An elegant dress after the wedding can be worn to a meeting or a trip to the theater
The likelihood of a second life largely depends on the style of the wedding dress and its length. So, for example, a strict and elegant classic knee-length outfit may well serve in the future. Wear a jacket or bolero over it, similar in shade (but better still not white) or contrasting. Alternatively, in a tight-fitting dress just above the knees with a gray jacket and blue accessories (beads, shoes) you can go on a date - business or not.
DIY wedding dress alteration
To get something completely different from your previous wedding dress, you need to use maximum imagination and inspiration. If a girl is comfortable with a sewing machine, then remaking a wedding dress will not be difficult for her. She can easily transform it on her own, for example, into a two-piece suit, a shortened outfit, or completely change the previous appearance of the dress.
DIY wedding dress makeover
First of all, you need to decide on the length of the product so that when shortened, the dress does not lose its appearance and does not look vulgar. The simple rule: “Measure twice, cut once” will come in handy in this case. After all, if you calculate the length incorrectly, you can end up with a completely tasteless item.
When shortening a dress, you should focus on the fabric from which it is made. To work you will need:
- threads of a suitable color;
- tape measure;
- pencil or soap for marking;
- pins;
- well sharpened scissors;
- sewing machine with overlock;
- sewing needles.
To shorten a wedding dress, two methods are used : cutting off the bottom of the product or tucking it.
Measuring the dress before alteration
In the second case, the dress is measured, leaving an allowance of 2.5 cm. The cut is processed with an overlocker. The bottom should be folded along the marked line so that the distance of the first seam from the edge is no more than 1 cm. Place the second line along the width of the machine foot, but no more than ½ cm from the first. The seam area should be smoothed with a steam iron.
Alterations of wedding dresses can be done at home. Choose a fabric of a different shade that matches the texture, cut the skirt and sew it to the top. You can remake the top of the dress by removing unnecessary decorative elements: sequins, beads, rhinestones.
If the wedding dress is sleeveless, you can easily turn it into a summer version : decide on the desired length, trim the dress from the bottom, leaving an allowance of 2-3 cm, tuck or hem its edge. The bodice is decorated with rhinestones and beads sewn on by hand. The bottom can be decorated with lace frills.
Photo of a bride in a short wedding dress
Bride in a self-shortened wedding dress
Wedding dress with homemade decorative elements
A satin long wedding dress will change dramatically if you leave it as a lining base, trimming it with guipure on top.
After the wedding, it can be changed into a skirt or cocktail dress
After the wedding, you can turn it into a skirt and wear it to a party with a denim shirt. A short dress (tunic, retro or even “a la princess”) is quite useful for beach parties and discos - just complement it with bright accessories. Plain shoes, beads, a bag and a belt will do the trick, turning your wedding dress into a fashionable club or cocktail outfit. Some long wedding dresses can be shortened (like Grecian styles) to achieve the same effect, and even re-dyed!
How to change a wedding dress into a casual dress after the wedding?
When thinking about how to save on a wedding dress, you should pay attention to dresses in rustic, boho and empire styles, as well as shirt dresses. These outfits are simple and laconic. It will be enough just to get rid of some decorative elements and, if necessary, shorten the skirt a little, and the wedding dress will turn into an everyday one.
Other dress styles will be more difficult to handle. The richer the fabric, the more decorative elements, the more solemn and brighter the outfit looks. But still, there is an answer to the question “how can you change a wedding dress into an everyday dress”!
You can cut the outfit and use its elements separately. The corset from the dress can be worn in combination with a jacket or blouse, after getting rid of excess decor. The bottom of the dress can be turned into a stylish skirt or even a new dress.
When you start remodeling, you should think about not only changing the style, but also the color of the outfit. Options for changing dress color:
- Completely or partially repaint the dress. To do this, you need to purchase special paints for fabric.
- Paint the dress with an original color pattern. To do this, you will need not only fabric paints, but also the ability to draw.
- Complete the white dress with original color inserts.
- Decorate the dress with colored patterns. They can be purchased at fabric stores.
Remake your daughter's wedding dress into a princess or christening dress
By the way, you can completely alter your wedding dress: it will make an excellent carnival costume. Your daughter will be the best Snowflake, Fairy, Princess or Snow Queen in school!
Altering a dress: what do the signs say?
