What did you do with your wedding dress after you got married?

I cut it to ballerina length for UK reception - will cut to knees shortly.  Am then dying black or navy.

Hmmm... mine is bunched up in a bag, uncleaned, and stuffed on top of our wardrobe. I wanted to ditch it, but DH won't let me!!! Maybe one day I can get rid of it. He did have the sweet idea of using the fabric to make a bassinette covering if we have a baby (who is doing that, though? I know I don't have the first clue and neither does he!), or making some Christmas ornaments or something. I'm not really crafty enough to do anything too spiffy, though. So, I guess it will just sit there collecting dust until he finally lets me toss it. I mean, I could clean it and save it for a possible future daughter, but is she gonna be 5 feet tall like me? With a 6'2" dad, it's probable she won't be.

I've got mine hanging up in its garment bag but desperately need to get it cleaned since it got a bit of grass/dirt on the bottom from taking pictures outside and my wonderful brother spilled some of his pint on the train during the reception.
After I get it cleaned I plan on storing it in a preservation box with all the rest of our wedding paraphernalia. I won't be wearing it again, but maybe we'll have a daughter to pass it on to at some point, even if only to play dress-up with.

Has anyone ever sold their dress? I'm thinking about it, but am not sure what's the best place to do it or what sort of price people charge.

Has anyone ever sold their dress? I'm thinking about it, but am not sure what's the best place to do it or what sort of price people charge.

I don't know about in the UK, but I've seen wedding dresses in consignment shops for around $75-100 (or more, if it's a designer). Of course, if you have an item at the consignment shop, you won't get the full amount, but it might be worth looking into. I know a few people who bought their dresses on eBay, too.

I cut it to ballerina length for UK reception - will cut to knees shortly.  Am then dying black or navy.

What a great idea! I never thought about cutting mine, and have had it stored in a box for the past 10 years. I'm going to take it out and have it cut!  Thanks for the idea.

5 years on, mine is still in the drycleaner's box up in the loft - it's too big for me now (yay!) and I really ought to move it on.  I thought about giving it to Oxfam as I think they have special wedding attire locations/shops - but I figured they wouldn't mark the price down to a reasonable charity shop level, so I don't know...

 

I don't know about in the UK, but I've seen wedding dresses in consignment shops for around $75-100 (or more, if it's a designer).

Hmmm.... I think I'd want to get quite a bit more than that for it, or it really wouldn't be worth the effort. I'd just as soon keep it. I actually wasn't thinking of consignment shops, but more like wedding websites that have listings for second-hand dresses. Does anyone have any experience or recommendations?

Hmmm.... I think I'd want to get quite a bit more than that for it, or it really wouldn't be worth the effort. I'd just as soon keep it. I actually wasn't thinking of consignment shops, but more like wedding websites that have listings for second-hand dresses. Does anyone have any experience or recommendations?

Well, I bought my dress from Craigs List in the states and there were loads of them on there for sale. Not sure where you could list it here, though, as far as specialty sites go.

Well, I bought my dress from Craigs List in the states and there were loads of them on there for sale. 

I was actually going to bring up Craigs List. For anyone else who just wants to donate your dress you could also try Freecycle. There is a freecycle group just about anywhere you live.

Hmmm.... I think I'd want to get quite a bit more than that for it, or it really wouldn't be worth the effort. I'd just as soon keep it. I actually wasn't thinking of consignment shops, but more like wedding websites that have listings for second-hand dresses. Does anyone have any experience or recommendations?

Like this?  www.preownedweddingdresses.com

I don't have any direct experience buying or selling from them, but a few different people recommended the site when I was dress-shopping last year.

Edited to say that it's a US site, so not sure if that would work for you or not...

At the moment mine is in a bag in a cupboard in our bedroom. Mine is very, very simple and the only real detailing is in the waist, so like Meggles I'm intending to cut it down to knee length at some point. I would definitely wear it again for nice occaisions if I could just be bothered to deal with it!

I know in the US, at least, there are also charities that will take your dress and re-purpose it as a prom dress for lower-income girls (or boys, if they were so inclined).

I solved this problem early on by buying a cocktail dress to get married in.  I've already worn it twice since the wedding! I knew that wearing white would only end in disaster as I can spill something on me just by looking at it.