WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR WEDDING DRESS AFTER YOUR BIG DAY IS OVER

You and your wedding dress take centre stage on your big day, and that’s understandable. After all, you’ve spend a lot of time on money, making sure it’s the day (and the dress!) of your dreams. However, once your wedding day has ended, what happens to your wedding dress?

It seems a shame that your dress is only used once, before being hidden away or stashed, forgotten, in the loft. Holding a wedding dress trashing party, shoot or ceremony seems like such a waste of a beautiful dress, so here’s some alternative, more eco-friendly options.

#1: Turn it into an evening or cocktail dress

It wouldn’t take much, to have your wedding dress altered slightly and/or dyed, to turn it into a dress you could wear again.

#2: Donate it to charity

Not every bride is in a position to buy a new wedding dress, so it’s great to be able to give them another option, whilst supporting your favourite charity. This is why so many brides donate their wedding dress to their local charity shop or designated second hand wedding dress shops.

#3: Keep it for your daughter’s wedding

One of the most traditional options for a brides dress is to keep if for her own daughter’s wedding. It’s important that if you choose this option, you have your dress thoroughly and professionally cleaned and stored, if you want to keep it in tiptop condition.

#4: Have it made into a christening gown for future generations

Another great option is to hand it over to a seamstress and have them turn it into a christening gown for your children and grandchildren.

#5: Keep it for your wedding renewal ceremony

What better way to celebrate a future wedding anniversary, by holding a wedding renewal ceremony? You could recapture the excitement and beauty of your original wedding, by wearing your own wedding dress.

#6: Sell it

Second hand wedding dresses are always in demand, so why not make some cash back from yours? Not only will you receive a much-needed cash injection after your wedding expenditure, you’ll also make another bride incredibly happy!

#7: Use it to make a difference to a worthwhile cause

Finally, you could use your wedding dress to make a real difference in heartbreaking circumstances. There are companies who you can donate your dress to for couples dealing with a terminal illness, or some used donated wedding dresses to make baby outfits for families of babies that are stillborn, miscarried or that have passed away shortly after birth, to be buried in.

Your wedding dress doesn’t have to be a one day only, centre stage affair. By giving it some careful thought, you can ensure your wedding dress has a more eco-friendly future, by opting for one of the seven options above.