Your wedding day arrived, you looked absolutely gorgeous in your wedding dress, and now that celebrations are winding down only one question lingers: what should you do with your wedding dress?

Whether you want to keep it as an heirloom or you’re looking for an eco-friendly way to use it, there are plenty of creative options when it comes to your wedding dress after the fact.

In this post, we’ll share some clever ideas to get you inspired.

Wedding dress preservation

You might have decided that you want to keep your wedding dress as a treasured heirloom to pass down to someone in the future. If that’s the case, the first thing you’ll want to do is get it professionally cleaned. This will ensure that stains from the celebration are taken care of and the dress is meticulously packed in the proper box or bridal bag. 

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Here at Love, we highly recommend Oceanside Cleaners for professional preservation and cleaning services! They meticulously clean your gown and preserve it, ensuring it will last and stay in beautiful condition for decades to come.

Donate your wedding dress

A thoughtful option is to donate your dress for charity. Not only do you give another bride the opportunity to walk down the aisle in a fabulous ensemble, but your dress gets double the use (and love), which is the sustainable way to go.

There are plenty of organizations that welcome wedding dresses for charity.

• Brides Across America gives wedding dresses to military brides-to-be.
• Brides for a Cause resells dresses and uses the proceeds to benefit various causes.
• Cinderella’s Closet turns wedding dresses into low-cost prom dresses for students from low income families.

Turn your dress into a fun DIY project

For all the crafty brides out there, give your dress one last look, maybe put it on and dance in front of the mirror to your favorite song one last time, then grab the scissors and cut away!

With wedding gowns, there’s a lot of fabric to go around, and endless ideas for what you can make with your sewing machine.

Baby & Kid Keepsakes

• Blankets
• Bassinet covers
• Dolly clothes
• Dress up clothes
• First communion dress or Christening dress
• Small purse

Home Decor

• Throw pillows
• Lace flower bouquet
• Curtains
• Wall hanging
• Table cloth
• Accents can be made into head pieces or jewelry

Christmas Decor

• Stockings
• Ornaments for the tree
• Tree skirt

Schedule a “Trash the Dress” photoshoot

This doesn’t mean that you go crazy ripping your dress to shreds. Since your big day is over and there’s less pressure to preserve your dress, you can have fun with a photoshoot in unique settings. For example, head to a pool and jump right in, or take photos on the beach while the waves splash around your ankles. Let loose and have fun! Many photographers dream of someone booking a trash the dress photoshoot with them! 

What did you do with your wedding dress after the big day? Tell us in the comments!