15 years ago I found the shoes, the flowers, the photographer, the dress, the registry…and most importantly, The Guy.And we got married.Since then, we have plowed through countries, cities, jobs, takeout containers and coffee makers.We have had 2 kids, three houses, endless colds, fights and giggles.But it all boils down to just this:The wedding dress…..that no longer fits…..For the most part, I never think about it. But when we moved a few months ago, it ended up at the bottom of my closet, taunting me with it’s cinched waist and narrow shoulders.And now I have to figure out what to do with it.Cause it doesn’t fit.It is severely jaundiced.It has *princess sleeves* (romantic way of saying batwings).It’s probably for the best that it doesn’t fit, I’d totally wear it otherwise.Like out, in public…I’d start to sneak it in at Halloween, totally reasonably….but I know myself.Before long, I’d organize a Bridesmaids Party…which could be fun, except, I wouldn’t know that we were being ironic and I’d suggest we do it monthly…and people would stop replying to my Evites and Facebook Events….that’s how much I wish I could still wear the dang dress!Because the truth is, I loved this dress.And the body that fit into it (Mine).
staged photo, in case you're wondering
- fancy kleenex
- purse liner
- panty liner
- dental floss
- cat scratch pad
- ghost costume
- Jennifer Lopez costume
- Ghost costume
- Ghost pinata
- Bubble skirt for entire Girls soccer team
I’m sure there’s a better way, what did you do to yours?
November 5, 2011
Gah! Mines been in its box in the closet for 7 years and I too do not know what to do with it!!
November 5, 2011
I’m favoring the Casper idea right now…ok, it’s tied with the fancy kleenex one
November 5, 2011
Mine’s in my closet too. But I can still fit into it, even after 15 years!
November 5, 2011
showoff!!
you should find an excuse to wear it Steph!!
November 5, 2011
I accidentally lost (read: threw out) my wedding dress during a move years ago. It still makes me sad. When my wedding was over, I told my husband I was sad that I wouldn’t get to wear the dress again. He said that he half expected to come home from work one day & find me drunk, wearing the dress, and crying with mascara running down my cheeks. I would kill for that now.Keep the dress-do not recycle it into anything. Keep it for a daughter, grand-daughter.
November 5, 2011
ha! That would be me too, except the dress would only be half on (doesn’t fit all the way on) and the tears would be because of that…you can have mine if you want? For realz!!
November 5, 2011
Personally I think panty liners is the best choice. Mine is hanging is the basement, all in its giant, shiny satin glory, and pulled out for special occasions like wine drinking
November 5, 2011
yeah, I’m leaning towards that… i knew you’d still get into yours…!!
November 6, 2011
I got mine professionally cleaned and boxed, where it has remained for almost 10 years. I have two boys — God willing, neither of them will wear it.
And it’s precisely because of those two boys that I don’t fit into it any more.
November 6, 2011
Laura – ha! I have 2 boys too, and I prefer to blame them as well as the reason I no longer come close to fitting into my dress rather than the pizza, pie, chocolate-y stuff, lol!
November 6, 2011
I still wear mine… Like around the house. I find any excuse to throw it on. My family doesn’t even blink an eye any more as I slowly descend down the stairs reliving my – our – special day. I love that dress. And, no, it doesn’t physically fit me, but in my head it fits like a glove.
November 6, 2011
I still have mine and fully intend to keep it. I have three daughters and one son. Even if my daughters choose to wear their own, I can make the fabric of my dress into something they can wear…Something old…something new…Or make them each a veil to wear from the fabric. I have even thought of making a baptismal dress for any grandchildren that come along. There are so many beautiful things you can do with it, even though you have boys. You can even turn your dress into a memory quilt to be hung on the wall somewhere in your house. Lots of lovely ideas. You can use the fabric to cover old photo albums…Currently I an up-cycling my baby crib that each of my kids slept in. I am making a keepsake for each other them and a few things for me too. Great Post!!
November 6, 2011
Patty, those are GREAT ideas – I like the idea of a way to cover a few old photo albums…my parents divorced when I was 7 and my mom just let me cut her’s up for halloween…she was totally fine with it but I would have loved trying to find a way to use a piece of it when I got married too, thanks!
November 9, 2011
what timing? I have been cleaning out closets and found mine hanging in-between my father’s tux and a jacket my mother never finished sewing. I don’t want to get rid of it, and yeah, it is bittersweet to be reminded of the man I once loved and the thin body i once possessed. so, the best I can hope for is a granddaughter to pass it on to. I want to get it professionally cleaned and boxed, but not sure where to go in our part of the world. Anyone around here know of a dry cleaners where they provide that service?