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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Don't know what to do with wedding dress

84 replies

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 15/09/2017 13:08

..AIBU not to have had a plan on place for it before the wedding?

Married 3 weeks ago. Dress was £600, £100 alterations.

A huge part of me wants to wear it every day and veg on the sofa in it like that Friends episode, just enjoying the most expensive item of clothing I'll ever wear.

Another part says donate it to a charitable cause.

Another part says recoup what money I can, and pay off the disastrous due to Hurricane Irma honeymoon credit card. But where to sell it, and do I have it dry cleaned first?

I'm so torn!

OP posts:
Allthebestnamesareused · 15/09/2017 13:11

Or keep it to be made into future christening gown for future kids, or for your daughter to chose to wear.

There is a charity I believe where they are made into clothing for still born children too I understand.

NancyDonahue · 15/09/2017 13:11

If you need the money - sell it. Don't bank on getting much for it though, I think somewhere around a quarter of the original price is realistic.

m4rdybum · 15/09/2017 13:13

As PP said, there are charities that turn dresses into a number of outfits for stillborn babies - my DSis did this and I think they got about 20 outfits out of it - which is a lovely way to donate.

If you need the money, sell it - but as PP also said, you won't get much, especially if there are alterations to your body size.

I've got mine hanging up at my in laws at the minute (flat is tiny). Not sure what to do with it - I may keep it to be made into outfits for future children.

Original poster
VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 15/09/2017 13:17

There will be no babies - DH is infertile and ICSI has huge risks we're still unsure about taking.

The stillborn charities have a long waiting list for donations, as they have a surfeit of offers and lack of seamstresses. There are other organisations - a charity for refugees to get married, for example. I liked that one.

Agree there isn't a lot of money in secondhand wedding dresses. I only bought new because I'm fat plus size.

OP posts:
MidnightAura · 15/09/2017 13:17

I'm in the same predicament. I can't bear to part with my dress though.

TheABC · 15/09/2017 13:21

Can you dye it and make it into an evening gown? I got married in red and got it altered for use at formal occasions, afterwards.

Original poster
VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 15/09/2017 13:21

I'm really interested in what people have done with theirs - most people I know either donated to the stillborn charities or still have the dress in a cupboard.

OP posts:
Original poster
VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 15/09/2017 13:23

ABC interesting idea, but mines a bit of a princess frock with lace so possibly too OTT to be anything other than a wedding dress (yes, am dying to post a photo!). Would be good for someone who had a ball-gown style dress.

OP posts:
loaferloveforyou · 15/09/2017 13:28

Oh go on let's see the dress! I love looking at wedding dresses. I don't know what to do with mine. I can't part with it just yet

AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered · 15/09/2017 13:28

What do you mean ICSI has huge risks?? Shock DH and I had it to conceive DS, I didn't realise it was riskier than IVF without ICSI!

AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered · 15/09/2017 13:29

Oops, thread derail. YANBU to do whatever you like with your dress, selling it could be an option - I bought mine through eBay, it was £500 rather than the £2000 It would have been brand new.

Original poster
VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 15/09/2017 13:30

Hedgehog awesome username. For us, there's a very high risk of any child being born with extra needs due to the low quality of his sperm. It's not the ICSI specifically, it's our personal situation. We haven't made any decisions on this yet.

OP posts:
Original poster
VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 15/09/2017 13:33

Scuse hatchet job on editing out face & nephew!

Don't know what to do with wedding dress
OP posts:
slapmyarseandcallmemary · 15/09/2017 13:34

There's a charity called the wedding wishing well foundation who accept donations of wedding dresses for brides who have terminal cancer (or for the bride who's partner has cancer). They have a Facebook page.

Thethreegraces · 15/09/2017 13:34

I've donated mine to a charity auction raising funds for disaster relief campaigns.

Thethreegraces · 15/09/2017 13:35

Lovely dress btw

MyBreadIsEggy · 15/09/2017 13:35

I'm keeping mine in case DD wants it for her wedding day.
I had my mum's veil made into a little detachable shrug that I wore in church. It was lovely to have a part of my mums special day intertwined with mine x

ParkheadParadise · 15/09/2017 13:37

I gave my dress to a local charity that helps parents who are struggling to pay for their dc's first holy communion.
They made my dress into a communion dress, and sent me a picture of it.
The family who received it also sent me a picture and a thank you card.
The little girl was beautiful and very happy with her dress.

SilverForest · 15/09/2017 13:50

Get together with your friends once a year and all spend the day in your wedding dresses

Didiusfalco · 15/09/2017 13:52

Mine went to a local hospice charity with a dedicated wedding dress shop. I gave it away the day after the wedding - for me it had had its moment and I didn't want it yellowing and looking tired in the back of a cupboard. That was more than 10 years ago too so ample time for any regrets.

hidinginthenightgarden · 15/09/2017 13:52

Mine is in a box in the wardrobe. I couldn't afford to clean it (still can't really) so it has a big stain on the skirt from the lillies.

I don't know why I am keeping it (don't want to save for DD as I don't want her to feel she has to wear it) but I don't think it is worth selling. Cannot donate due to stain.

NoseyJosey · 15/09/2017 13:54

Ooh following.
Mine is hanging on the door still and I can't decide what to do.
Not interested in keeping it to be honest. It'll sit in the wardrobe and be a waste. I want it to be enjoyed.
Was going to send it to the charity for I'll brides or grooms, but they aren't accepting at the moment.
I do believe you have to dry clean before donating though.
Mine was a similar price and resale of a £500 dress is pitiful. Plus I had to throw the underskirt away so would no doubt reduce price further

Allthebestnamesareused · 15/09/2017 13:54

Yes - EACH (East anglia's Children's Hospices) has a shop where they sell specifically wedding dresses.

If you are in the East of England it might be worth calling them.

RhiWrites · 15/09/2017 13:54

Get it professionally cleaned and professionally boxed. Then it's fit for storage or donation.

It's lovely, can I see a standing shot please?

lapetitesiren · 15/09/2017 13:56

No ideas but you look lovely. Beautiful dress.