Yesterday afternoon, while daydreaming at work, I received an e-mail. The instant I saw the subject line, my heart sank. The e-mail informed me that the sweet girl in South Africa that so badly wanted my wedding dress had finally made a deposit and it was now time to ship the gown off. To be honest, I felt sickly. Growing up, I saw pictures of my mother in her wedding gown and I couldn't wait to wear it at my own wedding. I was sorely disappointed at age five, to find that my mom had given the dress away when she moved to Austria a few months before I was even born. Now here I am, selling away my own wedding gown. I thought about what my future nonexistent daughter might say. Certainly she'll wonder what I did with it, probably hoping I stored it somewhere deep in the attic for her or maybe she'll turn out completely unsentimental, wanting nothing "old" at her wedding. Either way, I think I have enough photos of my gown to satisfy her curiosity.
Did any of you ladies sell your wedding gown? Did you find it as difficult to let go as I'm finding now?
i, too, am attached to my wedding gown! originally, i thought i would use it for something like a christening gown -- but since our children will be raised jewish, that is out of the cards now. i'm afraid to get rid of it because it is sentimental. yet it's just sitting in my closet and will probably stay there for quite some time. it's a tough decision!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a dilemma! My mom made my dress and I am so in love with it. I try to convince myself I'll wear it again... Or do SOMETHING with it other than let it sit in a closet... But I'm not sure. For now, I'm not ready to part with it, not sure if I ever will be...
ReplyDeleteI don't care too much about my dress. It was altered to fit my petite frame, and I don't know anyone who can fit into it right now (including me!) So the chances of my daughter fitting into it are pretty slim...
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am very, very fond of my cathedral length veil. Single tier, with alencon lace as a border. I'm sentimental about it because my mother made it for me. So I'm holding on to it-- just in case!
-T.
I have my dress safely hiding at my mom's house. i can garauntee my future daughters wont want to wear it, but i still wouldn't be able to give it up. Be strong.
ReplyDeleteI have been pondering about this same thought although my wedding day has not even occurred yet.
ReplyDeleteat the age of 12, i was super sad to find out that my mom sold her dress (which was worth 2 months of a paycheck back in the day) and that i won't be able to wear it at my wedding. according to the pictures, her dress was beautiful and a few alterations would make it more than perfect on me! BUT a few months ago, my mom told me a secret. she saved her veil and hair piece for me! i was soooo thrilled to see it and try it on!
ReplyDeleteso, i'd say, it's a tough decision to make. maybe you could save something small so your daughter, daughter in law or granddaughter could enjoy it!
<3 mk
Liz, I couldn't even imagine selling a dress my own mother made! That's something worth holding onto. I didn't expect anyone to even consider purchasing my dress since it's so tiny but lo and behold, there was another tiny person on this planet! I guess it was meant to be.
ReplyDeleteMary, I love that your mom kept the hair piece! I still have my veil, I suppose I can keep that in a safe place for future use.
I planned to sell my dress afterwards all along. But now that the wedding is over and its time to sell it, I'm avoiding the subject. I actually hugged my dress when we came home from our travels and I found it hanging in the closet all by itself, waiting for me. I haven't listed it yet. Don't know if I will...
ReplyDeleteBut you're right... Photos of you in it are more important than the actual gown. The photos are memories, the dress is an object.
* Julia
bingo, julia! I cried when I mailed my dress off. It was pretty pathetic actually.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't let the lady even properly hem my dress because they would have had to cut all of the lace (I am 5'3) in case a future daughter would want to wear my dress and would be taller than me.
ReplyDeleteI think it would kill me. However, if it is something your daughter totally wants you could have it custom made for her since you have so many photos.