What can I do with my wedding dress after my wedding? It’s question we get asked a lot, and we love it because it means a cultural movement is happening! With a mind shift on consumerism and a wear once mentality fading, some brides are looking on how they can repurpose their wedding dress for the good of the planet and other people. Now, we’re aware this isn’t for everyone. Some brides want to store and keep their dress forever as a lasting memory, and that’s more than okay, but, if you’re looking at how it can go on to have a new lease of life, we have some ideas for you! Here are our 5 ways to repurpose your wedding dress after your wedding day…
Sell Your Dress
This is sometimes easier said than done. However, selling your dress is more than doable. Bear in mind that wedding dresses decrease in value as soon as you’ve bought them, so don’t expect to get back close to what you paid for it. Be realistic in your pricing. Remember that your dress will have had alterations on it too, so this may decrease the number of buyers, especially when it comes to the length. There are numerous places online you can sell including some boutiques that now offer pre-loved wedding dresses in their collections. Research in your area is key if you decide to stay local. There is also the option of selling independently too, you might just make someone else’s wedding dress dream come to life!
Donate It
Do you have a local charity who you’d love to support? Ask them about wedding dress donations and how this works. there are multiple options when it comes to donating. There are some great charities out there such as Cherished Gowns and Brides Do Good. Oxfam have a dedicated wedding dress section too where you can donate and buy!
Display It
An alternative and less used option is to display it! We have had brides who have had their wedding dresses framed professionally to display in their home after their big day. It makes an interesting talking point and a super extravagant feature!
Alter It To Wear Again
If you’re dress is something you think you will wear again then you may choose to alter it so it’s slightly more wearable. If it will dye then this is also an option to give it a new lease of life. Take it to a professional to see discuss your ideas. You may choose to shorten it, take off some of the features or customise it into something completely different so you can wear it again and again!
Save It For Future Use
Saving it for the long hall is always a bit risky if you really would like to see it have a new lease of life. However, we’ve had some incredible stories and some beautiful dresses in the boutique. We’ve turned vintage wedding dresses into christening gowns and more recently, customised and altered a bespoke gown for a prom dress. Sometimes it’s worth saving it for future use
We think giving your wedding dress a new lease of life can only be a good thing! If you’d like to discuss this further get in touch to book your private consultation, or you can see more about us and the boutique here!