Taking a break from cleaning the house. here are a few pictures of the dress...very wrinkled, ivory and the veil fell apart when lifted out of the box. I will save the lace off the bottom and the crown, I think the rest is trash.

Hi.
Sorry I am late on this thread. Been a little busy lately. Scanned the responses and I would agree with the museum vote. The gown is stunning, just looking at the pictures I would have dated it pre 1949. It would be a shame to cut it or lose it.

Hugs
Doreen

Have you thought about donating the gown to a museum or the like the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC that specializes in displaying and caring for such things. There is probably a place near you that would love to show off that beautiful gown. If you don't want to donate it a local museum can give you advice on how to preserve it. Good luck and let us know what you are doing.

I read through all the replies you received and they are so good. Still I feel sad, looking at this dress to think it will be cut up.Of course that is only a emotional response and not a practical one. I am sure you will find the right way to preserve the memory.

How very beautiful your mom would have been is this gorgeous dress. You have been given so many ideas. Let us know what you decide. I will be very interested to know/Lillian

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by Leaha 02 Dec 2015

Thank you, Miss Lillian. She was a beautiful lady. I'm putting it on the back burner until after the first of the year. :)

Using a shadow box frame, place part of the dress (If you are cutting it up) as the background, add a wedding picture. perhaps the veil or other mementos from the wedding. Using the buttons, spell out the name on the background and the date. Christmas tree ornaments for the (extended) family. Dates and names could be embroidered onto the ornament. What a keepsake to be passed down to future generations.
You could use some of the material for a mat in the frame of a wedding picture.
If it will fit you, restyle the dress for a special occasion.

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by haleymax 02 Dec 2015

Would be good for a picture (mat) for each of the siblings as babies with the wedding info on the top and babies info on the bottom of the mat.

by Leaha 02 Dec 2015

Thank you for the ideas. :) Unfortunately Mom was one of these model stick figures...me not so much. I'd rip it to pieces if I even tried to get in it. :(

Afew years ago I managed a dry cleaning department . We would take in wedding dresses and yes we would wash them . It was a dunky dunk sort of wash . you know just swirl around and up and down no wringing and hung to dry usually up high with a baby's bath underneath to catch water ,as it dries lift it up higher so water drains . we used to soak them in a mild detergent i e napisan or similar . this was quite successful . You could try soaking in the bath for a while ,careful to just massage the stains no hard rubbing ,leave for a while and go back and try again .

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by Leaha 02 Dec 2015

Thank you for you information. :)

Wow! I is stunning! What do you want to do with it? store it, recondition it? restyle it? The fabric is sensational. Is it silk or satin? After reading the entire post. I think that i would re-style the dress and make other things with the scrap. To restyle the dress, I would cut off the lace at top and rework the sleeves. remove the train and possible up the hemline. Modern girls have to be able to dance!

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by Leaha 02 Dec 2015

Thanks, it looks so much different than I remember from the one time she tried it on. I'm still making up my mind. Thanks for stopping by.

It looks amazing, especially for it's age, have a photograph of mum on her day showing off her beautiful dress.

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by Leaha 02 Dec 2015

Thank you, yes I do have a photo, just don't know where it is at the moment.

This a beautiful gown, must have been stunning in it's day Some wonderful ideas below, i don't have anything further to add, but am interested to know what you shall do. Please lets us know what you decide to do. Thanks for the photographs. Sandra.

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by Leaha 02 Dec 2015

The ideas are all fantastic. I'm going to think about until later. Thanks, not the right time of year to decide.

Simply beautiful!! My wedding dress yellowed so badly my daughter couldn't wear it (plus she couldn't get it zipped anyway & said it MUST have drawn up! LOL) My mom picked all the lace off of it, we had her dress made & my mom resewed my lace onto my daughter's dress. Turned out lovely & a part of history passed on. the rest I made each child a Christmas orn. angel out of it, made the ring pillow for daughter's wedding, then a lady was making these beautiful brides (small under glass dome) out of old dresses. Gave her the rest, her husband was transferred, my dress scraps went with her. :-( Never heard from her again! So don't let anyone take it to make something for you unless they are good friends!

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by Leaha 02 Dec 2015

Thank you, Gerry. Sorry about your wedding dress. That's too bad she didn't finish the project for you.

This is a treasure!

