After trying on countless wedding gowns, you finally found the dress of your dreams. Everyone cried, your husband was in awe and your friends gushed over how stunning you looked on your wedding day. But in a flash the wedding is over and now you are struggling with what to do with your wedding dress after the wedding.
When you look back and realize that your beloved wedding dress was only worn for 8-10 hours it makes the price tag seem a bit unbelievable. The following list will give you some ideas on what to do with your wedding dress now that the “I Do’s” are over as well as some great tips on how to recoup some of the money spent on your big day!
| 1 | Get Your Wedding Dress Cleaned
It’s no surprise that after your wedding your gown may be in need of a good cleaning. No matter if you wedding takes place indoors or outdoors there is a good chance that it will get dirty. The train will sweep across the floor picking up dirt, dust and even leaves if you are outside. Makeup can easily get on it when you are putting it on and taking it off and possibly even some sweat. Even if it doesn’t “look” stained it is a great idea to get it cleaned before storing it.
If you are heading out to your honeymoon immediately after the wedding, ask your Mom or Maid-Of-Honor to drop it off at the dry cleaners for you. Getting it cleaned right away is key to not have stains set in, you never know what you might need her for in the future. You just might want to wear her again.
| 2 | Preserving Your Dress
If you are the sentimental type and want to hold onto your wedding dress for a future daughter to wear, then getting it preserved is a must. Many dry cleaners offer this service or you can utilize an online company such as Wedding Gown Preservation Company. Make sure to have it cleaned first or inquire if the preservation company can do it before preserving it. This is a great way to protect the fabric on your wedding gown from yellowing over time. Your gown will be placed in vacuum-sealed protective cover inside a sturdy box that has a window that allows you to see your dress and reminisce over time.
It is an added expense so make sure that you include this in your overall budget, generally under $250 but depending on your dress embellishments and fabric is could cost more.
| 3 | Sell Your Used Wedding Dress
This trend seems to be taking over the wedding dress industry. Modern-day brides do not seem to be as emotionally attached to their wedding gown and therefore look for ways to recoup some of the money spent on it. Thanks to the internet, it is easier than ever to sell your used wedding dress online. If you are interested in selling your preowned wedding dress, you should check out PreownedWeddingDresses.com and our own selection of used dresses on Oncewed.com. Both have thousands and thousands of brides searching their sites each and every day for the perfect wedding dress. Your gown is too pretty to only have one trip down the aisle! Get started today!
| 4 | Share The LOVE – Donate Your Dress To A Worthy Cause
There are many brides across the country that simply do not have the funds to purchase their dream gown and have the fairytale wedding. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- There are nonprofits organizations that you can donate to that will re-sell your gown to use the money for breast cancer research.
- You could donate it to Brides Across America, a non-profit committed to loving one another by gifting weddings and wedding gowns to our military & first responders.
- You can donate it directly to your local GoodWill office. They hold annual wedding dress sales that provide local brides with amazing prices on designer wedding dresses.
- Adorned In Grace – this charity is dedicated to helping survivors of human and sex trafficking. They generally sell the donated wedding dresses for $250 – $300 and then put all proceeds back into the organization. If helping people that are being abused and exploited is near and dear to your heart this is a great option for you.
You can find other great organizations online in your local community. Donating your wedding dress is a great way to give her new life and make another brides dreams come true.
| 5 | Trash The Dress!
The idea of trashing the dress is something that is not right for bride but if you are a fun loving, adventure seeker with a passion for things that are unexpected then it might be perfect for you! Trashing the dress is when you do something daring after the wedding while wearing your wedding dress while a professional photographer captures amazing photos. We have seen couples in the waves, or swimming underwater, bungy jumping, immersed with wildlife, 4-wheeling through mud, expressing themselves with paint, rock climbing and so much more! Anything that you are passionate about could become your trash the dress moment.
| 6 | Wear Her Again!
We think every bride has dreams of wearing her wedding dress again. And we think it is a great idea! Have it cleaned and preserved after your wedding so when you are ready to put her on again she is just as fresh as the first day you wore her. Here are a few great ways that you CAN wear your wedding dress again.
- If you wore a Two-piece wedding dress, then you can wear the bodice over and over again. Pair it with a skirt from your everyday wardrobe or your sexiest jeans and heals on your anniversary.
- Did you wear a sleek sheath gown? Dress it down with a boho-chic suede jacket and some boho accessories.
- Dye your wedding dress into a non-bridal color and add it flawlessly into your everyday wardrobe.
- Wear your wedding dress again at a vow renewal.
- Plan a big party and invite all your friends to wear their wedding dresses.
Whatever you decide to do with your wedding dress after the wedding make sure she is cleaned before you sell or store it!
