Wedding dress dilemma

[weddingdressdilemma]

DH and I married over five years ago. My dress has been at my parents place ever since - we found a local charity who will take it for resale, but I am having a wobble and considering getting it cleaned and boxed up instead.

I'm really confused by this and frustrated as thinking about it is keeping me awake! I'm not usually like this, I'm always happy to donate stuff I don't use - it's so beautiful but definitely a wedding dress, it can't be worn for an evening out! - and like the idea of another bride getting a bargain and looking fab, but just feel really strange. Maybe because it was a gift from my parents and they spent a lot on it new? Or because it really was a lovely day? If it is relevant DH and I have a little DS who is likely to be an only child, so it's not even as if I have dreams of a DD wearing it (and I wouldnt influence her to anyway!)

WWYD? What have you all done with your dresses? I need to make a decision!

Here it is if anyone wanted to see (well, most of it)

Keep it a while longer until you don't have any second thoughts and are sure you want to let it go. Even if that's never. It obviously means a lot to you and you have a strong emotional attachment. There are no rules. Keep it.

I have a friend who makes memory bears, teddy bears from pieces of fabric which hold a special meaning for the owner. Would getting it made into something like that help. You would have a bit of it to keep without it taking up a lot of space.

Wow it's gorgeous! Keep it! My grandmother kept hers, and my mum kept hers. And I'll be keeping mine! They're precious.

I still have my wedding dress from 26 years ago and I bought it as an evening dress in a sale ( relatively inexpensive by today's standards. )

I would not donate it until you are sure, as I think so many things you can get rid of and replace them. This you can't . If you could sell it and buy something meaningful for the family - different matter. ( I hope that does not sound more mercenary more than it should)

I think @weddingdressdilemma I am agreeing with @Buffoonborisisatwat

The one thing I would say is if you are going to keep it make sure it is wrapped up / tissue paper / hung with a proper covering / whatever / so it stays in good condition & that you have proper room to store it. It would be a shame if you went some years later and it looked a bit rubbish

It looks rather beautiful by the way

Basilisk x

Thanks so much all. I will make a donation to the charity and keep the dress for now. Will get it dry cleaned and boxed. @CheeseCakeSunflowers this is definitely something I might consider in the future.

How about donating it to be made into gowns for stillborn Babies? If I hadn't binned mine before I had my losses this is what I would have chosen to do.

I loved my dress which my parents bought for me. But I sold it after the wedding. I wasn't going to wear it again and we lived in a flat in London and it was bulky to store, Plus my parents recouped half of the cost.

Each to their own. I still have the photos but I don't want to pull it out, possibly slightly yellowed, and try to squeeze into it for my kids' entertainment (which is what we did for my mum's!). As good as the cause is, I wouldn't want it cut up either as it seems a bit of a shame when someone could also enjoy getting married in a beautiful dress that they possibly couldn't afford to buy first hand.

I had mine cleaned & donated it to a charity who makes clothes & blankets for premature & still born babies. It was quite lacy & ruffly so they'd have been able to use loads of it!

@HopingForOurRainbowBaby @Dadvdtret
Food for thought, if I do decide to donate it. Our first DS was stillborn so I do know how precious these gowns are (we didn't receive one, DS1 was dressed and buried in something I made him). @HopingForOurRainbowBaby I am so sorry for your losses and sending you hope and love.

@sub453 another good POV, completely see your point but I will keep for the moment.

There's an organisation I think angel babies? That makes gowns for stillborn and terminally ill babies, how about that - I did keep mine and 22 years on it's ready to go to the charity shop (wrong kind for angel charity as not white)