Inherited wedding dress

[SecondStarOnTheRight]

I've inherited my mothers wedding dress and I just don't know what to do with it.

I don't want to part with it, however I do not forsee me wearing it myself or turning into christening gowns.

My sibling is wondering if we can get it made into something as a keepsake. They don't mind what happens to it, whether we keep it as is or make use of it. The thing is I'm not a very creative or imaginative person and cannot think of any suggestions as to what we can do with it.

Has anyone else made an alternative use of wedding dresses?

Just donate to a charity...... Realistically it's not going to be worn by you or your sibling, and maybe somebody else can make use of it x

I couldn't imagine it being 'wanted' by anyone if we tried to donate it to be honest. It would need alterations and would have to basically become a completely different dress so it's probably not worth it in that sense.

Make a pretty soft toy or toys out of it? Lovely little swans or doves?

I've got the same dilemma.
I hope someone can help us you.

There are charities that turn wedding dresses into outfits for still born babies - I used one myself but don't remember the name. Google would help here.

This is an example dressesforangels.co.uk/

I'm being selfish but at the moment I don't want to part with the dress altogether. But if we haven't worked anything out in the future we would consider donating for baby gowns. My mums brother was stillborn nearly 70 years ago so I will consider this.

Its just that the dress has been stored in a bin bag in the loft for 40 years and I want to do something before it ends up being damaged. I'm surprised it isn't already to be honest!

I just really don't know what to do! My brother has suggested framing a piece with her wedding photo but not sure how that would work really.

Nice to know I'm not alone feeling this way though, thank you!

How about for each of you you make (or find someone to make) a framed momento? Do you have a photo of your mum wearing it? And maybe a lovely photo of just the dress, plus a piece of the fabric and lace - enough to give a good representation of it. Beautifully presented and mounted in one of those display boxes. I'm not artistic enough to picture it very exactly but I'm sure someone else could.

Ah your last post was pretty much that idea!

Some ideas I found - there's probably some good stuff in Pinterest too if you use that.

I think this one looks really lovely!

Depending on the fabric obviously, I'd make cushion covers. You could even dye it, and end up with something like this. One for each family member.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1822535337/cushion-cover-nottingham-lace-macrammie?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=lace+cushion+cover&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&organic_search_click=1&frs=1&sts=1&loc=1&local_signal_search=1&content_source=753a036d39002d062268e26a471955b02f11d6c8%253A1822535337&logging_key=753a036d39002d062268e26a471955b02f11d6c8%3A1822535337

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1188563723/pink-pillows-silk-20x20-moroccan-pillow?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=silk+cushion+cover&ref=sc_gallery-2-6&pro=1&frs=1&plkey=248847fbb73ebcf40a39da100c2ef77c4fd50119%3A1188563723

There is a woman who randomly pops up on my IG occasionally who makes lovely bears out of wedding dresses, if she pops up again I can try and find her details but there is probably a few around x

I make memory bears (and other animals) from all sorts of clothing (outgrown baby clothes, favourite shirts, scarves, ties, wedding dresses and cherished items from deceased relatives). If you search online you'll probably find someone who's creations 'speak' to you. If you want to message me I'm happy to show you what I do.

Offer it to a theatre company?

I will have a think about this, thank you! I have seen these on SM made of baby clothes, I hadn't considered it for the dress before but it could be a way we could both keep a part of the dress?

I will have a think, I'm not really ready to do anything with it yet. I've still got my own christening gown too, haven't a clue what to do with that either! 😂

I'm not willing to part with it.

A dress that has been in a loft for 40 years? surely it should have been made use of long before now.
Give it a new life; dry cleaned and donate it to a theatre company/ made into baby gowns.

I've only had the dress a few months and as I have said I do not want to part with it. It wasn't my place to decide what was done with it while my mum was still alive.

I think that it might be better to make it into things that you might use on an occasional basis. Perhaps a pouch for packing tights/lingerie for travel plus some packing cubes? Or to cover some boxes for storing jewellery or a keepsake box? (I made part of a friend's dress into a pegbag.....)

This might be a silly idea but could you get a miniature dress made out of it, (or two, one for your sibling also) and get it framed with a photo of your mum wearing it? Perhaps the remainder of the fabric could be used by the charity mentioned.

Oh I see someone suggested something similar but just framing some of the fabric/lace, yes that would be lovely imo.

Could you use part of it to make an angel for the Christmas tree for you and your sister? Maybe use a Barbie or similar for a base?

@SecondStarOnTheRight - Your DM probably felt the same as me; if I get rid of it perhaps my marriage will fall apart!
Silly, I know, but I still have my wedding dress and my wedding was 40+ years ago!