Written by Nancy
Modern day dress preservation
My mother’s gown was gorgeous – a classic princess silhouette in silk satin with lace ruffles and an illusion neckline. As a little girl I remember taking it out of the cedar chest and trying it on. Even though it became tattered over time, I was determined to wear it on my wedding day. There was one problem. My mom was a whopping 89 pounds when she married my dad back in 1948. I don’t remember ever weighing 89 pounds!
Fast forward to 2006. Even though I had my own dress, I was still able to carry a piece of my mom’s gown with me. I took her dress to a seamstress and had a drawstring bag made for my own walk down the aisle. It was large enough to carry the essentials – lipstick, powder and my Grandmother’s hankie.
The likelihood anyone will ever wear my wedding dress is slim to none. If you had your own gown preserved, considering having something special done with it for your own daughter’s (or daughter-in-law’s) big day. I have heard of capes, slips and even Christening gowns being made from wedding dresses.
Wedding day photographs
Whether you have recently said your “I dos” or have been married 50 years, wedding photographs make beautiful art and awesome gifts.
For my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary, I had a friend scan their favorite wedding photo and print it on archive quality watercolor paper. Now matted and framed, it is one of my mom’s most prized possessions. Everyone loved it so much at the time, I decided to have miniatures made for each of my siblings for Christmas. Years later, I did the same for my husband when we were dating. We now have our parents’ wedding portraits, along with ours, just outside our bedroom.
With stores like Marshall’s, TJ Max, Kohl’s, Michael’s and Home Goods (my favorite), quality picture frames can be purchased for next to nothing. I have several boxes full of frames to use for future gifts or projects at home. One of my favorites is a large wall frame matted for several pictures. I was lucky enough to find a gold one with several 4 x 6 openings for about $12. Even though I already had a wedding album, I used the new frame to display a collection of my wedding proofs that would otherwise be packed away in a box somewhere.
Shadow boxes and display cases
Consider purchasing shadow box display frames. I have found several good deals at the stores mentioned above for $10-$50 – depending on the size. I found a beautiful shadow box frame to display my wedding handbag and handkerchief in for only $10! It has a hinged door, so I can easily remove the item if needed. A stem from your bouquet, satin ribbon, tiara, cake topper, invitation and a few photographs are perfect items for a wedding-themed shadow box display. Pearl push pins can be purchased at most hobby stores and add a classy touch to securing your items into place. Display cases make for great wedding anniversary gifts, too.
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Comments
11 Responses to Something Old, Something New – Preserving wedding memories
Your mom was a beautiful bride, Nancy. The gown is lovely.
I could have fit into my mother’s gown on my wedding day if I had been married in seventh grade! Instead, I had the pleasure of borrowing my younger sister’s dress because I helped her pick it out, it was beautiful, and I hate shopping! I have a veil hanging in the closet and I never know what to do with it. I shouild have used it for my girls’ First Communion veils. Maybe a graddaughter’s?
My girls did wear my Baptismal dress. It was very touching to dress them in it.
Nancy, I love your ideas for decorating. Old photos are so interesting.
Mostly, I love reusing a piece of a gown for another special occasion. I have never heard of that and it makes it a doubly special sentimental treasure (I am all mush over those things)
Your mother’s gown was beautiful.
Ann, will your Baptismal dress be reused? Again, I’m just mush about stuff like that. My son wore my gold baby ring that my mother kept.
I’m writing this from the shores of Michigan right now. Interesting discussion about baptismal gowns. My H and I just inherited the family heirloom gown that has been in my H’s family for at least 4 generations. It is handmade – both my H and his father wore it. They gave us a large shadow box frame that I will take to my frame shot to have an archive backing placed on the backside of the frame.
It was an awesome surprise as my H’s aunt and uncle had it hanging in their home for years. They had a discussion among their own family and decided to pass it on to us. We were so surprised and honored.
I’ll definitely do a follow up piece to this article.
Hey Nancy. Hope you are enjoying your well-deserved vacay!
I loved all the creative ideas in this piece. In particular, I want to get in the car right now and go buy a bunch of frames and shadow boxes!
Just on the topic of photographs, Nancy you have inspired me to do something with the pile of family photographs I am storing.
Lily, I love the idea of your son wearing his grandma’s gold ring.
Nancy, congrats on inheriting this wonderful heirloom.
Nancy
You are very creative. You should teach a class! Love these ideas.
When my sister and I were young, my mother let us play in her wedding dress. We had a wonderful time doing so but I think I regret that now. I would much rather have had at least portions of the dress to do some of the things you mentioned.
I too am inspired to do a few things with the photographs I have laying around.
Nancy
The bottom half of my mom’s wedding gown was used for my gown. The hardest part was trying to find satin to match the bottom 39 years later. My miracle-worker seamstress managed to do it though.
RE: Christening gown…Perhaps you could try to get pictures of all those who were baptized in that gown and make a collage to hang next to the gown.
Nancy,
There goes my favorite colleague, sharing her beautiful words and creative ideas. You are always full of information and inspiration to others. The photo of your mother’s wedding day is just gorgeous and what a way to keep the memories alive and well.
Although I’ve never married, you are the person I would turn to for all my details and ideas. You are a wonderful person and an excellent writer. Keep up the great, great work.
Now I’m trying to remember when I weighed 89lbs. I think I was in the fourth grade. How scary because I was only 9 or 10 and your mother was probably 19 when she married. One little lady back then!!!.
Keep the ideas flowing…for others to benefit. Stay in touch, Nancy.
Great idea Marae! I’ll look into that!
Hi Steph – great to see you here!
Wonderful ideas, Nancy – as usual. It’s really neat to think of “repurposing” a gown that’s not appropriate to wear again for another meaningful ceremony. I really like the shadowbox idea too.
I know it isn’t the point but I’m still hung up on the whole 89 pounds thing.
My wedding dress is hanging in a garment bag in the closet. I haven’t tried it on since that day but it certainly wouldn’t zip anymore and my shoes are still in the box.
Thanks for the tips Nancy
I love the shadow box idea.
Sam -
My wedding dress is hanging in the closet, too. LOL. I haven’t figured out what I’m going to do with it yet! I had a gold lace wrap so that would be a nice item to pass on to someone down the line. I have worn my wedding shoes many times (gold strappy heels), so they were worth every penny.
Speaking of shadow boxes – I just saw some nice ones at Tuesday Morning for $10 and $15 each. Larger than usual for the price.