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Original poster

Did you keep your wedding dress or sell it?

56 replies

maggiethemagpie · 26/04/2016 09:40

Just interested in what others have done. I got married last week and originally planned to sell the dress but I love it so much I don't know if I can bear to. It was part of such a special day but then again I won't wear it again and we have plenty of photos. It will just sit in a box forever apart from maybe the odd peek, so am I better to just try and sell it?

Here it is just to show you. Someone suggested I could have it cut down into a shorter dress, but is it too 'weddingy' for that?

www.needleandthread.com/uk/all-bridalwear/dresses/bridal-tulle-v-cut-gown

OP posts:

InternationalHouseofToast · 26/04/2016 11:02

I kept mine - it's on top of the wardrobe in a box with acide free paper. I think I was inspired by, when my maternal grandmother died, finding that sh'e kept her daughter's wedding dress (so my mum) although the marriage had lasted only 7 years. My mum stuffed it in a bin bag and sent it to the tip but it had obviously meant something to her mother.

I only have a son, and he isn't baptised as we're not regular church goers, so there are no plans to adapt the dress, but it's probably the most expensive frock I'll own and it looked damned good on the day so it's noce to have that memory.

LeonoraFlorence · 26/04/2016 11:04

I kept it and had it made into a christening gown which all four DDs and two nieces have worn :) I kept the veil etc so my DDs can have the choice of some of the things I wore on my wedding day, should they choose to get married.

Lules · 26/04/2016 11:08

I've kept mine. Didn't get it dry cleaned as it's really expensive to do that. It folded up quite small. I never considered selling mine though. I played with my mum's wedding dress loads when I was little so maybe I'll have a girl who'd like to do that too

AlwaysBeYourself · 26/04/2016 11:24

Do people get rid of them? Never knew that . I have kept mine for nearly 30 years now. It's in a bag along with the faded flower head piece and my ballet slippers and a few other bits. My daughter is in her 20s and has tried it on a couple of times. It's part of my story and a day that my husband and I shared.

AlwaysBeYourself · 26/04/2016 11:24

specialsubject · 26/04/2016 18:33

Wow, what a lovely dress - and I don't often think that about wedding dresses. Keep it if you are going to get a smart occasion, you can wear it again.perhaps part of the reason it is so pretty is because it is not a classic bridal strapless frilly frock but a dress for an adult.

Lolimax · 26/04/2016 18:38

I donated mine to Cancer Research Wales. I know it was sold as I had a lovely letter from them. Our wedding favours were pin badges from the same charity. DH's dad died from cancer before I met him, my DM had cancer which she later died from. Oh we also donated DD's bridesmaids dress as well. Felt the right thing to do.

soundsystem · 26/04/2016 18:43

It's lovely, I think it would be nice made into a shorter dress.

I kept mine. I planned to have it dyed but haven't got round to it yet. It's not particulary wedding my so could wear it again.

Chottie · 26/04/2016 18:49

I cut mine down and DD and her friends played brides for years with it. :)

OneMagnumisneverenough · 26/04/2016 18:54

I actually disagree that it would be nice made shorter, I think the balance would be all wrong and the way the panels are inserted to become fuller would cause all sorts of problems. The only thing you could do imho is to detach the entire bodice bit and attach a completely different bottom half but that would ruin it I think.

I'd keep it that length and I think it would be lovely for a black tie ball or would be nice for a high school formal dance/prom.

But then I am neither a fashion designer nor a seamstress :o

Original poster

maggiethemagpie · 26/04/2016 19:56

Thanks everyone, I am seriously considering the donating to third world country type thing now, somehow feels like it would be better than just giving it to the local charity shop. The dress was a bargainous £400 new which means its resale value is probably limited plus with cleaning costs on top... I like the idea of another bride wearing it one day, so maybe the charity route is best.

