Go Green...With your Wedding Dress

Go green with your wedding dress? Why not? Your mother looked beautiful on her wedding day, so did your grandmother. So why not recycle a vintage family wedding dress on your big day?
 

IT DOESN'T FIT

No problem! Step 1, find a good seamstress. You can take pieces of the family wedding gown, and fashion it into a new beautiful garment. If the old gown has an overlay (in other words, has a satin under piece, with lace over the top)-find a plain satin sheath, and have the old lace seamed over the top. Not only would you be wearing a family heirloom, but that covers your "something old" and "something new!"
 

IT'S OLD

Regardless of the age of the dress, it will need to be professionally cleaned. Be sure who you choose to clean your dress has experience with delicate, antique fabrics. You may need to do some internet research for a wedding dress preservation company. They can be an invaluable resource to you.
 

IT'S NOT MY STYLE

If you want to bring in the mystique of wearing a family gown for your wedding, but your style is in stark contrast to that of your grandmother-there is a solution! Find a pattern of a dress that you like, and use the fabric from your vintage piece.
 

IT'S DAMAGED

Discoloring is a common problem with vintage clothing. If your dress is made of acetate, the yellowing can be removed, and the dress can be brought back to a bright white. If there are other stains on the fabric that can't be removed, reverse the fabric.

Lace designs can be replicated to restore damaged lace. You can also mix lace styles with patterns that are similar. Do some research online for a vintage textile company.

If there isn't enough to salvage from your family gown to wear the gown itself, consider using parts of the fabric in your flowers, in your hair, or at the very least, use a small piece of the fabric, tied in a bow-and wear it pinned to your dress. Or, have it dyed blue, made into a garter, and check off "something blue."

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deborahking

July 29, 2015

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Loved reading your article. Will surely keep in mind these points. I'm also getting married in december and I have ordered my dress from http://casual-plus.com.

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