Sell Wedding Dress?

Sold mine. Hubby said same thing. I had no desire to wear my mother's, even if she had kept hers. I did keep the veil, as my sister-in-law made it for me.

I sold mine on ebay 2 weeks after my wedding. I actually sold it for more than I bought it (I bought it on ebay with tags on it for 1/3 the price at the bridal store!).

I sold mine on consignment for a pittance. Now I sure wish I had it back to make a fabulous formal halter top out of.

Hi P.,
Personally, I think you should do what you think is best. My Grandmother saved her dress and insisted my mother wear it - my mother being strong willed (even in the 60's) refused to wear it and told my grandmother she would walk down the isle naked before she put that 'thing' on (my father vouched for that story with a grin), needless to say My grandfather took my Mom shopping against my Grandmothers wishes. however, My mother didn't save her dress, but told me I should save mine as a momento from my wedding day and in the event I had a daughter, she could use it in her wedding - or if worse came to worse she could redesign it and use it in a winter ball for high-school or prom as a formal. About 2 years into my marriage I found out I couldn't have kids anymore due to injuries I sustained in an accident, so I sold my gown. (mostly because I was angry but somewhat because I felt like I let my man down). It destroyed my marriage (the not being able to have babies part) and we eventually divorced. I got remarried and now have a lovely daughter. (go figure), I still have my last wedding gown, but not because I believe my daugther would wear it some day(because I'm sure she wont want to) but because it recalls many fond memories everytime I pull it out. I couldn't get mine traditionally preserved, I have to take it to the cleaners at least every year to make sure it doesn't fall apart because it's made of leather. I had a fun wedding and reception so I keep the dress, hoping someday to be able to re-live those precious moments. I will never sell this dress. You have to think about how you would feel if you did sell it. What you would miss. If you would feel nothing, and don't feel like you would miss anything (because everything is in pictures or on DVD) then sell it, but if you feel like you would miss it or maybe you might be able to use it in another way, then keep it. Give it a couple more years before you decide, it's not going anywhere unless you make it happen. and if you still decide you want to sell it or get rid of it - you could also consider donating it to Good Will - the donation value would probably be way higher than the sell value and you could write off the donation in your taxes. Just a thought.
Aloha
E.

Since I can tell by your request that you are not emotionally attached to the dress, I say sell or donate it.

I would wait a few more years until your daughter was around 7 and could decide. If you don't want to wait that long, perhaps there are some beads that you could have taken off and placed in a box for safe keeping that she could have sewn into her dress. Did you have a hairclip or veil that perhaps she could use instead of the dress?
M.

When I got married 5 years ago it was so much fun to see my mother pull out her wedding dress and put it on. She still fit in it and it was hysterical to see that she wore long sleeves in the middle of June!!! It was a great moment! I even tried it - what a great day! I never had any intention of wearing it and nor did my mother want me to wear it but we had fun nonetheless. I have a sister 15 years younger than me so I hope my mom's dress is still around then for her b/c it will be even more hilarious when she gets married so we can all try it on again!!!

I don't think many mothers believe their daughters will actually wear their dress when they get married so if you have no real attachment and see no need for it in the future then sell it otherwise it might fun to have the "moment" of laughter of trying it on again when your daughter does get married. Or another idea if you do decide to sell it is to maybe take part of the dress.. maybe part of the train or whatever and turn it in to a small keepsake for her to keep or you to keep just as a memory! It could be that "something old" you give to your daughter on her wedding day! Just a thought! :)

A friend of mine wore her mothers dress for her own wedding. Her mom was large, my friend was not, and the tradition in her family was, when the children came along, the baptismal baby outfit was cut from the material of the train of the wedding dress. Long story short, a dressmaker altered/updated the dress, inserted lace panels where the material had been cut away. It was her mothers dress, but it looked a bit different and was absolutely beautiful on my friend. I've saved my wedding dress. I have 1 son, no daughters. Maybe some future daughter-in-law might want to make use of it (or not - either is fine), but mostly I keep it because my wedding was one of the happiest days of my life, and I have enough room to keep it.

So, I know a TON of people that saved their dresses and they never got used. I really wanted to wear my mom's but a) it didn't fit and b) it wasn't really in style. She convinenced me that I should get a dress that reflected my style and that she was touched I wanted to use her stuff, but not to. When your daughter gets married, most likely you're going to want a very special dress that reflects her style and most likely that won't be yours. Plus, times change a lot and so do styles, imagine wearing your mothers!! What I did do was to use the lace of my mom's veil. The veil was the wrong style and color, but for about $150 (which is similar to the price of a new one). I got the lace cut, attached to a tiara a family member gave me and dyed. That way I had something special from her that could fit my style. If you wanted to keep something, the purse/bag or veil, necklace, etc would be great for something old/borrowed if you go with that when she gets married. Just some things to think about!! Good luck!!

Personally, I think that unless you are really sentimental, it will just take up space somewhere in your house for 20+ years only to find out that your daughter really didn't want to wear it. I donated mine to a mission that helped those who could not afford a nice dress to have a nice wedding gown. I cleaned mine and then donated it. I found that to be a totally wonderful experience. I know it went to good use and someone else felt beautiful.

I still have my dress from 8 yrs ago, not for my daughter but for myself. My goal is to still be able to fit into it on our 10 yr anniversary. I have brought it out a couple of times for people who wanted to see if they could use it but they usually declined in the end for something new.
My mom didn't keep her dress for me. My mother-in-law kept hers but didn't have any daughters so she wanted me to wear it on my wedding day. I fit into it perfectly and didn't mind the vintage look but it was yellowed and didn't fit my skin color. She reminds me ALL THE TIME though that she kept the dress for someone special and that it was a waste that I didn't use it when I fit into it perfectly. Her other daughter-in-law didn't fit into it so she was off the hook. I felt really pressured and still do.
I keep my gown for the memories but if my daughter wants it to play dress up or if there's a school play that needs it in the future, I'll let them have it. I think my daughter would think it's outdated by the time she gets married. But you never know. If you're going to give up the dress, I like the idea of keeping a few beads or some part of the dress.
Another thought, maybe your hubby might be using your daughter as an excuse to keep the dress because he has fond memories of it himself? I would ask him if the dress is important to him too. My husband was upset when I said I was going to lend my dress to people because he didn't want someone else wearing MY dress. Luckily, both people didn't want it. I think it would have really upset him if I gave the dress away or let someone else use it. Yeah, come to think about it, I think he's more attached to the dress than I am.

You could keep it for your daughter but if it's not her style, let her know that she could 'revamp' it or have a seamstress use the material to make a new one.

But by the way, I sold mine years ago!

I would keep it for your daughter, even if she doesn't want it, it's a nice gesture.

More importantly, I think your daughter will take great joy in seeing it when she gets older. My five-year old is currently facinated with my wedding now that she is old enough to understand. I think as she gets a little older, she may want to see it and try it on. What a fun thing to share with her. Sell it when she gets married to help pay for her dress, but let her enjoy it as she grows up.

I've also been married 6 years, and I got rid of mine about a year ago. It was taking up space we didn't have to spare. My mother had also saved her dress for me, but it was very out of date and not my style or size, so I didn't wear it. When I considered my dress, I felt that my daughter would probably feel the same way. If that's your hunch about your daughter and your dress, you're probably right. Mine wasn't a couture dress or anything that was SO exquisite--if that describes your dress, you may feel differently. I donated mine to the Salvation Army, and I hope that someone who couldn't afford a nice wedding dress was able to use it!