Channeling Mainelady & CindyS

So I have not done my closet cleaning yet ( planned for later in week) but inspired by Mainelady and the rest of you I picked out the obvious stuff and ran them to the thrift store with items hubby culled from his dresser.

Sigh- I finally let go of my wedding dress.
It was a simple A line with long sleeves, no train ( veil had length) ironically the silhouette was similar to Duchess of Cambridge dress minus lace which was my personal style in 1977 but not anyone else’s . Everyone had frou frou - so I made my dress.
French seaming-simple trim because that is all fabric store near me had. To this day I have never seen a store bought I would have wished for instead.
I feel like CindyS- farewell wedding dress- you let me feel like a beautiful princess for a day even though it was cold, raining and sleeting and all for the grand price of $63usd! You were a fun sewing project.
But You certainly no longer fit, DD was married in a dress perfect for her, and you no longer serve a purpose hanging there.
I am giving you away in hopes that another young lady in love will see your pristine condition and simple classic style and wish to be princess for a day. I wish for her and her Prince Charming a long and happy marriage like we have- 41 years this month.
Sigh..............

6 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Aww. That can't have been easy. Hugs! But better to have the Prince Charming than the dress.

I still have my wedding dress -- I had it cleaned and it's still in the storage box 15 years later. It doesn't take up much room (it's on a shelf in my out-of-season closet), so I'll hang onto it and maybe wear it someday again because hubs and I have talked about perhaps doing a "renewing our vows" thing for our 20th. I don't really have anyone to pass it down to (my eldest niece is getting married this summer and already found her perfect dress, and she was the most likely recipient), so someday I'll probably pass it along to one of the shops that helps lower-income women find fabulous dresses.

JAileen

My husband found my wedding dress in the garage. Also the bridesmaid dress from 1972. I already washed and donated that one. No way I could wear my wedding dress (anyone see My Favorite Year with Peter O’Toole? One of my favorite movies). No one else would want to wear it, either. We got married in January and it has long sleeves and a high neck.

Cardiff girl

May the next person who wears it have as much luck in their marriage as you.,and I m really impressed that you made your own wedding dress,serious sewing skills!

Runcarla

I'm not particularly sentimental, so after DS#2 make his appearance, mine was donated. Worked for me, but I don't think the style would be desirable today. My sister had a lovely brocade dress and I was able to convert it into a short dress, and make a christening gown with the remnant.

cindysmith

Wow, what a wonderful tribute to such a special dress. That's powerful stuff, passing on your wedding dress so that someone else has the chance to feel as magical on HER special day!

Jessikams

Huzzah! I donated my wedding dress last year and I never told anybody about it, because it seems to be something that you’re “supposed to” hang onto. But I was sick of moving it from house to house for no reason. I’d had it shortened, I wore it a few times for anniversary dinners, but that was enough for me. I don’t feel sentimental about objects.
Anyway, thank you for validating my choice. It’s nice to hear I’m not some kind of monster for donating my dress.

Anonymous

What a beautiful post. I wish with all my heart that a young woman does indeed find your dress.

Janet- thanks so much - I agree having the Prince is way better than the dress. I thought I might wear it for our 25th but it was way tight and DD was still young so I kept it long. It took me 41 years to give it up- you still have a few years to hold on to it and the memories.
JAileen- I have not seen the movies but Prince Charming & I have added it to our list. Thanks.
Cardiff-Thank you for those nice words. It was a fun project, I was able to have the look I wanted and the fact that we were real poor sewing it made sense. It must have been a year thing because over years I have spoken with 3 other women who made their dress that year- lol
Runcarla- how great that you were able to shorten the dress and bonus making a christening outfit. Great idea.
Cindy- thank you but you are an inspiration for respecting the value of service our things provide. It’s always great to show gratitude.
Jess- we are not monsters for letting things go- we each do it in our own good time. Look at the other posts. Folks can’t get rid of favorite tees and tees don’t hold near the emotion and sentimentality a wedding dress holds. Your a few steps ahead of me- you got a few more wearings.
Sterling- I hope so too. Thanks

Mainelady

Efbgen, wow you really did make some big decisions! Your wedding dress sounds beautiful and all the more special , because you made it! I’m thinking every stitch must have been sewn with love. I think it is wonderful that when you decided to pass it on, you donated it so another young lady can have her princess and Prince Charming Dreams come true. Very thoughtful and a love legacy.

Windchime

I’m totally impressed that you made your own wedding dress! I’m also impressed by your deciding it was time to let it go. You can feel good about the happiness it will bring to its next wearer.

I donated my wedding dress several years ago; I liked it but wasn’t emotionally attached to it. What I AM emotionally attached to is the gorgeous tiara I wore to get married. I’d ordered a much less expensive one, and the store somehow messed up the order, and they offered me an exquisite upgrade—one I never would have bought—for the same price as the one I’d ordered. It’s carefully packed away; I hope someone in the family can use it someday.

Mainelady- thank you for your kind words. As a toddler I stood next to my paternal grandmother as she used her treadle sewing machine. By 4th grade I was sewing my own dresses. It has always been a part of my life. What has changed is people’s perception. People use to look down on homemade because it was a sign of not exactly poverty but certainly not well to do. But my mom was self taught and I remember her copying Jackie Kennedy’s outfits- wow she made beautiful things with a couture touch. It was fun making my daughter and her American girl doll matching clothes and a one of a kind prom dress. When project runway started people started to take notice of what is involved in making clothes and now homemade has gained acceptance. You should see the texting we sewing friends do on project runway night- the airwaves smoke- lol.
Wind chime- whether you are emotionally attached or not- it was nice of you to donate your dress. How positively great the store goofed! I know the last thing a bride wants to hear is that someone made a mistake. I’m happy they made good on the error. Carefully packed away??? If I had a gorgeous expensive tiara it would be sitting out on my dresser and if only for a minute that baby would be on my head each day-LOL.

Category