What to Do With Your Dress After Your Wedding

Finding your cheap bridal gown is a big deal. You probably did a lot of research to find the perfect store, the perfect style, and the perfect look. So what will become of it after the last dance has ended and all your guests have gone home? Don't just leave it to collect dust under your bed. Here are 6 clever things to do with your dress once the big day is over.

1. Donate it. After you're done enjoying your gorgeous gown, why not let someone else experience that level of happiness? Organizations like Brides Across America and Brides Against Breast Cancer afford brides the opportunity to donate their dresses. Paying your perfect dress forward could turn someone else's dream wedding into reality.

2. Turn it into a work of art. If you're a visual person that likes physical reminders of big events that will bring back memories for years to come, frame a piece of your dress! Take some of the lace details or the elaborate bead work and feature it on a wall in your new home for a sweet reminder of your celebration.

3. Transform it into a cocktail dress nz. You worked with your seamstress to get the dress to fit perfectly, so why not reach out post-wedding to turn it into a custom cocktail dress? Every time you put that little white dress on, you'll get to relive your wedding in a fun (and comfortable!) way. It's the perfect first anniversary outfit!

4. Re-purpose it. Love bags? Use the satin, lace, or tulle from your dress to create a clutch. Obsessed with jewelry? Cut a piece of fabric from your gown, and weave it into an understated necklace. If staying in is more your speed, turn your dress into a few small pillows or a quilt.

5. Preserve it for posterity. Every bride loves her dress, and if the saying "like mother, like daughter" proves true in your family, your unique gown may be just what your future daughters want to wear when their day comes. Hey, you never know what the future holds!

6. Trash it! Send your dress off in style! Swim underwater, play in the mud, or hire an artist to throw paint at you. Want to document the fun you had saying goodbye to your dress? Hire a photographer.

25 Ways to Give Thanks at Your Wedding

I still follow the tradition of counting my blessings each year on Turkey Day (my Pre-K teacher would be proud). This Thanksgiving, I'm grateful to be marrying the love of my life in less than a year. I'm also thankful to have supportive family, friends, vendors, and guests—it takes an army to plan a wedding!

In the spirit of the season, we've gathered some fun ways to give thanks before, during, and after your big day.

Before the Wedding...

1. Keep a gratitude journal. Unlike a regular diary, which requires daily upkeep, jot down quick thoughts about your planning "highs" (e.g. what you felt like when you bought your dress) whenever you have the time. Also, use it to store fun mementos (like your gown consultant's business card).

2. Spend quality time with your maid of honor and best man. Before my friend's wedding (where I was a MOH), we had a beauty-prep day where we got massages and mani-pedis. We capped it off with lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. I loved getting quality time with her before wedding chaos took over.

On Your Wedding Day...

Thank your future spouse for marrying you and making you the luckiest woman alive.

3. Exchange letters on the morning of the wedding. Sure, "meet you down the aisle" texts are charming, but there's nothing quite like putting pen to paper. I know my fiancé Jason will smile when he reads my chicken scratch and "I love you to the moon and back" salutation. Capture each other's reaction on film by reading the letters out loud for your videographer.

4. Unveil a fun wedding surprise for your groom. Is ESPN the soundtrack of your home? Give a nod to his sports obsession by having guests sign a jersey as your "guest book." Did he spend his childhood (and beyond) secretly wishing he was Spiderman? We're smitten with this new take on the groom's cake!

5. Savor a quiet moment together. Soak in your surroundings—the stunning reception space that took months to plan, friends and family busting a move on the dance floor, that giddy look on your husband's face that says, "We finally did it."

On Your Wedding Day...

Thank Mom and Dad for being the best parents in the world.

6. Wipe away their tears of joy. Personalize vintage handkerchiefs with embroidered messages for Mom, Dad, your mother-in-law, father-in-law, or any other close family members.

7. Dedicate your wedding to them. At the ceremony, ask the officiant if you could read a poem in honor of your family. Here's one example of wording we love, via weddings.usabride.com: "We would like to dedicate this ceremony to our parents. They have taught us our values, and shown us how to laugh, love and appreciate all that life has to offer. Their generosity, support, and love is unending."

Or, you can surprise them at the reception, instead. Imagine the look on their faces when they flip over this drink coaster...

8. Honor their marriage by incorporating their wedding-day photos. Whether it's one small photo tucked into your armoire or a dedicated corner at the sign-in table, they'll appreciate the sentimental touch.

