Wedding Dress: What did you do with it?

I had mine preserved and it's in a closet at my parents'. I want to keep it forever, and if a daughter or granddaughter wants to do something with it or part of it one day, she can. I didn't wear my mom's dress (it's very 80s), but I really enjoyed being able to try it on and see it and my grandmother's and great-grandmother's dresses.

It's cleaned and preserved and in a box in my MIL's closet. Honestly I wish I had donated it right after the wedding because I'm not sure when I'll be able to pick it up from her or what good it's doing in her closet. It was purchased by my grandmother as a a gift to me, though, so I felt bad getting rid of it . . . but it still feels like a waste to just sit there.

Actually, @kahlcara's post made me feel better about it. Hopefully our future children will enjoy seeing it!

So my MIL got it preserved for me the day after the wedding and she keeps it safe at her house. I want to keep it for my younger sister who was the flower girl in my wedding since I'm not sure if I will have kids yet. If she doesn't want to wear it then a daughter would be my next option and if that never happens then I will donate it to a military bride.

I don't know what I will do with mine yet. I'll likely never wear it again but don't think I could part with it. I guess it will just be preserved and left in the closet :-/

Those waiting to see if their child will wear it, and then will donate after that if they won't - don't you think donating now/sooner would give the greatest use out of the dress? Styles change. Would those organizations even take a 20-30 year old dress?

I think everyone attaches a significant worth to their dress because of what it means to us, but in reality the bridal industry does try to promote buying new even as the stores promote their preservation kits. I also think from looking at what people are trying to sell their used dresses for on communities it is hard to face the reality that there are are a ton of dresses by even more designers and for every person keeping their dress now, there seems to be one selling it and trying to recover most of their money. If you paid $1000 and wore it for 8 hours, you are not going to get close to $1000 back - it is like when you buy a car and drive it off the lot. The value depreciates. Even on decor - I see people charging almost full price for things! I mentioned to my mother that I was planning on selling it and she did get bothered by that, so I'll have to see since it was a gift from her (and I planned on giving her any money from the sale back, of course). If not, it will probably be preserved with the David's kits since they seem to store well.

Hi my name is Terri and I saw in a previous comment that someone was going to donate their dress to Sweet Send Aways. I am one of 6 seamstresses for this specific non profit organization. It started in memory of Joseph Meisinger who passed away shortly after birth. We repurpose wedding dresses into baby outfits for babies that pass away at Children's Hospital Milwaukee. I am so amazed at how many baby outfits that are used in a short period of time. I am truly thankful for all the women who have donated their dresses and their memories for those families that are experiencing the worst days of their lives, the passing of their infant. My suggestion is for all the women who don't know what to do with their wedding dress is to find a local organization that makes burial gowns for infants. There are quite a few across the country. Please check out Sweet Send Aways facebook page to see all the beautiful outfits from those lovingly donated wedding dresses from women like yourselves.