What to Do With Your Wedding Dress After the Wedding

You will have likely spent a long time finding the perfect wedding dress, but what do you do with it after the wedding is over? In this blog, we will explore some of the options you might consider if you want your dress to have a life beyond your big day!

Preserve it as a keepsake memory or for a vow renewal

Probably the most popular choice for a wedding dress after the wedding is to preserve it as a keepsake memory in a box as a reminder of your special day, and all the happy memories that came with it.

If you choose to preserve it in this manner, you will also have the option of wearing it again one day, should you choose to renew your vows. With a professional clean, steam and press, and the correct preservation technique, whenever you choose to renew your vows, the dress will feel and look like it did the first time you wore it!

Keep it to hand down to your daughter, niece or family member

Another option for your wedding dress is to turn it into a family heirloom by passing it on to your daughter, niece or another member of your family when the time comes for their big day. This way your dress gets a new lease of life to begin someone else’s married life. This will also save a lot of money for whoever you pass the dress on to, while also giving them a gift already imbued with memory and meaning.

If you do this, make sure to get your dress professionally cleaned first so that it is in the best condition for whoever you are passing it on to!

Donate it to charity

If you don’t have someone close to you that you want to pass the dress on to, you could always consider donating it to charity. This way, not only will you provide a more affordable option for someone who may not be able to afford the dress of their dreams, but the proceeds from the sale will also go to a good cause.

Sell it online

If you aren’t interested in holding on to your dress and you want to recoup some of the investment, you can always sell your dress online! This will give someone a chance to buy a more affordable dress for their big day because it is second-hand, while also being better for the environment, as it is less wasteful than them buying another new piece!

Make it into a custom piece of art

If you want a more creative option for your dress after the wedding, why not make it into a custom piece of art that you can display in your home all year round? You could combine the dress with other keepsakes from your wedding day or mementoes from your relationship to create a truly unique piece that celebrates your love.

If you are artistically inclined, you may be able to create something yourself, but if not, you may be able to find an artist who can create something for you for a fee!

Repurpose it into a new evening gown

If you don’t like the thought of only wearing your wedding dress once, you might consider repurposing it into a new evening gown. You can have the dress tailored, altered, or dyed to create something suitable for evening wear while still retaining those important elements of the wedding dress that you love and that remind you of your special day.

Use it to create something new 

One final option for your wedding dress after your wedding day is to upcycle it into something completely different! Parts of your dress could be used to make home décor, such as cushions or a throw, or even an accessory such as a clutch bag. Because you will likely only use small parts of your dress for each piece, you could end up with a themed set of new items!

Whatever you choose, make sure to get it professionally cleaned first

There are plenty of options when deciding what to do with your wedding dress after the wedding, but whatever you choose, you will want to make sure the dress is clean and in pristine condition first. 

If you are going to repurpose the dress or upcycle it into something new, then a professional clean will suffice, but if you are planning to preserve it or pass it on to someone else, then you will want to ensure it is also repaired, steamed, and pressed before you do so.

If you are looking to have your dress professionally cleaned, then you can read about our services or contact us, and we’ll be happy to help!