<p>I was married in the early 80’s and rebelled against the poufy, bedazzled style, So my dress has no pouf and no bling. But it does have long sleeves (taffeta) so would probably not appeal to modern brides.</p>
<p>I stop for coffee each morning on my way to work. I usually park in front of a bridal shop that has 2 display windows. This summer, one of those windows has had the caption “vintage dresses refreshed and restyled,” Somt of the results are VERY nice. (Before and after images are not displayed in the window.)</p>
<p>Mine is in a garment bag in a closet in my parent’s basement. I never had it cleaned but it’s not in bed shape. My daughters and niece paraded around in it several times over the years but if and when they ever marry its very unlikely they would want to wear it. Very Victorian, high neck, long sleeves, simple. Not sure it would be worth re-making it.
And it still fits if you aren’t going to be picky about actually zipping it up!</p>
<p>Mine is hanging in my closet, not preserved or anything. But as it is washable fabric it has been washed a few times. A SIL had a business sewing wedding dresses so I paid her to make it- and it never quite fit right so I was not too emotionally attached to it. Once or twice when D was pretty little and she was very sad about something, I hauled it out and she put it on and “wore it like a princess” (in her words). It comforted her at the time. We have some leftover fabric that was incorporated into a small patchwork throw when she was in grade school. I figure some day the dress can be taken apart and the material reused for something- if D wants. She will never, ever wear it as our body types are too different.</p>
<p>I cannot imagine spending $5000 on a dress. I have my mom’s dress; long sleeves, no embellishments. She was a war bride. My dad got unexpected leave, and they got married in 3 days. I have nightgowns that are prettier. Perhaps I’ll offer to a future DIL to use for an accessory. i never got a dress, just a white lacey blouse.</p>
<p>I admired one of my son’s teachers, who wore her dress for costume parties and at Purim, dressed as Queen Esther. She got more use from her dress than ayone I know.</p>
<p>Still in the closet. I paid for my wedding and hated the idea of an expensive dress I could only wear once. Its a long floor length skirt and an off the shoulder jacket. I was breastfeeding my D at the time.</p>
<p>No secrets! My D was in my wedding picture! I was pretty proud of my “rebellion”, getting “knocked up” and all, but since I was 30 and a doctor, I didn’t get much of a rise out of anyone.</p>
<p>Until I had to explain the wedding picture to my kids…</p>
<p>I’m hoping the long sleeve and lace come back into style. I thought they were pretty and certainly more appropriate to the occasion that what most brides are wearing today. The strapless dress is not nearly as appealing as many of them must think–especially unattractive when they are either spilling out or spend the entire evening tugging it up.</p>
<p>Dress #1 was cleaned and sealed. Not sure what shape it’s in now. I still like the design. It was a previous year model, etc. and was $125 in 1984. Dress #2 was cleaned and is still hanging in the closet, covered, 17 years later.</p>
<p>I’m in the camp of buying something one likes and having it well altered (mine weren’t and should have been), but I don’t believe in spending a small fortune for a one-time dress.</p>
<p>For those of you who are Jewish, a beautiful idea: two friends whose children each got married this summer took their (the moms) wedding dresses to a seamstress who made a beautiful chuppah (wedding canopy) for each of the children. This could, of course, be done for a son as well as a daughter, and you create a new family heirloom and tradition in the process.</p>
<p>I had my dress drycleaned and it is boxed in one of our cedar closets and I have not looked at it in years. Although the dress is very simple, and at the time I thought quite elegant, I cannot imagine either of my d’s wanting to wear it. The drycleaning cost was one of the first arguments that my husband and I had right after our honeymoon. Since we are about to celebrate our 35th anniversary, I guess it wasn’t a dealbreaker. I did have my cousin’ s dress in my basement boxed that I was keeping for her when she moved out of state but since it was from her first marriage and she had sons… she did not really care when I ultimately passed it along to thrift shop.</p>
<p>I wore my Mom’s wedding dress and was the fifth person to wear it. I really didn’t have a choice because it had become a family tradition and I resented not being able to go dress shopping and pick out something special. It was a beautiful dress, but not the style I would have picked out. But it does have a history since my mom wore it, then my aunt (her sister-in-law), then her cousin. When my brother got married, they were tight on funds and so my now sister-in-law wore it. When I got engaged there was no discussion, just an expectation that I wear it. In fairness, the dress does have a good history in that all five of the weddings lasted - no divorces from that dress! I know that my mom fully expected my daughter to wear it, probably as well as my niece. Mom died a few years ago so there is no pressure on my daughter. I have made it very clear to my daughter that she can pick out anything she wants and I’ll buy her whatever wedding dress she wants. I also told my son that I’d be happy to pay for a dress for his future wife if he ever gets married. I’ve also made it clear that I’ll be buying wedding dresses for any granddaughters that may show up. I want everybody to be able to wear what they want!</p>
<p>I do like the idea of using part of the fabric for something for my daughter’s wedding, although my mom would probably be horrified at the idea. And I completely agree that the current strapless styles do not flatter most girls.</p>
<p>I never thought about using the dress in the making of the chuppah, what a beautiful idea. Now all I have to do is remember that when it is time for my children to marry! Neither are dating at the moment, and I am only getting older and more forgetful ;)</p>
<p>I make wedding chuppot (canopies) – have used heirloom/vintage fabrics before. Feel free to PM me… </p>
<p>I made my gown (and gowns for one of my sisters and my SIL). I still have mine; not sure about the others, though I suspect my sister still has hers. My mom saved her gown hoping one of us would be able to wear it, but the cut was unreal. My size 0, 95 lb. SIL couldn’t even fit into it (the waist was way too small), and my mom was 5’8" and a size 10 when she married.</p>
<p>So I guess I’m the only one: I dropped mine off at a Goodwill as I was moving into my new home after leaving my husband, 13 years ago. No regrets. :)</p>