What to do with wedding dress?

[OrangeSwoosh]

Got married a couple of years ago. Wedding dress is sat in its bag in the loft. I'm not particularly attached to it but don't want to landfill it.

Any suggestions?

It was originally purchased second hand from a charity so has already been altered 2+ times. I'm not sure it could be used by somebody again?

It's in pretty good condition, from what I remember there's no damage to it although it is slightly dirty around the bottom from walking outside. I've been estimated around £200 to get it cleaned which I can't really justify for no real reason.

I applied to donate it to a couple of charities who make gowns for stillborn babies but have never heard anything back.

DC is our one and only and won't be christened/baptised so won't be reusing it for that purpose.

I don't really mind where it goes, but would like someone to be able to make some use out of it (preferably without it costing me a fortune to dry clean it)

Charity shop
Local theatre group, for the wardrobe department

Does it have a washing label on it? Most wedding dresses can be machine washed (inside out). Put 'vanish' on the bottom (stained bits) before washing.

Uses big washing machine (at laundrette) if it is a big dress.

I was wondering whether to just chuck it in an old duvet cover and wash it and see what happens. The bottom is largely just netting type material that's dirty and even if someone just used it for the beads and material then that's better than binning it. Maybe I'll wash it, see what happens and then offer it for free on a local crafting Facebook page or something.

It's a kind of corseted(?) at the top. That should survive a wash shouldn't it? That's where most of the detailing is

You're doing well, mine is still in a bag in the loft and it's 11 years this year!

@MerryChristmasHarry - only because we need to empty the entire loft to have the roof redone 🤦 There's so much up there

I've just given mine to a theatre group. They were thrilled as apparently its perfect for panto 🙈

If you do wash it then a group like wishing well who organise short notice weddings for people affected by ill heath are always on the look out for dresses. Some are worn by people having a wedding and some are sold to fund buying dresses for people (if they don’t have their size for example)

If you still want to donate to a charity who make little dresses for stillborn babies, try cherishedgowns.org. I sent myvweddung dress to them & they made 5 or 6 beautiful little outfits.

Thanks @lyralalala it came from a Wishing Well sales place in the first place. It was the only way I could justify spending £500 on a dress

@Brakebackcyclebot I tried them but never heard anything back

They’d likely definitely take it back then, it adds to the story for them

Might ask the seamstress. The label says size 12 or 14, it was definitely more of a 16-18 when I tried it on and instead of losing weight I put it on, so it was altered to an 18-20 so may see if it can still be used a 3rd+ time