Every bride remembers how special her wedding day was, and many are looking for a way to remember it forever. Keepsakes made from wedding dresses give brides the opportunity to commemorate their big day in a unique and meaningful way.
As an experienced wedding planner, I often get asked “what the hell am I going to do with this expensive wedding dress after today!?”
I’m here to show you all the ways that your gown can be transformed into something even more beautiful – one-of-a-kind pieces of art that will remind you of your special day every time you look at them!
❣ Quick Summary
Keepsakes crafted from your dress or veil can range from simple items like framed fabric swatches or jewelry to elaborate quilts, embroidery panels and shadowboxes.
Whatever direction you choose to take with transforming your dress, each item is sure to become a treasured family heirloom that will last through generations.
There’s no better way to honor the significance of your wedding than by creating keepsakes that represent such an important event in life.
No matter what type of keepsake you create from your gown, they’re all sure to bring back joyful memories year after year as you reflect on the beauty and love shared during your amazing day! With this article, I hope to provide some inspiration and ideas so you can make these cherished objects come alive. Let’s get started!
Types Of Keepsakes
Weddings are often a time of joyous celebration and couples want to remember the occasion for years to come. However, what can brides do with their wedding dresses after the big day? Creating keepsakes from wedding dresses is an excellent way to treasure those memories forever.
A popular option is a quilt made of fabric scraps cut from the dress. Piece together the material in whatever pattern you like and have it stitched into a warm blanket that will last a lifetime. You could even use leftover lace, ribbons or bows as accents on your quilt.
For something smaller, why not create handmade cards with pieces of fabric? Cut out small shapes or letters and glue them onto blank cards for family members who were part of your special day.
They’ll be able to keep them as reminders of how much they mean to you. Alternatively, if you’re feeling crafty, sew little pillows or teddy bears with the gown’s fabrics so you can cuddle up with fond memories each night!
Here are some of my favourite creative keepsake ideas!
Creative Keepsake Design Ideas
Let’s discuss some creative design ideas! There are endless possibilities for crafting something special and unique with your gown.
Quilt
Create a beautiful quilt out of fabric swatches from the dress.
Keepsake Pillow
Sew together pieces of lace or other details from the dress into an ornate pillow.
Ring Pillow
Use the fabric from your wedding dress to create a unique ring pillow for your wedding ring, or even to use for your own kids wedding down the line.
Clutch Bag
Transform your wedding dress into a chic and elegant clutch purse. This is a great way to carry a piece of your special day with you wherever you go.
Frame It
Cut a section of your wedding dress and place it in a picture frame along with a favorite wedding photo.
Ornament
Construct delicate snowflake-style ornaments using ribbon and material scraps.
Christening Gown
If you have, or are planning to have kids, you can transform your wedding dress into a beautiful christening gown that can be passed down from generation to generation.
These are just a few ways you can make something memorable with your wedding ensemble. You could also create monogrammed handkerchiefs or wall hangings featuring intricate detailing from the bodice or skirt of the gown.
With so many options available, it’s easy to find something truly special and sentimental to treasure forever.
No matter what type of keepsake you choose to make, don’t forget to take pictures along the way! Documenting all stages of the process is a great way to capture the emotion behind this meaningful project. Looking back on these photos will help you remember why each detail was important in creating such an exquisite piece for years to come.
Materials To Use
A wedding dress is an heirloom, a memento of one of the most precious moments in someone’s life. It deserves to be honored and cherished through keepsakes that will last for years to come.
Here are four materials that can be used to create unique pieces from your special gown:
1. Silk flowers – Take some of the fabric from your dress and use it as petals for beautiful silk flowers. You can keep them on display or give them away as gifts at the reception.
2. Quilt – Cut out different shapes and sizes of material from your dress and stitch together into a quilt, preserving your memories forever.
3. Jewelry – Get creative with beads, lace trimmings, buttons, ribbons, and sequins! Make necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins—anything you can think of! These items make great bridesmaids’ gifts too!
4. Wall Art – Frame pieces of your dress or ribbon sashes with personalized messages written on them for lovely wall art displays in any room in your home.
These are just a few ideas for how to honor your special day by creating something meaningful from the fabric of your wedding gown that you can treasure for years to come. With careful planning and creativity you can craft something truly timeless from this very important garment!
Preservation Techniques
It’s important to consider preservation techniques. Many people don’t realize just how delicate a dress can be; even after the big day is over, there are a few steps that should be taken in order to ensure your dress will last for generations.
The first step is deciding whether to store or preserve the gown. Storing means keeping the garment safe and sound until you’re ready for display or use; preserving requires careful treatments such as cleaning, pressing, mending any tears or rips, and protecting against future damage.
It all depends on what you’d like to do with the dress down the line – if you plan on displaying it somewhere special in your home then preservation may be the best route. I suggest consulting an expert before making any decisions though!
Regardless of which option suits your needs best, proper storage is essential when it comes to preserving keepsakes made from wedding dresses. If stored at room temperature and away from direct sunlight, humidity and insects, these heirlooms can remain intact for years (or decades) without issue.
Take care not to hang your item either; this could cause stretching or wrinkling over time due to gravity pulling down on the fabric. Instead keep them rolled up using acid-free tissue paper or wrapped in muslin cloth inside airtight plastic containers whenever possible.
These simple yet effective methods of storing and preserving make sure that these treasured memories will stay with you long after saying ‘I Do’. They’ll become part of family history passed along through generations – so take good care of them!
Professional Services
So, now that you’re inspired and want to go ahead and transform your wedding dress into a keepsake, you might not want to take on the work yourself. That’s fine, especially if you are not good with handicrafts (like me).
You can always try Etsy, where you will find no end of services, so you’ll likely find someone local and with great reviews.
I also recommend, Love Keep Create, although they are UK based you may have to pay a little extra for shipping.
Happily Ever After
As a wedding planner, I’ve seen so many brides struggle with what to do with their dress after the big day. But that doesn’t have to be the case! There are plenty of unique ways to repurpose your gown and create something special that will last for years – keepsakes made from wedding dresses.
These keepsakes can take on any shape or form you wish, depending on how creative you want to get. Like an artist painting a masterpiece, these custom-made creations allow couples to infuse meaningful moments into physical objects they can cherish forever. It’s like taking time out of the present moment and preserving it in eternity – as if time has been captured in a glass bottle, never able to disappear again.
From preservation techniques to professional services available, there is no shortage of options when deciding just how you’d like to transform your dress. Crafting something beautiful – both inside and out – with such personal significance attached makes it all the more remarkable. So don’t let your memories go forgotten; keep them alive through keepsakes made from wedding dresses!