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…that’s the time to do something with your dress. Per Miss Bluebell’s poll a couple of days ago, we brides drop a good amount of dough on the dress.
So what are the possibilities for this “do something?”
[one]
At this point, I am heavily leaning toward donating my dress to Making Memories’ Brides Against Breast Cancer. It’s a well-established, reputable charity serving a good cause, you give other brides-to-be a chance at a lovely gown at considerably less than retail price, and you can take a tax write-off on something you most probably will never wear again. It’s a win-win-win situation.
Anyone know of any other charities that do something similar? I know of the Cinderella Project, Working Wardrobes, and other charities that take formal, prom, and bridesmaid dresses, but from a quick glance, it doesn’t seem they take wedding gowns.
[two]
Ebay and PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com are two great places to sell your dress. You do have to pay a fee to list on either, though. I believe there is a knot bio with dresses for sale as well, but I’m not sure if there is a fee.
[three]
You could also preserve it as Mrs. Bee did. Besides J.Scheer, I’ve also heard a lot about WedClean, but I (obviously) don’t have experience with them or even know anyone personally who has used them. For $99, they will send you a kit with instructions to send your dress to them, clean, preserve, box, and ship your dress back.
[four]
Whether you preserve it or not, you can clean and keep it for future “adaptive re-use.” The possibilities are endless - have it altered and dyed (or not) into a formal dress or suit, make christening gowns for your babies, save it for your daughter to wear or alter and wear for her wedding dress or even rehearsal dress.
[five]
Lastly, you can schedule a post-wedding photoshoot in your dress. A friend alerted me to this blog that has a great collection of beautiful photos, mostly of brides in their dress in various bodies of water. Like the collection of feedback posted in this entry (and the comments on the comments), my feelings are mixed on this one. It does produce some truly amazing photos, though.
this sounds crazy but I am actually considering having my dress dyed and then altered into a party dress. It doesn’t have any beading or lace, so it’s not overtly bridal.
i specifically bought my dress because i plan on having it trimmed to tea-length, beading removed, and then dyed so i can wear it again (at least for 1st anniversary dinner).
the train will be saved to make a gown for baby.
Wow Miss Lime, those really ARE some pretty amazing pictures. However, considering that I don’t even like to waste everyday things like leftover food, paper and plastic bags, scratch paper, paper towels…you get the drift. I don’t think I could bring myself to “trash” something that is worth at least 3 digits. Perhaps I would be able to find a less elegant, white dress and take pics on the beach! That would be coooool. 
I had my dress preserved by J.Scheer in New York. They did an amazing job, and they are recommended by Reem Acra, Anne Barge and others.
My FMIL has made Christening gowns out of wedding dresses for other members of the family. When the time is right, I plan on asking her to do the same with my dress.
That “trash the dress” site made me a little sick to my stomach. I have to respect the brides’ willingness to sacrifice their dresses for the sake of a picture (or ten), but I couldn’t imagine doing that to my beautiful dress–especially when they can be used again by future generations, relatives, friends, or even complete strangers. Like L said, I’m too cheap to waste Ziplock bags, I’m certainly not going to waste my wedding dress!
I am having my dress made into a quilt. My sister is also giving me her MOH dress to be in the quilt. My seamstress is a great quiltmaker, so I am having her do it after the wedding. That way we get to use it all the time.
Or as my FH put it…he gets to get into my wedding dress every night 
thanks for the comments, ladies. you’ve got some good ideas for re-use!
kathleen, a silk or satin or whatever fabric your dress may be quilt sounds decadent. your FH is funny, too.
I’m going the ‘trash the dress’ route. It’s an ivory bridesmaids dress so it’s not like I’m passing it down or recouping that money from it.
yup, my dress will be transformed into christening gown(s) as well. i don’t know if that (s) will come into play, but we’ll see.
and i’m going to save a big chunk of it for my kid - if she wants to incorporate it into her own dress or bouquet or something.
I love the idea of trashing it, but there is no way i would do that to the dress i just spent months saving for. However, I love the idea so much, i will probably buy a cheap, white party dress to roll in the ocean with on our honeymoon or something. (def something under 100 for that!)
While I love the idea of a quilt, I think i’m going to save mine for my kids. It’s pretty simple, so it could be altered if any of my future children want to use it.
As everyone knows, I am selling mine. Why am I letting them go when I loved them sooo much? Because it’d be such a pity for them to sit in back of the closet, serving no purpose. I knew that I wanted to pass them along to someone else who loves them as much as I did. So it was either sell or donate.
My dress was my Mom’s dress and my Aunt’s dress before her! I definately plan to preserve it, although the three of us are so tiny who knows if future generations will be able to use it! I’m only 5 ft. and Mr. Lily is 6ft so with any luck our kids will be taller than me!
Mine was fairly inexpensive, but I plan on trying to sell it at a consignment shop, to a friend or online. I’d really like to make all my money back on it.
I love the idea of trashing the dress! Andrew & I are having no children, and even if we did, I doubt 20+ years down the line, some kid is going to want that out style dress! lol. I think it’s a waste to preserve it, and just have it sit in the back of your closet. If I did anything, I think I’d have it made into another dress, or like it’s been said, a quilt…but after trashing it, and getting in cleaned again! LOL!
And Miss Blueberry…I’m sorry, but you seem a bit too high strung…I mean, did it honestly make you sick to your stomach, just looking at those photos? I think it’ll be a good thing once this wedding planning is done for you. First the I hate weddings website, and now this….I dunno….
Great question Miss Lime. =) I love the idea of creating a christening gown or the quilt. I don’t think I’ll preserve my dress for a kid to wear. Although, I did wear my mom’s traditional chinese dress for the tea ceremony that she wore 38 years ago on her wedding day…
I’m trashing my dress. I won’t be wearing it again, so I’ll see what kind of photos we can do with it. Pools, lakes, whatever. I don’t mind wrecking it because honestly, it will be kinda fun to do that.
I won’t bother getting it cleaned after either. We’ll just have a good time ruining it beyond repair.
I’ll be making it into a christening gown for future children and perhaps a bassinet liner.
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Mrs. Lime, Los Angeles Age and Occupation in 06: 25, Design Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, IT Engagement Date: July 7, 2006 Wedding Date: August 5, 2007 Venue: An historic estate About Me: Between work and wedding planning, I try to squeeze in napping, drawing, random spurts of craftiness, tennis, and eating lots of Sprinkles cupcakes, dark chocolate, and noodles of all kinds. Mr. Lime and I have spent our adult lives growing up together, and we're very excited to finally be getting married!
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