If you believe in omens, then before you pick up the scissors, you should find out whether it is possible to alter or even cut your wedding dress. According to tradition, it is customary to store such attributes of the bride’s wedding image as a veil or a wreath. They are considered a symbol of female and family happiness. Regarding the wedding dress, there are several signs that slightly contradict each other. Some say that the dress should be kept as a talisman and not shown to anyone. Others say that the dress can be given as a wedding gift to a relative, and this will bring her happiness.
It is generally accepted that clothes contain positive energy and an atmosphere of celebration. In this regard, it is considered a bad wedding omen to give or sell a wedding dress to strangers. Cutting and altering the dress with signs is not prohibited. This will be an excellent solution, and will give you the opportunity to experience the happy wedding energy more than once by changing your wedding dress into a casual or evening outfit. Therefore, it can and should be transformed!
Selling a wedding dress is not considered a bad omen
Many ladies, wondering what to do with the dress after the wedding, decide to sell it. This is not considered a bad omen, and, in general, is even noble. After all, for some, buying a used wedding dress is the only option. You can try to take your outfit to a rental salon or rent it out yourself, including for photo shoots.
Sell it
Many brides probably dream of a dress like yours, but cannot afford to buy it in a salon. You can make one of them happy by selling it for a symbolic amount (or, if desired, giving it away for free). You can post an ad for sale on social networks, on wedding websites or forums in your city, but do not forget to first take the outfit to the dry cleaner to return it to its salable condition.
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Author of the photo: Yulya Zinovieva | Wedding of Artem and Elena
Arrange an unusual photo shoot
If it’s a pity to cut up your favorite dress, but you can’t sell it by hand, you can organize a memorable photo shoot with its participation. It’s a nice thing to go with your loved one to the sea and plunge headlong into romance, and in the literal sense too. Don't forget to invite a creative photographer who will tell you how best to depict scenes in the water.
Sell
Is it possible to sell a wedding dress? It is believed that a dress is a talisman for a young family, so you cannot give it away (and especially for money). In fact, it’s possible if you don’t believe in omens. Please note that people are reluctant to buy used dresses because of a different belief, so this will not be possible to do quickly. The sign that bothers you says that the wedding dress takes on the fate of the bride’s marriage; if it was unsuccessful, then the new owner will suffer the same fate.
Jenny Fu
Use it for crafts
Sentimental newlyweds often create original art objects featuring wedding dresses and other paraphernalia. For example, they are framed like a picture and hung on the wall along with regular photos. Another idea is to use lace on a pendant for a pendant, a children's toy as a keepsake, Christmas toys with white decor, or decorative pillows.
Capture the memory of your wedding day by transforming your dress into something special
Not every bride is ready to pay a huge amount for a dress that can only be worn once in a lifetime. That’s why salons that rent formal outfits are so popular today. But there are girls who have kept their snow-white dress. And it doesn’t matter how long ago the wedding took place - a couple of years or decades ago. If your treasure is still lying on the mezzanine, waiting for a chance to please one of your daughters, check out these ideas. Among them are those that will help preserve the memory of an important event in an unexpected way.
Things for the baby
For many families, the birth of a child is the next stage in family life after marriage. Therefore, things for a baby knitted from a mother’s (or maybe grandmother’s) dress will look very touching and cute. One option is to line the outside of the baby's cradle with dress fabric. You can sew a canopy from a veil or petticoat tulle that will protect your baby's sleep.
The remains of the satin can be adapted into a small blanket, which is perfect for both the crib and the stroller.
Small booties for the first days of a baby’s life are another elegant solution. Decorate them with lace or add simple elastic bands.
The christening suit is also traditionally made from white fabric. You can use wedding dress material for it. You can preserve the memory of two important events without taking up much space in your closet. Such a gift would be appropriate if you were called godmother.
Give the dress to your daughter
In some families, a wedding dress is passed down from generation to generation. But not every dress is valuable enough to be in demand by brides a decade from now. You can remake your mother's dress for other important events. This girl, for example, decided to choose a new dress for the wedding celebration, and chose her mother’s altered one as an engagement dress.
This dress was dyed and made a great evening wear.
Make a beautiful decoration
You can't wear your wedding dress every day. But you can wear part of the dress! Decorate your jewelry or accessories with lace and fabric from your favorite outfit. A simple pendant will remind you of one of the happiest events in life.
Cover the lace with a coat of gold paint to create a stunning tiara.
A neat clutch will delicately complement an evening outfit.
Sew an elegant lingerie set
A great outfit for a wedding anniversary that you can celebrate together.
Decorate your home
Another logical continuation of the wedding is the construction of a family hearth. Your shared home can have several romantic reminders of the occasion. A bedspread to decorate a family bed.