I would hang it and love looking at it and THINKING****

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by Leaha 01 Dec 2015

Right now that is what I have done. Thanks and hugs.

I think I'd hand wash it is Napisan Leah to see if the colour will come back. I'd be making Baptism dresses, baby suits, pillowcases, keepsakes, doilies with attached lace etc. Some great ideas below. Love Chris

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by Leaha 01 Dec 2015

Thanks Miss Chris. The ideas are worth thinking about. :)

Thanks for the pictures which I have found interesting. What a beautiful dress it ha been. Very sorry but at the moment I have not idea for you but I look forwards to hearing what you decide

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by Leaha 01 Dec 2015

Thanks, I was and still is a very pretty dress. I may have to take it to someone and see if it can be cleaned or is even worth it. I wonder if a bridal store would be helpful. It's all on the back burner, in the think tank. Thanks for stopping by. :)

Seeing as you are going to cut it up I would rinse it is a soft washing detergent by hand very gently. That way you will know if it will hold together to make something out of it. It would have to be clean to put on a baby anyway. If it is cream (which it may have been right from the start) maybe some little pink embroidered roses and ribbon for a girl and blue for a boy. The suggestion for gowns for babies that didn't make it would be a wonderful idea.

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by Leaha 01 Dec 2015

I'm not sure I should wash, it appears to be a very heavy satin or a taffeta? it still appears very sturdy, no rips etc. It was white back in the day. Yes the ideas are very good. Thanks for stopping by. :)

I don't have any specific suggestions for you, but I'd love to see a photograph of the dress. The type of fabric will influence your plan. Also who you have in your family who might like a keepsake.
Please jeep us informed of what you decide to do.

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by Leaha 01 Dec 2015

Thank you, spendlove. The pictures are up and I will keep everyone apprised.

In my area, a woman takes donated wedding dresses and makes (and donates) tiny dresses or suits for the Preemies at local hospitals that do not make it. We have a couple of hospitals that care for the very tiny...some make it (like mine did -- thankfully) and sadly -- some do not.

If you want to keep it and you are the only child that wants it -- make a single quilt. Otherwise, you will need to make many quilts.

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by Leaha 30 Nov 2015

Oh this is a lovely idea! As I've said below the dress is yellowing or is it cream coloring now? Could you at least find out for me if that mattered? At least if I decide to go this route I'll know weather to keep or discard the idea. Thank you for your input, it's greatly appreciated. :)

by rescuer 30 Nov 2015

I sent a PM

If you have any other family that wants a keepsake from the dress and veil, I would make embroidered wall hangings (mini quilts) with wedding info embroidered on them.

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by Leaha 30 Nov 2015

Thank you for the ideas. :)

Me again. Cover family photo album. Basically if you're going to cut into it, the projects need to be worthy of long use and remembrance. Have fun.

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by Leaha 30 Nov 2015

This is another great idea! Thanks again.

If you can't bring yourself to cut it up to use maybe then you could contact a museum that has a fashion history dept if you can't find one check with local High School Textiles Dept they may know of one and it would be preserved for ever..

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by Leaha 30 Nov 2015

Thank you for these ideas. :)

Do you want to preserve it or re-use it? I'm thinking christening dresses, fancy white pillow(s) with your parents names and date embroidered on it (Do you have siblings who would want one?). Fancy squares in a quilt, maybe alternating with bone or ecru plainer squares. If Catholics in family, first communion dresses. Family tree stitchout on it - for a great one, search Anita Goodesign - it's a Mix and Match quilt. Really special evening shawl... still thinking. Christmas tree skirt - wow!

3 comments

by graceandham 30 Nov 2015

Forgot the veil - organza Christmas ornament designs might hold together on net.

by jrob 30 Nov 2015

Great ideas!

by Leaha 30 Nov 2015

Yes these are lovely ideas. I'm just collection my thoughts and options. I'm the only one interested and I don't know if I can bring my self to do any of this right at the moment. I haven't opened the box yet but I know the dress has yellowed, not sure anyone would want a Christening gown out of it. I know the veil is torn so those ideas I can deal with. Thank you for responding. :)

oh! make a photo and post. We would love to see it! Kay

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by lilylady 30 Nov 2015

es, would love to see it.

by Leaha 30 Nov 2015

Will attempt to do this. Thank you for asking to see it. :)