Hi All,
I am getting ready to move and trying to figure out what to do with my 12-year-old Pronovias bridal gown. It is a luxurious (and expensive) dress that was professionally cleaned (after being worn only six hours) and still looks beautiful. As a middle-aged woman with two sons, I don't think that any relatives will want to inherit the dress. It has a round neck (not sleeveless/strapless, which seems to be the current style) and thus would probably not sell for much now. I cannot donate it to most charities because it is more than three to six years old (the maximum age that most charities will take). I can give it to one (animal welfare) charity I know for a tax deduction.
We have decent digital and printed photos of the dress. However, my husband is attached to the dress. (He likes to keep virtually everything--which becomes a physical and financial challenge in terms of moving and storing stuff.) Because the dress is embroidered from shoulder to end of (non-detachable) train, it would be ruined if it were cut into a shorter, more practical dress. I do not want to cut it into christening gowns or anything similar.
Does anyone know of a church, synagogue, temple, store, etc. (preferably in Southern California) that would let me loan my dress to brides who would like to borrow it for just a day? All I would ask of the brides is the price of dry cleaning after their wedding. I hate to just let it age in my closet--beautiful gowns were meant to be worn!
Thanks,
L
Thank you to everyone who wrote--so many great ideas! I hate to cut up this elaborately embroidered work of art (my dress), and I am not a very "crafty" person. As such, I decided, through a charity in the eastern U.S., to donate it to a bride in an impoverished country. Supposedly, the bride who receives the dress sends a photo of herself on her wedding day to the donor--a nice gesture. Before I send off the dress next week, at the request of my sons, I am going to take a picture of me in my dress with them in their suits.
L
I know you said you didn't want to cut it, but one of the things someone did that most impressed me was to donate it to a group that made gowns for babies who had passed away. I received one for my daughter and I truly was thankful.
Considering the age, the style and your husband's attachment to it, I would opt to make it into some luxurious throw pillows for you bed or something like that. That way it's nearby and seen and enjoyed often, nor stuck in a closet for another dozen years!
I don't have details, but I believe that there is an organization that donates wedding dresses to military couples who would like to get married but have budget worries. You might want to check into that. I'm sure that, even 12 yrs old, someone would want it.
I donated my WAY expensive dress, that I had 7 years ago, complete with hand sewn embroidery. To a the Theater Department for a local Play house. They were more than happy to take it for plays. I feel it got some use, even if my marriage didnt last.
I'm with your husband. I would keep it. I can understand the challenges of moving too much stuff, but if it is professionally boxed it shouldn't take up that much room. Just my opinion. Good luck.
ETA: Oops, sorry, forgot to add. When I was a teenager I loved trying on my grandmother's wedding dress and wore it in a church bridal fashion show. My mom still has her dress and I tried it on and considered having it altered for my wedding. For a couple of reasons I didn't go that route, but the dress I ultimately chose was similar in style to my mom's. Although it seems like a long ways away you never know if you might have a granddaughter interested in it someday. By then it will vintage and perhaps back in style!
There are consignment shops that specialize in vintage dresses only. I bought a vintage wedding gown for my own wedding. So there is a market for this.
I plan to keep my vintage dress in the rare case that my sons may have a future bride who may decide she likes it. If not, then there is the tradition of having the wedding gown made into baptismal gowns for your children or in your case, perhaps your grandchildren.
I have seen some people (e.g. real housewives of beverly hills) use the wedding dress as an art piece and showcase it on a wall. i want to do it too. I have not gotten around to finding a good place to put it in my house.
I don't know - what do ya do with a 30 year old wedding dress? Mine is in the storage box that came from the dry cleaner who cleaned and boxed it after my friend borrowed it from me. At least it got two wearings. I sure do hope that when I ever take it out of the box, that it's really MY DRESS and not someone else's!
Seriously though, I guess I'm waiting for either a daughter-in-law or a granddaughter to want to look at it, if for no other purpose but for to reminisce about when we were married. I really don't expect it ever to be worn again. I'm not willing to give it up unless it's to family, to be honest.
Sara, I have a traditional wedding kimono from Japan that hangs on my wall. It's red and gold with beautiful cranes on it. The gold thread actually has real gold in it. Talk about losing their value! These wedding kimonos cost around $5000 new, and I paid $250.00 for it to hang on my wall. It is truly beautiful, but of course, I did not wear it.
Dawn
My friend makes Quilts. She used her lovely dress to make her daughter and new son in law a wedding quilt. Pieces of her life and daughters life were on this Quilt. She also made a christening gown that will be cherished forever. She kept enough of her wedding dress for a Quilt for her son when he gets married. I think to keep it in the family is wonderful, even better when your family can have a piece of it.
To be really super honest with you...there probably isn't anyone who wants to wear it. Styles change so often that a 12 year old dress is not something today's bride would wear. Sorry just being honest.
If you rent it, how would you handle it coming back to you ripped or stained? You are better off cutting it and making a few throw pillows or something special. It is sad that we keep these things in the closet and don't enjoy them.
My mother had a beautiful wedding dress, but I don't want to wear it.
.
It sounds as though it is a modest dress compared to what you call "current style." With that said, I am sure you could find a church to donate it to if you just call and ask. I am not sure why you are wanting to loan it to many women over and over again, as I have never heard of this before. However, if you just flat out give it to a church that is know for modest bridal wear (The Church of Later Day Saints- Mormon- for example), the women who ends up with the dress might want to pass it down to her future daughter.
I would keep it. You have two sons. It can be repurposed for something for their weddings, etc. My mom covered a photo album with the material from a wedding dress and put wedding photos in it. You could have the ring bearer pillows made of it. You could probably make a lovely runner or wall hanging out of the train. You may have granddaughters some day that would love to have it. I'm hoping one of my daughter's will wear my dress. It is now 24 years old and terribly out of style. But I am okay with them altering it if necessary.