Embroider your initials onto the pillow and add a lace applique.
A teddy bear made of satin and sequins is not suitable for the role of a children's toy, but it can decorate your room, evoking pleasant memories every time.
You can use parts of the dress to create elegant Christmas decorations. They can become a real family heirloom. These could be Christmas tree decorations...
Or decorative elements.
Elegant socks for gifts from Santa Claus.
Donate the dress to charity
Yes, it will not stay with you... But it will be very nice to think that another girl will be beautiful on the important day of her life.
Another type of charity is the Angel's Robe project, which involves brides around the world. Young women donate dresses to make clothes for babies who are not destined to return home from the hospital. By giving these children their most precious things, women express solidarity and support for their mothers.
Leave for posterity
Many ladies, by the way, from the very beginning decide the fate of their wedding dress in favor of the attic, chest or basement - because it’s “a pity”. And so the hope remains that someday a daughter will be born who will get ready to go to the altar and decide to wear this dress that has already become vintage.
In any case, what to do with the dress after the wedding is up to the bride to decide: for women, things related to the sacrament of marriage are very important. And men don’t understand why their spouses keep their wedding dress in the closet for years, along with blouses and skirts, as if planning to wear it someday.
What did you do with your wedding dress? Threw it out?
Save it
Traditionally, most brides prefer to keep their wedding dress at home along with all the touching and romantic memories associated with it.
And in some families there is a tradition of passing down wedding attire from generation to generation - maybe you are also inspired by this idea? But when storing a wedding dress, you need to follow a number of rules. Firstly, it should be dry cleaned within a month after the wedding - then it will be quite difficult to remove some stains.
Secondly, you need to store it in a thick fabric case at room temperature (an attic or basement is not suitable for storage). And thirdly, you can only hang it on hangers using special loops sewn inside the dress, otherwise you risk stretching it.
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Photo by: Elena Eliseeva | Wedding of Sergei and Albina
For babies
A year or two will pass and your young family will be replenished with a new member, you will have a child. All care and attention will be directed to the little man. To him you and your spouse will give all the best that you have. It's time to take the box out of the mezzanine and out of the closet and think about what you can make from a wedding dress for your baby:
- envelope for a newborn;
- baptismal set (shirt, dress, cap);
- from a veil, a fluffy thin skirt, an openwork canopy for a crib, cradle.
Of course, you will have to buy additional material for lining, insulation, decorative tapes, and so on.
Before the New Year holidays, the problem of buying a carnival costume for a child for the “Christmas tree” in kindergarten or school always arises. From a wedding dress, you can easily even sew a “Princess”, “Snowflake”, “Snow Maiden”, “Snow Queen” outfit for a girl yourself. With a little effort you can turn it into a costume for a boy: a small snow-white bunny.
How and where to store a wedding dress
Before packing the dress, it must be cleaned of dirt. This can be done at home or trusted to professionals. Difficult stains must be removed within 14 days after the wedding, only in this case there is a chance to keep the dress looking perfect. Even if there is no visible dirt, the outfit still needs to be cleaned. How to do this so as not to spoil the thing can be found in another article. It details how to wash a wedding dress at home.
After washing, you need to remove hooks, buttons and any other metal elements from the item and put them in small bags. The veil and gloves should also be in separate boxes.
You need to store your wedding dress in a special box. Such containers are made of breathable materials, mainly cardboard. The box should allow air to pass through well, and insects should not be able to get inside. To do this, you need to close the lid tightly.
You should place sheets of paper under the dress. Ordinary Whatman paper or corrugated paper will do. It is better not to use wallpaper and colored cardboard: they can stain the white material of the outfit. After this, you can wrap it in a white sheet.
The box can be purchased here: wedding-traditions.ru. A container for a wedding dress will cost $10-30. You can choose an option with the bride's initials engraved. If you don’t have extra money, you can take a regular cardboard box and cover it with sheets of white paper.
To prevent the outfit from acquiring an unpleasant odor over time, you can add sachet pads with the dress. After washing, do not spray perfume on your clothes.
Dresses are usually sold in plastic bags. After the wedding, such packaging should be discarded, since when stored in it, the outfit can quickly turn yellow.
You should not hang the dress on hangers: in this position it will become deformed.
Storage mode is important for a wedding dress. The humidity level should not exceed 60%. All year round, the temperature in the room where the box will be located must be maintained at 18-19 °C. The dress must be removed from it periodically and checked for stains. If the outfit has changed color, you will have to change the wrapping material.