OP posts:

Pisssssedofff · 26/04/2016 20:13

I ended up leaving mine when I moved house in a rush, it was utterly meaningless by then though. Wish I'd sold it whilst it was still current

Donge13 · 27/04/2016 09:11

My friend made a christening gown for her child out of hers

Looly71 · 27/04/2016 09:20

I removed train and few beaded bits and had it dyed very dark blue and wore it to black tie do. No use to you though as yours has far too much detail but I enjoyed reminiscing

DaisyBD · 27/04/2016 09:26

my wedding dress was black so should be wearable but actually I've only been to one occasion I could wear it again, a charity black tie ball. I hadn't realised how much weight I'd put on and didn't try it on before getting changed in the hotel. I needed three people to shoehorn me in and felt dreadful all evening

I wouldn't sell mine as I wouldn't get anything for it, it wasn't super expensive anyway. I like getting it out occasionally to wear around the house (I fit in it again thankfully). DH loves it - I bought it in New York and I emailed him a photo of me in it in my friend's apartment when trying it on. He printed it out and slept with it on the pillow next to him

elQuintoConyo · 27/04/2016 09:30

Oh maggie that's one heck of a gorgeous dress!

Mine was £100 off ebay and is sitting stuffed in a box on top of the wardrobe, has been for the last 6 years. I'mall for getting rid, as mych as i love it and have great memories of the day, DH does this face when i talk about getting rid, some friends do too. It isn't at all weddingy (huge 50s prom dress, original, not white) and there's nowhere else i'd wear it... It's difficult to decide. I might just put it on one day for the hell of it, maybe my next birthday

ShutUpSirius · 27/04/2016 09:52

That's my dress. Ellis Bridal. Princess and the frog dress. I love it. I'm keeping it and will wear it when I'm less fat.

My friend makes a meal every anniversary for her husband and wears hers then. She is just a little dotty but I love the idea.

I was going to sell it but hubby asked me not too

Did you keep your wedding dress or sell it?

jewishprincessofchigwell · 27/04/2016 10:11

My dress cost nearly £1500 and it felt somehow wrong just give it to charity shop. So I have kept mine for 5 years, then heard of company Cherished Gowns for Angel babies and the rest is a history.
They even send me a picture of little gowns they have made from my wedding dress - this made me really happy and I knew it was a right decision.

MrsMarigold · 27/04/2016 13:27

I've just dyed mine and plan to wear it this summer - it was 1930s vintage.

MitzyLeFrouf · 27/04/2016 13:32

I don't usually like wedding dresses OP but that is gorgeous and not too bridal. Personally I'd have it altered so you could wear it again and again. There's no point owning a lovely dress like that but not being able to wear it.

Cakescakescakes · 27/04/2016 13:34

That is a really beautiful dress OP

BowChickaBowWow · 27/04/2016 14:53

The first photo is my dress and the second photo is the colour (pale gold). I couldn't bring myself to sell it, it's hanging in the wardrobe in the garment bag! I have vague ideas about chopping off the train and maybe dyeing it so I can wear it as a ball gown but haven't done anything about it yet.

I was always really disappointed as a little girl that my mum hadn't kept her wedding dress, the only thing she'd kept was her very ugly veil which was a 70s monstrosity featuring plastic daisies! I always said I'd keep my wedding dress for my daughter but I only have a DS and not even sure about having more children, never mind daughters! I guess that once I'm sure there's no daughter to think about I'll find it easier to get rid of my dress... or I can be a crazy MIL and insist that my DS's wife wears my dress for their wedding!

For those wanting to donate their dresses to a good cause, Gift of a Wedding organises free weddings for terminally ill people and gratefully accept dresses.

Original poster

maggiethemagpie · 14/05/2016 16:23

Just updating - I decided not to sell the dress as it would cost too much to get it professionally cleaned plus a couple of beads have come off, so I am having it turned into a cushion! It seems much better than keeping it in a box where it will never see the light of day. If I could trust myself to stay the same size I may have thought of wearing it again in the future but I've already gained a few pounds since the honeymoon so it's unlikely.

There are a few people on t'internet doing upcycling/memory cushions/bears. A bear seemed a bit 'twee' though so cushion it is. I'm not quite sure where I'll put it yet but I'm sure it can find a home and then I'll be able to see it every day and remember the fantastic dress it once was and the wonderful day we had.

OP posts:

emiliaa1 · 14/12/2020 11:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

huuuuunnnndderrricks · 14/12/2020 14:32

Give them to charity if you can ..

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