My niece gave me her wedding dress that was in her closet, for 30 years, she didn't do anything to the dress before she put it away just rolled it in a ball & put it in a bag. It was a mess, but she wanted a christening dress made from it. It was a satin dress, I didn't want to pay for cleaning ,so I washed it by hand in woollit & it came out pretty clean.
This is what I ended up making from it.

So go for it, I know it is scary to start cutting it up, but what else will they do with it. So I say try...Good Luck

My cousin has always used the bride's gown to make christening gowns for the child(ren). Depending on the sex of the child she selects certain parts - frilly/lacy for the girls, simple parts for the boys.

What wedding gown???

:P :-P :-P :P Didn't have one....

Yes in 1976 was whenst my Son was born & so then whenst he was only 5 days old & with his Christening coming up on exactly the 7th day - & me being in no mood to shop etc.....I then used my wedding dress....but of course not much fabric was needed......& I then did embroidery across the front....then also had some baby blue ribbon that I threaded through the hem line & then made a Christening bonnet out of my veil....viola - he looked the best.

And not bad I must say for one that thought they could never sew.....

I made a Barbie wedding dress out of mine. Of course I didn't use much, but then when my youngest daughter got married, she made her own gown and took some fabric from my dress and incorporated it into hers. It was really pretty.

No, but I bet it will look beautiful.

My great grandmother took her mother's wedding dress & made a christening gown with it.(from 1800's). Every generation has used it to christen the babies. With it being so old, we lay it upon the child, to fragile to dress them in it. My mother has made a christening gown with her sister's wedding dress for her boys' babies since their mother had died of cancer when they were little. They all had a piece of her to pass on to their children. I haven't done anything with mine. Has been hanging in the closset for almost 35 years. If any of my children ever get married, maybe I'll make each of them a ring pillow or some thing.

I have made some beautiful satin pillows ...and they are special keepsakes..

Make teddy bears, ring pillows for each of your kids for future use. Christening gowns are nice, make several if you can. Make a miniature dress for a doll to remember yur gown. I thought the other day, for a wedding reception, to have manniwuins around with everyones wedding gowns displayed that still had them.

I've cut up two different gowns one was amazing and it killed me to cut it up, but when it was done the mother in-law and mother of the baby cried when they saw it. The second one was ugly but it had a lot of lace on the vail that I pulled of. The baby's gown was 10 times prettier than the wedding dress. So just start cutting, it like learning to clip curves.