Photo Credits (from top to bottom): Ana Lui; Zenobia Studios and Ashfall Mixed Media.

Or, have your photographer help you re-create one of their favorite shots! (P.S. If anyone knows who originally took this amazing photo, which has gone viral, please leave a comment below and we will attribute credit).

9. Carry a piece of them down the aisle with you. I plan on using a sleeve from Mom's wedding dress as my bouquet holder (like the one pictured at right), but it would also be sweet to hang miniature childhood photos from your flowers. Instead of doing a bouquet toss, give a speech at the reception dedicating your bouquet to the most important woman in your life—Mom.

Bouquet at left photographed by Alisha + Brook Photographers.
Bouquet at right created by Edge Design Group; photographed by Nadia D. Photography. 

10. Give them one last hug before you're pronounced husband-and-wife. Take the time to stop for one final display of affection. Just remind them that the officiant is waiting if they refuse to let go.

On Your Wedding Day...

Thank your bridal party attendants for sharing in the joy of your wedding day.

11. Toast to all of the times that they supported you. Give out one glass of bubbly to each bridesmaid before you hit the road!

12. Give them a gift they'll actually use. Check out 40+ ideas for bridal party presents, here.

13. Spend one-on-one time with your flower girl and ring bearer. Give them a bucket filled with crayons and activities to keep them busy at the reception, let them play with your dress, and say "cheese" in the front of the camera for their very own portrait.

 14. Give your bridal party kudos in your wedding program. Explain what their relationship is to you (a sister, friend, coworker) and any fun facts, if you have room for them.

15. Dedicate a special song to your 'maids and groomsmen. Don't require them to practice a dance beforehand, unless you're Zumba buddies or were in a dance troupe back in high school! Just have your DJ or band play a song from your past and watch unscripted hilarity ensue.

On Your Wedding Day...

Thank your vendors for making your wedding vision come to life.

16. Tell them exactly what they did that you loved. After all of those emails, calls, brainstorming sessions, and, yes, the times that they saved your behind, express how much you appreciate them with a heartfelt card. Pay it forward by writing a positive review online, if you were happy with their service.

 17. Give vendors a shout-out in your toast. If you plan on saying a few words to welcome guests to the wedding reception, mention all of the vendors who helped make your night (or day) a success.

On Your Wedding Day...

Thank your wedding guests for celebrating with you.

18. Create a heartfelt guest book alternative. Your wedding day is the one time when you're surrounded by everyone who loves you, all in the same room. What better way to bottle up all of their well wishes than by preserving and displaying them in your home afterwards?

 19. Incorporate "thanks" as part of your wedding décor. Quick, simple, and wow-worthy.

 20. Give out thoughtful favors. Gift creature comforts like cozy slippers, a yummy scent or donuts for the ride home.

21. Have fun with your thank-you cards.

A custom illustration makes signing all of those notes that much more bearable (and, dare we say it, fun).

 22. Pay it forward and give back to your community with charitable favors. Give guests a choice and let them decide between a couple of different causes so they can pick the one that's closest to their hearts.

 23. Donate your dress. You'll never wear it again, right? After the big day, hand it—and other accessories—to Brides Against Breast Cancer, which will resell it and use the proceeds to help a woman with cancer.

Or, you can donate it to Brides for a Cause, which collects and resells gowns to support Wish Upon a Wedding, a non-profit organization that grants weddings to couples in need.

If your bridesmaids are interested, they can donate their dresses as well, to organizations that provide prom dresses uk to disadvantaged high school girls. If you live in Chicago, check out The Glass Slipper Project, and if you live in New York, try The Cinderella Project.

 24. Donate flowers. Organizations such as The FlowerPower Foundation (based in New York and L.A.), Blooms From the Heart (San Diego) and Floranthropy (Seattle) will re-assemble your donations into new floral arrangements for hospices and nursing homes that could use some cheer.

 25. Donate food. Arrange to have any extra food from your reception "rescued" to feed hungry people in your area. Find out more at Second Harvest.

 BONUS TIP: Keep the spirit of gratitude going in your marriage.

Leave secret messages for your spouse to find. At dinner, take a cue from The Queen of Giving, Oprah Winfrey, and tell them about three blessings that happened to you on that day. "When you focus on what you have, your abundance only increases," the talk show host has said.

