How to Recycle Your Wedding Dress: 10 Ideas

Raise your hand if you haven't thought at least once about how to recycle the wedding dress you wore on your wedding day. Beyond an expensive piece of clothing, it's also the symbol of one of the most important days in your life, yet after the big event, it sits unused in your closet. What a shame.

HOW TO RECYCLE A WEDDING DRESS

Recycling a wedding dress not only allows us to give a new life to such a special dress, but also to transform it into something useful and, perhaps, meaningful. It could become a new, perhaps less demanding, dress, a flowing skirt, toned down with the right top. Or even...

READ ALSO: Who to donate wedding dresses to

EVENING DRESS

What to do with an old wedding dress? One way to repurpose it is to transform it, with a few modifications, into an evening or cocktail dress. Typically, this simply involves reducing the volume of the bottom half and, if necessary, removing some of the appliques.

BAPTISMO

Another idea for reusing a wedding dress involves another important occasion: you can use the fabric to make a christening gown for your children. It will be even more special.

SKIRT

If the dress is simple, with a lower part that falls more or less linearly along the hips, you can eliminate the upper part and, with a few small changes, transform it into a maxi skirt . You can tone down the look by pairing it with a crop top or a faux leather jacket.

Photo Credit | Facebook Teresa Pontecorvo Fashion Designer

POCHETTE

You can also use tulle or lace from the dress to embellish a variety of accessories. Starting with a simple clutch bag , even one made of raffia. Covering it with a sheer layer will certainly make it more sophisticated.

Photo Credit | Facebook Maria

SCARF

The same goes for scarves and foulards you want to make a little more elegant. Simply sew some lace between each piece of fabric. Success is guaranteed.

PETTICOAT

Using the innermost part of the dress , or the fabric itself, whether silk or satin, you can create a slip . Practical, comfortable, and useful for wearing under many outfits.

Photo Credit | Facebook Ma Che Prezzi Donna

PILLOW

Another idea for recycling a wedding dress is to use pieces of it to make pillowcases . You can create both the base, inside which the padding will be inserted, and any lace and/or beading you want.

TRAY

If you have a mirror whose frame you no longer like, how about replacing it with fabric from your dress? Lace, for example, is more durable. Besides looking at yourself in the mirror, you can also use it as a tray.

Photo Credit | Facebook Metamorphosis – custom clothing

CANDLES

Another idea for reusing a wedding dress is this one: cut it into strips and use them to cover and decorate beautiful candles . They'll be perfect for decorating various rooms in your home with style.

DONATION

Also remember that, if necessary, you can dye, cut, or restyle your wedding dress. Finally, if you don't want to transform it, consider donating it to organizations that help less fortunate brides, or selling it to a secondhand bridal shop.

TIPS FOR A SUSTAINABLE WEDDING:

• Recycled Paper Wedding Dresses: The Most Original
• Sustainable Weddings: 10 Green Choices to Make
• Eco-friendly weddings: what they are and how much they cost