There are a lot of creative ideas brides have come up with in the past on what to do with their gown after their big day. We have all heard of ‘Trash the Dress’ or there is always the option to resell it. But even if you plan to resell your gown you will need to get it cleaned.

At this point, since you are reading this article, you most likely already have your gown. You spent weeks, maybe months finding the perfect gown, or having one custom made for you by myself, and now you are thinking, wait, what am I doing with this after our wedding day?

Unless you are getting eloped in the courthouse, (not in the summer in the South, ha!) and only wearing your dress for an hour or two, you are going to absolutely need to get your dress professionally cleaned. Most likely, you are wearing your gown for 5-8 hours. It is well fitted to your body, you are going to be dancing, drinking, walking around outside, it is inevitably going to get dirty.

With the delicate-ness of wedding gowns, beading, fine fabrics, lace, you cannot just turn it inside out and throw it in the wash. When you send to get your gown professionally cleaned, they take an individual approach to your gown and decide on how to get it back to looking new. They will re-bead, re-sew, remove wine stains, dirt stains, sweat, everything, and at the end they will steam it and pack it in a window-pane box so you can see it but it cannot mold or yellow.

Wearing Your Gown Again, soon?

This is a popular question lately because of COVID-19. Many brides are opting to keep their original wedding date with a smaller guest list and to do it all again next year for a bigger crowd.

If this is you, I would recommend the Clean-Only option at the #1 Wedding Dress Cleaning Preservation Company, Wedding Gown Preservation Kit.

Clean-Only Option is priced at $179 including 2-way shipping. You get your dress shipped back cleaned, repaired, and ready to wear again in a polybag in 3-4 weeks, or rush 2-3 weeks for an extra $25.

The Wedding Dress Preservation Kit Company cleans dresses everyday, all day. They know what they are doing. You cannot simply send to the local dry cleaners.

The Most Popular Option

What you have probably heard from your friends or family members is the most popular option, the Traditional Wedding Gown Preservation Kit.

This option is $225-275, depending on if you want to add your name and/or wedding date. The standard processing time is 6-8 weeks. These two options are from the same company that I, like so many other bridal salons, are familiar with and trust. They send you a kit in the mail to ship your gown and send it back like new. This option comes back in a cardboard box with a window so you can see your gown and still show it off. You would most likely keep this in a closet or under the bed.

Framing Your Gown After The Wedding

If you do not want to put your dress under the bed safely or in the closet, another option I am really excited to share with my brides is framing your wedding dress! (After getting your gown professionally cleaned)

It would give me so much joy to know my brides are displaying their gown in their home to see every day. I happily did some research for a current bride of mine and found lots of options that were $1000 and up for beautiful displays, but knowing my client’s budget, I kept looking. And it has to be mentioned, DIY is not the way to go on this one folks. The professionals can guarantee it will not get damaged by air pollutants or UV lighting and have years of experience packing gowns. After looking into DIY myself, I found that the professionals are stuffing the dress to make it look like it on someone, not as easy as it looks, using clear pins, and even sometimes hand-sewing the gown to the backing if necessary for the perfect look.

I found Custom Framing Designs in California who will work with you to frame your gown. They even have options for LED lights for an exceptional look.

Use Coupon Code desiree50 to save $50 off your 1st order at custom framing designs.

Above framed dress starting at $625 at custom framing designs!

Another Framing Company option is the Outrageous Framing.

https://www.framemyweddingdress.com/ They are located in Florida and have larger, more luxe options to show your full dress.

Price is upon request, but something like the below display is around $3,200.

Altering your Gown into Something New

Another favorite option of mine is the option to get your wedding gown altered into something new. There are hundreds of ideas out there including a cocktail dress (see below) or lace top, a fun tutu skirt, pillows, a christening gown or first communion dress for a lil’ one…

With this option, from experience as a dressmaker/seamstress, it is not necessary to get it cleaned before having it altered, but the seamstress, I’m sure, would appreciate working with a clean dress. And you cannot assume the seamstress will clean any stains or possible discoloring for you.

Wedding Dress Party?

Whatever You Want

Really, the best option for what to do with your wedding dress after your wedding, is whatever you want. This dress is all about you and if you want to jump in the mud and splash around it, then you should.