it and wouldnt be able to sell it for enough to make it worth getting rid of it. (unless i find myself extremely broke in years to come).
keeping fingers crossed of a VR in a few years time so may wear it again.

 

[hmgolden]

My parents cleaned and preserved mine. I'm not sure what I'll do with it. I know some weddings gowns in my family have been made into christening gowns, perhaps I'll do that when the time comes. For now the dress just takes up room

 

[heatherlynn444]

I don't want to preserve mine, b/c I want my daughter/daughters one day to play drss up with it! my mom preserved hers, and she has regretted it so many times b/c it justs sits there....with no purpose....and she would have rathered us have fun with it, so i am saving mine in hopes of some fun with my kids!

 

[scootert]

Since I was a "mature" bride, I knew I wouldn't have a daughter of my own to pass it on to, and I didn't want my step daughter to feel obligated or cause trauma with her mother when the time came for her wedding.

I had the gown cleaned and donated it to an organization (can't remember the name -- saw them on Oprah several years ago) that sells the gowns at very low/reasonable costs and donates the money for breast cancer research. I figured it was a win/win --- someone could buy a beautiful gown at a very reasonable price and more funding for research.

 

[disneybridetobe]

I washed mine (yes, in my washing machine) when I got back from my Disney wedding, and then 10 days later we had an at-home reception... when I wore it again! Now, it's still sitting in my car, a month later. I'm bad

 

[cryssi]

My mom had the skirt cleaned (2 piece gown) but not the bodice b/c I was going to wear it for our anniversary...yeah right, that didn't happen! It probably wouldn't even fit! LOL They are both sitting in the guest room closet with my veil...

 

[janine]

I had mine boxed (though not preserved). I am sure I will regret keeping it in a couple of years because the box is taking up space.
here is my pretty box

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Oh Janine that box is soooo pretty.

Mine is in the wardrobe in our guest bedroom. In fact just a few months ago I had a couple of friends round and we got a little "tipsy" and all of us tried it on and I was pleased to say it was too big for me LOL

It has some of the rock chips and other jewels missing and is pretty dirty and the part of the front piece has come un-attached but it's so pretty I just love to put it on now and again but it's so heavy!!

 

[bessjlj]

Janine~ That box is gorgeous!

Hmm, this is something I have had every good intention of addressing long before now. I hope to have mine cleaned and preserved, but for now it's sitting in a closet in my parents' home...poor abused gown! Does anyone know how late is too late to clean a gown...obviously the sooner the better. I intend to save it for a future daughter or niece...or maybe I'll wear it again some day when for a VR far in the future...can you see I haven't given this much thought.

 

[wendy46001]

Hmm, this is something I have had every good intention of addressing long before now. I hope to have mine cleaned and preserved, but for now it's sitting in a closet in my parents' home...poor abused gown! Does anyone know how late is too late to clean a gown...obviously the sooner the better. I intend to save it for a future daughter or niece...or maybe I'll wear it again some day when for a VR far in the future...can you see I haven't given this much thought.

I'm in the same boat....mine is in the closet...in the body-bag, I’m sure i was told not to keep it in the bag because the zipper can ruin it....but i've been meaning to get it cleaned and boxed....

 

[Ember]

I haven't had my wedding yet, but I'm going to try to sell mine. It's a couture gown so I'm hoping I can get something for it, I'd even settle for 1/3 it's price... eBay here I come!

For the other ladies who sold their gowns, where did you sell yours?

 

[janine]

Oh Janine that box is soooo pretty.

Mine is in the wardrobe in our guest bedroom. In fact just a few months ago I had a couple of friends round and we got a little "tipsy" and all of us tried it on and I was pleased to say it was too big for me LOL

I am the opposite. Before it was boxed I just had to put it on again, but I couldn't fasten it. I lost a lot of weight due to my dog dying 2 weeks before we flew to the USA. I was so upset over him, so the day before I flew I had to have it re-altered. Now I have put it all back on again, and it was about 3 inches too small!! Yikes!
Thanks for the compliment, I bought the box from www.thebeautifulboxcompany.co.uk
It was custom made and cost £53 inc postage.

 

[smoof]

My parents got it cleaned, and they bought a preservation box. The dress itself isn't preserved. The cleaners even tightened loose beads. I don't know where they put it. I would like to put it to some use, but I can figure that out later. I am not that crazy about my dress, and I know I am not going to wear it again, so it might as well go to some good use.

The tiara is in my closet at my parents' house, and I have put it on since!

 

[jeepgal]

u can donate ur dress for a good cause:

idofoundation org slash resources slash dresses

(sorry can't post websites yet)

 

[AnnieBelle]

I definitely do not want to keep my dress, and I really like the idea of donating it to a cause. Just because you cannot afford to have an expensive dress does not mean you should not look like a princess, I want to do that for someone.

 

[jeepgal]

yeah - I thought I would keep my dress but reading that - it sounds like a great cause...

 

[kimnkel]

Since I was a "mature" bride, I knew I wouldn't have a daughter of my own to pass it on to, and I didn't want my step daughter to feel obligated or cause trauma with her mother when the time came for her wedding.

I had the gown cleaned and donated it to an organization (can't remember the name -- saw them on Oprah several years ago) that sells the gowns at very low/reasonable costs and donates the money for breast cancer research. I figured it was a win/win --- someone could buy a beautiful gown at a very reasonable price and more funding for research.

This sounds like a good idea scooter, and thank you, jeepgal for posting the website. I will definitely consider doing this. There is also an organization that takes prom dresses and formals for girls to wear that might not otherwise be able to afford a dream gown. In my town (Austin, TX) it is run by the Junior League.

I hate to think of beautiful gowns just gathering dust, so unless y'all really think you will save the dress for some purpose like a daughter wearing it (although I have always thought every bride wants to wear something of her own choosing, so I really wonder how often that happens?) or making it into a Christening gown, I think donating it is a great idea.

In my family we pass along a hand embrodiered, French lace hankie to carry with the bridal bouquet, to which each bride adds her mongram. I come from a long line of sentimental pragmatists. (Hankies are so much easier to store!) Martha Stewart, wootaaheyy...you ain't got nothing on us, you...you...yankee! Stop copying us!

Yes, the gown does seem to go from treasured dream to unwieldy albatross, doesn't it? Oh well...as long as our husbands don't also morph...

I forget who asked about resell, but ebay is good, and also I know of a site called "preowned wedding gowns" that only sells upscale designer gowns. You might try it <?>