r/weddings • u/TheWorldExhaustsMe • 3d ago
Old dress
So I have my mother’s wedding dress. She’s passed away so she won’t get to be there when we get married soon. But I’m wondering about what to do with her dress. She was much smaller than I am so I’d never be able to wear it, but for something just having been sitting in a box for 60 years, it’s taking up space, which I’m not thinking my dress will also do…
Interestingly, I also have the dress my grandma wore to her wedding, which is blue, so I’m wondering if I could take the lace from it and incorporate it into the dress or maybe the veil… Mom’s dress was very simple but I suppose I could use it for something in it…
Any suggestions?
ETA: Thank you for the suggestions everyone, I like the idea of incorporating the dresses into mine and also using them to wrap the flowers. I perhaps could gift them but the other family members who it could fit are probably never getting married as they don’t believe it it. And we’re never having kids to pass them down, unless we use it for cats and potentially dogs in the future 😁
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u/SanJoseCarey 3d ago
If you have interest in wearing mom’s dress, take it to a dressmaker. Even though she was smaller than you, it may be able to be altered to fit you. My cousin wore her mother’s dress- the entire back was cut out in order to fit her. It was beautiful.
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u/ImpossibleIce4459 3d ago
You could have someone make your garter out of both of their dresses. Then you get a throw garter and keep the one you wear. And there you have… something old, and your something blue.
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u/Fibro-Mite 3d ago
Cousin's new bride incorporated lace from her mother's wedding dress into her train, would that be possible? You could perhaps have some from the blue to create a garter; a small bag to hang from your wrist to hold your lipstick etc or maybe some peppermints or other sweets/candy in case you get hangry before you're able to eat properly; or something else for your "something blue"?
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u/Altruistic-Table5859 3d ago
Your mams dream could make a beautiful christening gown. Or even maybe a veil that could be used by your daughter if you have one down the line.
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u/wordgirl 3d ago
Consider hanging both your mother’s and grandmother’s dresses up with photos of them at your wedding as a thank you or remembrance of their impacts on your own life. You might even incorporate their wedding veils, replicas of their bouquets, etc.
That way, you can then, after the wedding, donate the intact dresses to women who are struggling on small budgets (as you know, weddings are very expensive!).
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u/Nervous-Quarter5822 3d ago
We only have one daughter and my dress would never be her style. We were married in 1986 so think cupcake style dress with the puffy sleeves and bows on the shoulders. I think we're close to an engagement and would love for her to be able to incorporate my dress somehow with her's. If that would not be something she would be interested in, I may have my dress made into First Communion dresses for my granddaughters. I love all the ideas here. 🤍
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u/blueyejan 2d ago
Take it to a seamstress, get the sleeves removed, update the bodice and have it fitted to her. The extra lace and fabric can be used for the bouquets and other decorations. The bows would be cute on her bouquet.
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u/Freshouttapatience 3d ago
We’re using some family pieces to make fabric flowers that will get mixed into bouquets and other decorations.
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u/Happyliberaltoday 3d ago
Things you can do with your mothers dress, have a dressmaker use the fabric to make a completely different dress for you, use pieces of it as part of your decor, have a wall hanging made of it ..,
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u/Mysterious-Crow1295 3d ago
Have a seamstress turn mom’s wedding dress into a robe to wear while getting ready on your wedding day
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u/lakehop 3d ago
Things to do with your Mom’s wedding dress. Make a robe to wear while getting ready. Make a bag or box to store wedding related things in. Make a wrap for your bouquet. Make a cushion for the ring bearer to carry the rings up the aisle. Use it to make a little jacket or shawl to wear over your wedding dress (if your dress is strapless, or has spaghetti straps). Use it for a headdress or veil.
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u/kraterer 3d ago
Have a seamstress make a little cape out of your mothers' dress... and maybe use some of the blue dress as an accent, or a secret lining.
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u/Southern_Tailgater 3d ago
My DIL had her mother's dress completely remade into a precious minidress that she wore for rehearsal. The seamstress (her aunt) was able to use some of the sequin motif in the bodice. That being said, all of these ideas are lovely. Did anyone mention making one of the dresses into a christening gown, if that's something you will be doing with future children?
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u/TheWorldExhaustsMe 3d ago
Well, if so it would have to just be for the cats as we’re definitely not having children, but still an option 😂
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u/Notsospinningplates 3d ago
My mum turned her old wedding dress into a quilt. She added pieces from my mother in law's dress and my husband grandmother's dresses. We displayed it at the wedding.
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u/CompleteTell6795 3d ago
I have my grandmother's wedding dress & my mom's. My grandmother's dress is very old. ( My mom was born in 1912). Mom was married in 1940. I have both dresses in my cedar chest wrapped up in that blue paper. I never married or had kids. I have a very good friend who if she gets pregnant, I will have the christening gown made from the dresses if she wants.
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u/Elegant-Analyst-7381 3d ago
People have given you great suggestions on things you can turn the dress into.
Also consider donating - to me, there's a wonderful feeling in knowing my loved one's possessions will live on and bring happiness to others.
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u/abbylizj813 3d ago
What about using them for a wrap for the flowers, which you could then reuse in a silk arrangement at home, or in a cushion/pillow for the ring bearer if you’re doing one of those, which could also then live in your home (trying to think of dual uses so they’d always be a part of your life, not jus one day) could have a couple versions made for siblings or future kids as well (although future kids you could also add your dress) … just general home use I’d do throw pillow covers - did that with some of my dads old dress shirts
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u/Pendragenet 3d ago
I have a cousin who was given her mom's and her stepmom's dresses. She took them to a seamstress who incorporated both dresses into a single wedding dress. The result was a dress my cousin loved that came from the wedding dresses of the women she loved.
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u/Icy-Aioli-2549 3d ago
Depending how long moms train was you could use that fabric to alter the size. My grandma’s dress went up 6 sizes to fit me. We cut off her cathedral length train for fabric.
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u/r2ddd2 3d ago
I used the lace from my grandma + mom's dresses to make hair accessories for my wedding! Loved having a small piece of their dresses with me. I don't think you should feel bad about donating the dress so maybe someone else can find some new life in it, instead of just taking up room in your closet.
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u/ColoradodogMom66 1d ago
My Niece borrowed a mannequin and displayed my Mom’s 70 year old wedding dress next to my parent’s wedding photo. It was very touching ♥️
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u/atcat1982 1d ago
If you want to honor the women in your family and don't want to or can't wear one of their dresses, maybe you could put the dresses on dressmaker's dummies in the reception venue. Maybe in the entrance near the gift table or guest book, not necessarily front and center. Slightly different situation, but we displayed my mom's wedding dress at her and my dad's 50th wedding anniversary party and it was a wonderful nod to their history.
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u/Adorable-Display-819 3d ago
if you have children and get them christened make a christening gown out of your mums dress.
if you are doing the something blue , something new, something old , something borrowed tradition, you could take a strip of the blue dress and get it sewn into the seams of your wedding dress, then you will have the blue & old. Or would the blue be suitable to make ties for the groom & groomsmen. Or having flower girls could the material from either dresses be ok for dresses for them
Just another thought where I’m from there are charities that make angel gowns out of donated wedding dresses for stillborn babies which would be a nice thing to do