Ideas for old wedding dress/daughter's wedding
 

Our only daughter is getting married on June 30th. She says I can make whatever I want with my old 1986 wedding dress "within reason" for details in her wedding and reception.

SHe is not sentimental and not one for clutter, so I'm not anticipating that she will hang onto what I make.

I admit I have a hard time thinking about making the first cut into my beautiful gown It's got a long cathedral train (all satin with embroidery and a lace hem), lots of seed pearls on the bodice, long lace sleeves.

Got some ideas? I've thought ring pillow and bouquet wrap.

I am a bridal seamstress in a large bridal shop. She may want to wear your dress for her wedding. First you can take off the sleeves to give it a more modern look. You can use the lace from the sleeves to add a nice edge to the armhole. You may want to make the armhole narrower...more like a tank top. Since it is an 80's dress, if there is a stand up color...remove that too and add lace around the neckline. There are lots of ideas to bring an old dress into the current fashion trends now.

You can also make a Christening gown from it for the first grandchild. I have also seen beautiful Christmas tree toppers made from wedding dresses. Lots of ideas around....just keep asking. Please post pictures and that may help with the ideas.

If you don't want to cut it up, don't.

She definitely does Not want to wear my dress. It wouldn't fit anyway (she's a size 16 or maybe 14). She wouldn't be upset if I didn't do anything with it for her wedding, but is okay if I do a few things.

At the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, many years ago, there was a wonderful display of quilts made from wedding gowns. (These quilts were on the walls of the clock store, not outdoors.) It seems that your wedding dress means more to you than to your daughter, so perhaps you could make a quilt from it and use leftovers for something smaller for your daughter. You can display and enjoy the quilt, your daughter will have something from it for the wedding, and you may find that she will become more sentimental as she gets older.

The real questions ... do you want to do something with it?
Is she saying go ahead, just to appease her Mama?
(especially wonder this, when she is not really contributing with ideas)

What would you like to make? have to keep later? etc.

Agree ring bearer pillow is a good idea.
Instead of the pillow, some have made teddy bear a bride and groom,
for the flower girl and ring bearer to carry up the aisle.

You could do a runner/table topper with the satin and lace.
Would be nice with the guest book (if they are having one) or with other items that may be on display.

Another alternative .... do nothing with it, and have the dress, as is, on display with a photo of you and your husband on your wedding day. Perhaps the groom's parents would like to do the same?

Good Luck!

Look into donating any large pieces that are left over to Angel Gowns. My daughter donated her's. They use them to make burial gowns for stillborn babies. http://www.angelgowns.chauglie.com

I do crazy quilting, both quilts and smaller things like heart ornaments. I'm always on the lookout for old bridal gowns (or any fancy fabric!). I was thinking that the heart ornaments would make lovely little gifts for bridesmaids.

Sounds like you are more interested in using your dress than she is so I would be very careful about cutting into that. If you really want to use your dress though, perhaps do something for yourself to use at the wedding, such as an evening wrap? Be careful that you don't upstage the bride though! Or perhaps use in table runners for the reception that you can take to your own home to enjoy. In years to come, she might find those have value more than right now.

I'm with bearisgray...unless this is something You want to do, then don't. However, I made lavender sachets out of an old wedding dress for wedding favors....also made bride and groom '1st Christmas together' stockings. Hers out of dress, his out of an upcycled men's suit...complete with tiny boutonniere.

Your going to cut up your wedding gown for something you know she won't keep? I don't understand why you would do this. She isn't sentimental but you obviously are since you kept your gown all these years. Get some new satin or lace and make something w/ that for her wedding.

I wouldn't cut it up since you love it so. keep it and make other things. She will be just as happy. seriously!

You say she will not keep whatever you make, so I would not do anything... Why destroy your wedding dress, make whatever, only to be discarded afterwards? I see nothing wrong with keeping your gown in tact...buy a ring pillow and flower girl basket...or make from newly bought fabric and embellishments.

Our Women of Wayside group has used many weddings for Perinatal Bereavement Group. The kits are really appreciated by the families.

Hang on to your dress. It sounds like you re not yet ready to give it up.

I agree with trollystation. Make her something else with similar fabric and hang onto your "beautiful gown". Seems most 20 and 30 years old have no sentimentality about anything. Sad.

I agree. Since she doesn't want to wear it, why cut it up?

It sounds to me like the continuity of your dress is what you would like to do. If it were me, I might make her a hanky to carry with her bouquet and use a piece of lace either from your dress in an inconspicuous place or buy one like the piece on your dress out of a nice similar or same style, and save your dress for a possible grand daughter?

My mother took my wedding dress and her and her quilting friends made a Beautiful quilt for our 1st child. Our daughter is turning 50 this year and it still is a treasure.

Oh, that's a good idea. You never know what the next generation will like.

I think that it would be great to continue to save it. You may have a granddaughter who would love to wear it. It sounds like an absolutely beautiful gown. You could call a local museum and see if they would like to display it (for a while). My vote is to "keep it" and love it and maybe someday someone else will love it too!

Another idea you might want to consider is to make a Christening outfit for their first child. Maybe by that time you will feel more comfortable cutting into your wedding gown and your daughter may appreciate more what you’re doing for her.

I just took my wedding dress and My moms homemade wedding dress from her house as I am getting it cleaned out to sell. I could not cut it up! I even found the pattern that my mom's dress was made from. it would have been 66 years today for an anniversary. I did make a garter from a grandmothers dress for a friend but I took fabric from the back seam and some from the point on the sleeve and sewed it all back together. I just can't bear to cut them up even tho really I have no place to store them. If it means something to you save it someday something special will come along.

I can not imagine cutting up such a beautiful gown as per your description of it, oh my, nooo!

Zo, since your daughter isn't sentimental and you obviously are don't cut up your gown! You just got me thinking- I have no idea where mine is! I hope I packed it when we moved to Ohio 21 years ago :)