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?

My point was that; yes you've only had it a few months but I'm sure you knew of its existence so it's a bit odd you're suddenly so attached and unable to part with it.

@SnoopysHoose Seriously ? You can't perceive of emotions being a bit all over the place after your Mum has died ?

Give your head a wobble.

Not much help maybe, but I would just keep it intact, I don't think it needs to be made into anything. It is something where you get a sense of the person from the garment and it obviously means something to you. If you have to make it into something, what @LemonBossy showed was nice enough.

I mean I've known of a lot of my mums belongings that I'm now unable to part with since she died?

Should I suddenly give away her birth certificate, marriage certificate, school books, wedding ring, jewellery just because I've known of them all these years and not done anything with them before?

I think my brother was thinking along these lines, he's more creative than I am so I couldn't picture it. There's only a small amount of lace on the dress and I dont think that part is in very good condition now but maybe next time we get together we can have a look and see if that could be done.

We've got a few photos just of her in her wedding dress, some with my grandparents and obviously with my dad too!

She was superstitious so this could be part of the reason! But I think it was more she didn't know herself what to do with it.

I remember when I was looking for prom dresses she said she'd heard about girls wearing their mothers wedding dresses for prom. I don't think she saved it to see me wear it though as she shot that down instantly as the dress is 'too 80s'.

I don't understand sentimentality myself, but I get that other people do. If you can't bare to part with it perhaps send it to someone to be cleaned and boxed properly and put it in your loft for a future generation.

How about dressing a teddy or doll in a dress made from it?

That way you can keep some of it but also donate for stillborn babies?

There this lady I found on FB recently, not used her but she got some lovely memory teddies 3tothread on fb

Get it clean.

and then into a box with acid free paper.

and from there you can keep it.

and if you decide to gift it to a stillborn charity I think it would be a beautiful way to honor your mother.

maybe a small ring pillow etc could be made for each of your parents children, or each of the grandchildren, with the dates of their wedding embroidered to it.

You've only had it a few months so presumably the loss of your mother is still raw. Don't feel like you have to rush into doing anything with it until you really feel ready.
If it was me, it find a nice box and just keep it safe. Bears, cushions and framed fabric have no interest or meaning to me. I'd either want the dress to be whole and intact or I'd eventually decide to give it up. But for a while at least, I'd keep it as it is.

You can have it made into Teddy's or soft this, I've seen some lovely ones

How about making a lovely cushion cover or two from it?

I wonder how many people have their wedding dresses in their lofts, mine has been there 35 years, good as it was when new, DH occasionally brings it down so I can look at it. I don’t know what happened to my DM’s wedding dress.

The first thing to do is get it out of the loft & check the condition - if you're unlucky moths may have made a decision for you.

I would either have it professionally cleaned and boxed up (folded nicely in a 'display' style with maybe a clear lid) OR make a display with key parts of the fabric - which means multiple family members could have mementos. A clothes alteration place might be able to help. Then the remaining fabric could donated to the baby charity mentioned by a PP.

I'd prefer to have a picture/fabric montage I can hang on the wall and see everyday than a toy or boxed up dress myself.

The other idea might be a special dress/infant outfit for a younger family member (christening gown or bridesmaid dress maybe)