Caroline Arthur podcast guest on Wedding Mayhem
Caroline Arthur LIVE on Wedding Mayhem
Last week, I joined wedding hit show host Sharon Underwood on the Wedding Mayhem podcast - and we did something I've never done before: we painted a wedding dress bodice pink, live on the show.
Full Circle Moments
Sharon and I go way back - about 25 years. She was one of the first people I met when I started in the bridal industry, and her friendliness made all the difference. The bridal world can feel quite exclusive when you're new, so finding someone genuinely friendly meant everything.
We've both been through the trenches of bridal chaos (the clue's in the podcast name). Twenty-five years later, sitting on her sofa painting a dress pink, absolutely nothing has changed - except we're more experienced, and still love what we do.
Why I Was There
Sharon found me through ChatGPT. She asked for wedding industry guests who do something "unusual," and apparently, I came top of the list.
Here's what's unusual about what I do: I don't just make wedding dresses. I champion what happens to them afterward.
For over 20 years, brides have asked me the same question during fittings: "What am I going to do with it afterwards?"
I started experimenting to get an answer to this and the result was RELOVABLE - my book about wedding dress transformation - which was published last year. This saw a complete shift in how I see my work.
I'm not just a designer anymore. I'm a wedding dress lifecycle expert. I understand these garments from creation through to transformation decades later. And I'm on a mission to show brides that their dress story doesn't end when they step out of it.
Watch the full Wedding Mayhem episode below and see the transformation happen live.
The Painting Moment
I brought along a bodice I'd made specifically for the demonstration - multiple fiber types that would be a nightmare to dye but perfect for painting.
Sharon chose raspberry pink. We put on marigolds. And we just went for it.
Big, generous brushstrokes. Messy, fun, surprisingly therapeutic. Sharon called it "rebellious" - spending thousands on a dress and then just painting it. I called it possibility.
The transformation took about ten minutes. The result was instant, dramatic, and completely wearable.
What I Really Want You to Know
Throughout the conversation, I kept coming back to one message: there's no right way to handle your wedding dress.
Keep it intact and treasure it? Perfect.
Sell it to another bride? Great.
Transform it through painting, dyeing, or creative repurposing? Wonderful.
Commission someone to turn it into keepsakes? Brilliant.
All of these choices are valid. No guilt. No judgment. Just possibilities.
Wedding dresses don't have to be worn once. They just need someone brave enough to imagine what comes next.
Why This Matters
We live in a consumer culture, but we have the power to extend the life of what we consume. Wedding dresses are just the worst culprits because they're designed for one day.
But here's what I've learned from 25 years of working with brides and transforming dresses:
Creativity is the antidote to stress.
When you're standing in your dress during a fitting, examining every inch of your body, feeling anxious about whether it's right - that's stress.
When you're years later, holding that same dress and wondering what to do with the guilt you feel about it sitting in the loft - that's stress too.
But when you pick up a paintbrush, or learn to make a Christmas bauble from your dress lace, or commission a handbag from your dress fabric - that's creativity. That's taking control. That's transforming anxiety into something beautiful.
The Response
People are asking questions. Can we paint shoes? (Yes.) Can we paint bridesmaids' dresses? (Absolutely.) Where do we learn more?
Sharon mentioned she had a bride that very week asking about dress transformation. It's clearly something brides are hungry for - they just don't know it's possible.
That's why I wrote RELOVABLE. That's why I teach workshops. That's why I went on Wedding Mayhem and painted a dress live.
Because somebody needs to show brides that "what comes next" doesn't have to be guilt and a dusty loft box.
What Comes Next
If you have an old wedding dress gathering dust, maybe consider giving it a second life.
Not because you should. Not because it's the "sustainable" thing to do. But because it might bring you joy. Because creativity is therapeutic. Because your dress has more chapters left in it.
And if you're not ready yet? That's fine too. Your dress will wait. And when you're ready to explore the possibilities, I'll be here.
Because wedding dresses deserve more than one beautiful moment. And so do you.
Watch my follow-up video showing WHAT HAPPENED NEXT below and learn how to paint YOUR own wedding dress if you fancy having a go!
Want to explore what's possible with your wedding dress?
Discover RELOVABLE | Join a Workshop | Watch YouTube Tutorials
Caroline Arthur is a wedding dress lifecycle expert, author of RELOVABLE, and bespoke bridal designer. She judged the sustainability category for the British Bridal Awards 2024.
If you're ready to explore creative ways to keep enjoying your dress while building community connections, join my "Beyond the Big Day" newsletter for monthly inspiration and practical ideas.
If you’re a bride-to-be, then download my FREE "Peaceful Dress Journey" guide HERE to discover answers to the most commonly asked questions from all my brides. After your wedding, I’ll then send you some ideas for what to do with your old dress.
You’ll find more about wedding dress repurposing and the bridal world in my book, Relovable which you can buy HERE. It was sustainably produced in a small print run and there aren’t many copies left, but makes a perfect gift for a bride-to-be, or for anyone who loves sewing, upcycling and wedding dresses.
