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Not long after ordering my dream gown, I had an idea. An idea that wormed its way into my brain and wouldn’t dislodge. Considering my guilt over the money invested in it and my obsession with it, it would be a damn shame not to wear my lovely again. So I would.
But how? Not again as a wedding dress. You only get married once. (Well…) Not for a trash-the-dress shoot.
I couldn’t do that to her.
But maybe a “chop the dress” session…? Make it a mini! Instead of a hair post-wedding chop, AKA PWC, do it for the dress. (This scenario would only apply if I could/would not sell it.) Ooooh, it could even be dyed. Sacrilege, right?
I’m putting down the scissors because there’s no need for such drastic measures now! Parading out of Priscilla’s newest collection is a lovely mini-gown with all the textured whimsy I fell in love with in my gown. Meet Bruges!
Won’t someone please wear this dress? I can’t wear it. It’s too similar to my gown, even if a “reception dress” pulled double duty at the wedding and after-party. And now I’m back to my original pickle: if I can’t re-sell it, how do I wear it again?
Would you wear your dress again?
I love the textured construction of your gown.
I couldn’t wear mine again, it looked too much like a wedding gown and did not lend itself to shortening. Since I was an older bride and it was not my first wedding, I sold my gown. It went to a lovely young bride in another state whose tight budget didn’t allow her to spend much on a gown, so I was very happy to have found a mutually beneficial situation 
I’ve been having this exact same idea. I discussed it here. http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/chop-my-gown-into-cocktail-dress
I’m still considering chopping my dress since it’s simple enough and would only require a large hem, de-boning and redo of the buttons. The cost is the only thing for me now. okay and a little emotions too!
I love the idea shortening my dress and wearing to some nice spring/summer party sometime after my wedding! I looked into dyeing options but several places said the type of material generally doesn’t take dye well. 
I did a TTD shoot and loved it. However, it got a bit of tar or something on it. I didn’t get it cleaned (couldn’t justify the money) and it’s been sitting in my closet for awhile now. I’ve totally thought about cutting it short and dyeing it (to cover the tar stain) which is probably why I haven’t tried to sell it yet. I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s thought about this!
My gown is going to be preserved in a box. I don’t have the heart to trash it, sell it or chop it in anyway.
There is a good post on YHL about dying her wedding dress here! http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/10/i-wanted-to-dye/
Sherry over at YoungHouseLove already had a short wedding dress, but she did dye it! And she posted a tutorial here:
http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/10/i-wanted-to-dye/
I’m not sure if her technique would work for your dress since yours has more in terms of applique, but I wanted to share
I’m definitely planning on looking into hemming and dying my dress after my wedding! I’d love to have it to wear to parties after the fact. I can’t imagine just putting it away, but the idea of selling it is also disappointing.
I’m renting my dress. Buying or renting - I’d only be wearing it once, so I decided to rent, and it’s allowed us to have more room in our budget and I can get the dress I love at a fraction of the cost. But if you love your dress and want to wear it again, I say just put it on whenever you like! Doing the dishes, mowing the lawn, running errands in town… Do you really need a reason? Gorgeous gowns should be worn!
I tried on the Bruges. It’s totally adorable and a really flattering fit, but in the end I decided it was too whimsical. I ended up going with the Karalyn, another one of Priscilla of Boston’s short dresses and I definitely intend to dye and rewear it.
My mom hemmed and rewore her wedding dress several times and it still sits in her closet so she’s been pushing me to find a dress I could do that with since we started looking.
Ohh, I’ve definitlely had these thoughts. After spending the money and loving my dress so much it seems a shame to only wear it once. But I worry that I’d just make a mess.
Luckily, it wasn’t too expensive and the place I bought it from (ariadress.com) also has a short version. So I bought a short, bright pink, cotton version of it so I could have a dress very similar to *my* dress for future wears.
A friend of mine had her dress cut and turned into a christening gown for her daughter. It was lovely. Just an idea for down the road….
I am totally re-wearing my dress to our at home reception. 
Yeeeee! That short dress is adorable! I don’t think I’ll be able to re-wear my dress, so now I’m stuck between preserving it (in case my future daughter wants to use it) or re-selling it.
I can’t shake the idea to keep it around in case future-spawn want to use it. I just keep thinking how special and cheap it would be for them! They can chop it or alter it, whatever.
I’ve had the same thoughts. I loved my dress, and would love to wear it again in another form (ha! like I could ever squeeze myself into it again…)
Ahh!! I love the idea of dying it and chopping it off! It would make SUCH a show-stopping dress to wear to fancy occasions!
@MrsTimber: I’d love to pass my dress along to a bride who couldn’t afford the gown retail.
@Rgeddy: I can totally see your dress reinvented as a cocktail gown. You could wear it on your anniversary… 
@ItsPronounced_ABear: What material is your gown?
@kcroxyoursox: At that point, why not - go for it!
@didymoose3: Thanks for the link, I’ll have to check it out.
@Jill: Love my dress. Laughing imagining Mr. P coming home to me in my dress, drinking wine with my feet up on the coffee table. Heehee!
@Entangled: Just watched the runway video on PoB’s site: love the way your Karalyn moves! (Thanks for the info on Bruges. She wasn’t available in stores when I bought my gown.)
@Lizziemom: If I did chop my dress, I thought about repurposing the train/bottom of the skirt as a bolero or wrap, but the idea of a christening gown is super sweet.
@Mrs. Meerkat: Awesome!
@Miss Giraffe: Buy it! Puh-lease. I wanna see someone rocking the short version.
@Miss Tartlet: I say sell it to see if you can share the dress love one more time. If not, you’ve got a back-up plan for it.
@doilyglove: With my luck, I’d have all boys!
@Mrs. Husky: I loved your dress. The fabric was so sumptuous.
@Mrs. Socks: Any suggestions for colors? I could make it my new New Year’s dress.
I did most of the above!
First I did a trash the dress, then I took apart my dress at the seams, dyed it, and re-built it into a cocktail dress that I can re-wear over and over again!
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Mrs. Pain au Chocolat, Wilmington, DE Age and Occupation: 29, Realtor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 34, Realtor Engagement Date: November 21, 2009 Wedding Date: June 2011 Venue: Greenville Country Club About Me: An ENFJ with an artistic streak who loves backgammon, sailing, graphic design, and sleeping in. Travel (near or far), good wine, and tasty food makes my heart sing. I'm a compulsive list-maker who lives to plan and organize. Mr. P and I have lived together for 4 years, all the while renovating our city townhome bit by bit. We're planning a whimsical, Anthropologie-inspired garden wedding in June 2011.
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