10 Ways to Involve Dad in the Wedding-Planning Process

Every year, GigMasters takes a survey of engaged couples, and over the years, we’ve noticed a great trend — more grooms are saying they expect to be involved in wedding planning or even take the lead in the planning process. But the same can’t be said for other male members of the family. Many fathers of the bride or groom excuse themselves from wedding conversations and decisions; other dads might want to be involved but don’t know how to break into the wedding plans, especially when so many things still seem to be marked “women only.”

Weddings have a way of highlighting and exacerbating existing family dynamics. Dads who feel excluded from wedding plans may come to feel like they are only wanted for their checkbooks. This can be especially true if the father already feels left out because of divorce. Brides and grooms whose fathers don’t want to be involved, or who can’t figure out how to be involved, may be resentful if Dad isn’t paying attention to the wedding. Again, this can be made worse if there’s already family tension.

So, what’s the solution? How do you get dad involved? Every father is different, so the solution is going to be different for every dad, but we’ve got 10 ideas for you to try.

1. King of the Spreadsheet
Is your dad paying for the wedding (or paying for a big part of it)? Does he love numbers and spreadsheets? Ask him to manage the budget spreadsheet with you, and call him once a week with new numbers to input. Don’t forget that with those weekly numbers, you can also ask his advice and give him general updates.

2. Follow His Interests
Think about what your dad likes, and assign him a task based on that. Is he a gardener? Ask him for help with the flowers. Does he love music? Let him help choose the DJ, band, or playlist. When my cousin got married, he and his father poured over catalogs to pick the perfect china pattern for the registry. My cousin and his dad have always loved home decoration and details like china patterns — their wives, not so much.

3. The Overprotective Dad
Is your dad one of those guys who insisted on double-checking the safety features of your car before you bought it? Did he run background checks on your babysitters and boyfriends? Let him put his distrustful nature to work on your behalf; ask him to check out reviews and ratings of your top vendor choices. He can even run checks with the Better Business Bureau or the local chamber of commerce if it makes him feel better.

4. Captain of Contests
Does your dad have trouble passing up a lottery ticket? There are tons of wedding contests out there. You could win anything from a dress to an entire wedding. The catch is that it takes a lot of time to sign up, and once you do, you’ll start getting junk email. Let your dad set up a separate email account and enter wedding contests on your behalf.

5. The Webmaster
The stereotype is that the engaged couple will be more web- and social media-savvy, but if your dad is in marketing or a web-based career, why not take advantage of his expertise? Ask him to set up your wedding website. If he’s interested in social media, he could research and help choose the hashtag for your wedding (you don’t want something other people are using). He could even set up some Pinterest boards for you to share ideas.

6. The Ceremony
A lot of wedding planning focuses on the reception and party, but if your father has a religious or spiritual bent, he may find it more fun to help with the ceremony. He could help choose readings or prayers, or he can help interview officiates if you are hiring someone.

7. Father/Daughter Dance
Instead of trying to find a perfect song for the father/daughter dance, let your dad choose it; it’s his dance, too! And he likely already has a song in mind but may be too afraid to mention it without you asking — many dads spend years dreaming about this moment.

8. Errand Man
Growing up, did you spend Saturday mornings running to the hardware store with Dad? Put him to use by sending him on those hard-to-fit-in errands, like picking up materials for DIY projects. Better yet, recapture some of those childhood moments by inviting your dad to come along with you to run those errands and get in a little bonding time.

（Idress.co.nz can offer the wedding dresses from the picture）

9. Rehearsal Dinner
Traditionally, the wedding is paid for by the bride’s family, and the rehearsal dinner is paid for by the groom’s family. But today, couples are more likely to be paying for the wedding themselves with some help from either set of parents (or no help from parents or help from multiple sets of parents, in some cases). Whether he’s paying for it or not, you might consider putting the father of the groom in charge of the rehearsal dinner. You may have an easier time letting go of details for the rehearsal dinner than you do for part of the reception. If the dads get along, let them work on it as a joint project.

10. Let Dad Be Dad
A friend of mine moved from New York to San Francisco. He was super frustrated that every time he talked to his dad, he would ask about the weather. Finally, my friend realized that when his dad said, “Is it still raining there?” he wasn’t really asking about the rain; he was asking, “Are you okay?” Every family is different, and relationships can be complicated, but at the end of the day, if you’re reading this article, it’s because you want to be better connected with your dad during this special time. So, let your dad be himself. Don’t try and force him in to some typical “Father of the Bride” role. Instead, appreciate him for the person he is.