Where is your wedding dress?
By stary1
@stary1 (6612)
United States
May 1, 2011 11:33pm CST
In talking about Kate's wedding dress I started to wonder what everyone does with their wedding dresses. Years ago the tradition was to make a Christening dress for the first child out of the material from the wedding dress. That seems like a touching gesture, but I think the dress could be put to better use.
After my wedding, I was asked if I would be willing to donate my dress to someone who could not afford one. At first I was hesitant and then fortunately within seconds I said of course I would. I am so happy I did. My dress was passed on to several girls who couldn't purchase one.
What would I have done with it?? Hang it in the closet and drag it with me every time I moved?? Yes it had sentimental value, but it was put to so much better use when several people were able to wear it and enjoy it. I urge everyone to donate their dresses or sell them for a reduced price if you need the money.
What do you think?
3 people like this
15 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
2 May 11
That's a great idea. Mine is hanging in my closet and I doubt after four kids I can get into it again..lol I'll probably donate mine too...
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
2 May 11
I agree, what's the use of allowing the dress to hang around while someone else could use it???..:)
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
10 May 11
Thanks for the BR, I haven't donated it yet, but I will next chance I get..:)
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
2 May 11
Good for you. I had second thoughts..but only for a second, because there really is a sentimental attachment. I even had some people say to me "How could you do that. How could you part with it" ...
I feel happy others enjoyed wearing it..that's how :)
1 person likes this
It was a beautiful dress...long princess style
@Mickie30 (2626)
•
2 May 11
I was told that I could not have a traditional wedding dress so I had a baby blue one. It was quite gothic and it was specially made for me. I have some lovely pictures of it. My mum has my wedding dress in her house so she is taking care of it for me. If I got a blessing then I would very much like to wear a pure white dress.
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
2 May 11
My wedding dress is tucked safely away in the back of my closet. My hopes are for my daughter to wear it one day. If she does or doesn't, the dress still holds so many cherished memories for me. it is a dress i would not want to part with. It will remain a part of who i am.@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
2 May 11
I would have done that, but my oldest daughter was too big and my youngest is too small for my dress..
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 May 11
I think it is wonderful to pass on a wedding dress to those who could not - perhaps, afford one and I did toy with the idea for a while.
Making money from selling it didn't appeal to me as I felt uncomfortable about it. Dunno why, I just did.
I don't normally become emotionally attached to clothing BUT I have kept my wedding dress in its box. The reason for this is simple; I had to wait until I was 42 before I got married. Ten years previous to this I had no idea I would EVER get married..so the dress has taken on a whole new meaning because of this.
I shall never part with it. I have no daughters to pass it on to, which is something I would've done if I'd wanted children.
Congratulations to those, like yourself, who have the courage and conviction to pass their wedding dresses on.
Good for you.
@r3jcorp (1382)
• Philippines
3 May 11
My wedding dress is kept on my parents' house, in my old room. I don't want to sell it, though I could lend it to someone who might want it. But the design was very outdated considering that I had it in 1997. And considering my height of 5 feet, that would only fit to smaller woman. I don't know if my dress was bothering my parents, but I guess not because they are not complaining about it. I don't have plans to get it because I don't have a closet to keep it. But I guess my daughters and future grandchildren would be interested on it someday.
@tash01 (2030)
• Jamaica
3 May 11
Most people here either bought their dress are rent it.people who bought their dress usually lend it to a friend who is getting married are sell it back after it is wore.
My wedding was rented it, and i return it back.
On some country's people have Tradition that they follow,while some donate it to places for donation.
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
2 May 11
I never got married and never will getmarried. So I don't have a wedding dress. I know my mom's dress is somewhere in the attic of my dad's. I have a friend,who after getting divorced,dyed her wedding dress black and as "Elivra"once during Halloween! Have no idea what my sister-laws have done with thiers or what my sister did with her first dress! I should look into that!
@sachii315 (488)
• Japan
2 May 11
Hi stary1! I really admired you when you donated your wedding dress to someone. It's very kind of you. I just got married last year. I had a Church wedding and a traditional wedding. My wedding dress was a simple empire cut one and the other is a traditional wedding hanbok which my mother-in-law and sister-in-laws made. My father wants us to have a traditional Japanese wedding to but I declined because I think it would be very impractical to be wed thrice and also a wedding kimono is quite expensive. My dress is still here in my closet. I wish I could donate my wedding dress too (except for the hanbok 
my eomeoni will be in rage) Happy mylotting!
my eomeoni will be in rage) Happy mylotting! 
@sonaimajumdar (950)
• India
2 May 11
Till now I am single as i am only 18. So no idea that when will I get married and what will i do then with my wedding dress. But as i read your story, I am happy that you gave your dress to those girls who could not afford one.i would only say that you have done a great job and those girls would be very proud of you , and they might be thinking that still people with this mind exists in the earth. And Do you know why did I say the last line , because in today's generation no one is like you. Maximum people would like to keep them in their closet only, as they spent thousands of dollars behind it and they want to keep that dress because they dont wanna give anyone thousands of dollars so easily. So nothing more, I am just proud of people like you. You are a real kind hearted person.
And really don't know what will happen to my wedding dress,as it is the topic which should be given light after atleast 10 years.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
2 May 11
Thank you. What a sweet post. I do understand when people want to keep their dresses because I hesitated too..but I am so glad I gave it away as I have moved several times and the thought of dragging it with me everywhere I go is not appealing.
I wish you much happiness and don't rush to get married. Enjoy being young and single..there is plenty of time to be married :)
@Metatronik (6199)
• Pasay, Philippines
2 May 11
That is a good idea about the wedding dress. Because I have that thought as well that what will happen to your expensive wedding dress that is glamorous, fabulous or even more after your 1 day of your special event. If I am decided to wear a wedding dress I have this idea that the design can be recycled so that it will be useful in other ways if the wedding was already done. For example you can also use it for party dress, cocktail dress or other more special occasion that you are willing to use it again. But since I am not a woman who is into gown so I am decided to use Sunday dress for my dream wedding someday but it could be fashionable as possible and of course presentable to look it special. We have good fashion designer here in our country that is why I am confident enough that they can do ways.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
2 May 11
Metatronik..I can understand wanting a more practical design and it can be just as gorgeous. Re wearing it will be fun, especially on your anniversary :)
dying beauty...Modifying a dress to wear again is a good idea. If you design your own, you really can design something to re-wear.
@katrinapaz (2436)
• Philippines
3 May 11
i am not married yet but i am thankful that i have read this discussion. Now i have ideas on what to do with my wedding dress after i have wore it in my future wedding. I do not know what my mother did to her wedding dress since I am not able to find it at home. Maybe she also borrowed the dress from one of her cousins.
@jasmin_niza (362)
• Philippines
2 May 11
My mom is the one keeping my wedding dress now, she's saving it for future use of our relatives who might get married and don't have the money to buy a dress. She's also thinking that my daughter can wear it in the future.
@lsdshrooms (214)
• United States
3 May 11
My mom kept her wedding dress, but threw it out after her husband (my dad) turned into a complete a-hole..
