Acting as a bridesmaid at a wedding for someone you’re close with is one of the most exciting and eventful things to do. However, bridesmaid dresses can be expensive, and the challenge of finding a use for your bridesmaid dress after the wedding is over might be overwhelming for some.
Our article tells you what to do with an old bridesmaid dress and gives you an overview of the best ideas to re-use or upcycle your gown.
Can I Re-Use a Bridesmaid Dress?
Oftentimes, you will attend more than one wedding over the course of your life, and you may be asked to be a bridesmaid multiple times. Individuals often wonder if they are able to re-use their bridesmaid’s dress for a different wedding – this is possible in some situations, but it is important to keep your style and color of dress in mind, in addition to the bride’s wishes.
Some trendy bridesmaid dresses, may easily fit with the style of different weddings, while some may need to be tailored before they fit, and some may simply not match the theme.
It can be disheartening to spend lots of money on a bridesmaid dress that you only wear once, which is why you can review our ideas for what to do with your old bridesmaid dress if re-using it for a different wedding at some point isn’t possible.
Ideas for What to Do With an Old Bridesmaid Dress
The following ideas can help you figure out what to do with your old bridesmaid dress. You can choose from any of these to make the most out of your purchase or to try and make some money back on your dress. You may also want to gift or donate your dress to make someone else’s day who may be searching for a bridesmaid dress on a budget.
Donate Your Dress
Donating your dress is one of the easiest things to do with your old bridesmaid’s dress, and this action can benefit someone else in need. To donate your bridesmaid dress, you can drop it off at a local donation spot or a charity, or you can give it away to a friend or family member. Many neighborhoods also have groups online where you can offer items for free to those in need.
Sell Your Dress
Selling your dress is another good option if you want to try and get some money back or if your bridesmaid dress was particularly expensive. There are all manner of online websites where you can list your bridesmaid dress for sale, or you can try neighborhood groups and places like Facebook Marketplace.
Keep in mind that if you have made numerous alterations to your dress or if the dress is a very specific style or color, it may be more challenging to sell your old bridesmaid dress. A great way to sell your bridesmaid dress is to get together with the other bridesmaid dresses and consider selling your dresses as a bundle so that they may be more likely to be purchased as a collection.
Tailor or Alter Your Dress
Tailoring or altering your old bridesmaid dress is a great way to upcycle the dress and add a fresh new item to your wardrobe. You may be able to invest some money into adding or taking away sleeves, adjusting the size of the dress, making the dress longer or shorter, or adding different fabrics or embellishments to produce a totally new outfit from your old bridesmaid dress.
If you are feeling particularly crafty, you can do this at home by yourself instead of taking your old bridesmaid dress to a tailor to be professionally altered.
Dye Your Dress
In the case that you want to keep your dress the same but change its color, either for a new wedding or to create a new addition to your wardrobe, dyeing your dress may be an easy option to do. Visit your local fabric or craft store to find the type of dye you need, and make sure that you take into account the type of fabric you are dyeing.
You may want to research the fabric of your dress online and the dye you wish to use to ensure that your dress comes out the right color and that the fabric of the dress isn’t damaged during the dyeing process.
Save for a Formal Event
Saving your dress for a formal event is perfectly acceptable, and many bridesmaid dresses can easily be worn at a semi-formal or formal event. Bridesmaid dresses tend to be long and elegant, and they may be perfectly tailored to your figure already, which makes having this dress left over for a wedding convenient the next time you are invited somewhere with an upscale dress code.
Should I Rent My Bridesmaid Dress Instead of Buying?
Bridesmaid dresses can be expensive, and if you don’t see yourself feasible reusing your dress or upcycling it after the wedding you are in has passed, then you may want to consider renting a bridesmaid dress instead.
There are plenty of companies online or boutique stores in your area that may rent you a bridesmaid dress in the size, color, and style you need; simply return the dress after the wedding and you won’t need to worry about what to do with your old bridesmaid dress.
However, keep in mind that you likely can’t tailor your bridesmaid dress if you rent it and that you may have trouble finding the exact color and style you need depending on what the bride wishes for her bridesmaids to wear.
Being Savvy With Your Bridesmaid Style
Figuring out what to do with your old bridesmaid dress can be difficult, though there are many different options out there based on your preferences and how much effort you wish to put in.
Whether you choose to donate or sell your dress, upcycle your dress, or simply save it for your next wedding or formal event, being savvy with your old bridesmaid dress will help you make the most out of your purchase.
