What do you do with your gown after your big day?
Your wedding day is over and now you have to decide what to do with your wedding gown. There are several options to choose from, depending on your preferences. If you have spent a lot of money on your dress it can be sad to part with it. Yet, there are some choices after your wedding day is done.
Save it
Lots of brides like to save their wedding dresses, sometimes in the hopes that their own daughter may one day wear it. Some just like to save it for sentimental reasons. If you’re going to save it, do it properly. Take your dress to a cleaners that specializes in professionally packaging and preserving your dress to keep it safe during storage.
Lend it
If you have a friend or relative who will be getting married you can save them money by letting them borrow your dress. This is especially good for friends who won’t be having the same group of guests at their celebration. Lending your gown will give it renewed life. Keep in mind that you may not get it back in the best condition so be prepared in case it gets stained or torn.
Donate it
Want to feel good about giving back? Donate your dress to a group that can offer it to a bride in need. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you helped to make another woman’s wedding special by giving a dress she otherwise wouldn’t be able to have.
Trash it
Have you heard of “trash the dress” photos? These are professional photos of the bride are taken after the wedding, where she wears her dress doing something that could ruin it. For example, one bride jumped into a huge mud puddle while another went swimming in the ocean.
Sell it
If you spent a lot of money on your dress you may be able to get some of it back. You’re not going to wear it again, so consider selling it. Consignment shops are a great place to sell your dress because you can set the price you’d like to get. Some shops even specialize in resale of bridal attire.