What to do with your old wedding dress when it no longer fits
Rediscovering your old wedding dress
When you get your old wedding dress out of the loft and hold it up in front of the mirror, how do you feel?
Astonished that you ever got into it?! That was my first impression. That along with a jolt of surprise at the face and body looking back at me. You may feel better than every before about how you look, but it's impossible not to compare the reflection in the mirror to the woman who wore the dress before. Here's what I want you to remember: your body has been hard-won. There is no “Better or worse”,
After twenty years of bridal fittings, I've witnessed countless women grapple with this moment, usually with a bit of eye-rolling and maybe some laughter. But underneath, we don’t always give ourselves credit for what’s gone on during the intervening years. You'll have navigated relationships, dependents, house moves, career changes, and maybe health challenges. Your physical state tells the story of a life fully lived and thank goodness the self-imposed pressure of being "the most perfect one in the room" is no longer upon you. So embrace it.
On your wedding day, you were dressed to perfection - representing the ideal woman, your vision for the future. You were the center of attention, probably the last time you played make-believe and dress-up. Just remember, You're still the leading lady in your own life, but hopefully a bit less concerned about being the center of attention. This distance allows you to view your dress with fresh eyes, opening possibilities beyond perfection.
Beauty and Self-Worth
In my experience, beauty ranks highest on every bride's list during dress fittings. Comfort occasionally factors in, but given the choice between comfort and beauty, brides almost always choose beauty. But now it's time to reframe beauty entirely. Sometimes it's our attitude, not ourselves, that needs the makeover.Your quest for perfection served its purpose on your wedding day. Now you can hold your dress lightly and wallow in it with pleasure. It doesn't have to remain perfect, and neither do you.
What Your Body Knows
Your body holds wisdom your wedding dress doesn't. It knows about midnight feedings, stressful deadlines, caring for parents, celebrating milestones, weathering storms. Every change tells a story of resilience. Your dress was designed for one perfect day. Your body has lived through countless imperfect, beautiful, messy, wonderful days since then. Getting your old wedding dress out of the loft is an opportunity to observe both your evolution and your dress's potential for transformation.
Maybe that means dyeing it, turning the skirt into a wearable new garment or creating keepsakes for your home. The beauty lies in creating something new that celebrates your journey. Start with acceptance of your glorious age and body as it is now. You've earned every year, every experience, every change. Your dress gets to be part of your ongoing story, not a monument to who you used to be.
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.
