Using family dresses as decor

First off, I LOVE this idea. I think it is so cool and fun that your history is represented. I would maybe reconsider including your future mother in law's dress though. I get where you're coming from but you are merging your families and want both sides to be represented. Just an idea that you could at least ask her what she thinks about it.

I could see this at a shower. It comes across as selfish and rude to have your side only because a wedding is not the bride marrying herself.

I think you should include your MILs dress as well, and his grandmothers as well if he has one, as you are joining both of your families. But- I love this idea! Very cool way to honor where you both came from!

Hi, Clarissa! This is a wonderful idea! Please reconsider about your Groom's Mama's dress. Excluding her from such a meaningful family display may be quite hurtful, and may come across as disrespectful to his side of the family. I like a PP's idea of including his Grandma's dresses too, if available. Yes, the display could look a little crowded, but that just shows what a lifetime of Love you BOTH come from. A wedding display is a few hours, but hurt feelings last a long time. Best wishes to you both!

I LOVE this and this looks really cute, but I have to agree that you should include the dresses of your MiL and GMiL


You're combining families. Having dresses from just your side is kind of like having family photos from just your side

While I think the idea is cute, personally I think it’s a little overkill. Have you considered using photos of your mom & dad at their wedding and the same for your grandparents? This way you capture everyone, not just the women since it’s about the couple, not just the women. And that way you have room for your fiancé’s parents and grandparents; you are combining families. They should be honored, too.

I love it and am considering it myself! But yes, of course you must use his mom's dress as well. This is non-optional

Hello everyone! Thanks for the suggestions! I want to be clear that I was never thinking of intentionally *excluding* FMIL's dress, its simply that in my mind it made sense to stick with the bride's lineage of women and I had not even considered using FMIL's. But once the thought came into my mind, I started to consider it may be rude not to include her and it seems thats the consensus.


I've decided that 4 dresses would be overkill, so I'm going to use my moms, FMIL's, and then just do wedding portraits of the grandparents 🙂

I love it!!! Fantastic solution, I can’t wait to see pics!

I think this is very odd. It's your wedding, not a museum.

But anyway... I don't see why your fiancé's mom's dress could not be included. You might have come from your mother and grandmothers, but your fiancé came from your FMIL, so she is just as important in this situation as your family.