So you’ve gone and done it. You were a really great friend to someone and performed your duties as a bridesmaid exceptionally. This included buying a dress of questionable fashion that you would’ve never gotten on your own. Now the thrill is gone and there’s no way that piece of clothing is staying in your closet. Whether you’re a sustainability-minded person or not, you don’t just want to throw the outfit away. Consider these ideas for repurposing an old bridesmaid dress.
Sell It
You probably paid for the dress, so why not get some of your money back? Websites such as eBay, ThredUp, and others allow you to advertise clothes for resale. If your dress is in good condition and from a label that’s in high demand, you may be surprised what you can fetch for it. Different websites will require different levels of effort when it comes to creating the listing. Take a flattering photo of your dress or a selfie, post it online, and see what happens. You may be saving another bridesmaid some cash.
Donate It
One person’s trash can become another person’s treasure. Donating the dress to a local charity or resale shop is easy enough, but consider that your threads may be the basis for a fabulous outfit for a prom or other event like a sweet sixteen party or quinceañera. Organizations such as Toronto-based The Corsage Project provide prom dresses and makeovers to high school students who can’t afford to go. Your donation could help someone else’s day more special.
Maybe your outfit has a unique appearance that doesn’t lend itself to a second life as formalwear. Theater companies and performance troupes often need gently used clothes. Consider donating to an organization such as Calgary Young Peoples Theatre or the drama club at a local school or college. Someone somewhere can make great use of that outfit.
Repurpose It
Another option is to reuse or repurpose your dress as a Halloween costume. You could go as a bridesmaid or take inspiration from film, television, or literature. Instead of the Bride of Frankenstein, you could be the “Bridesmaid of Frankenstein.” Get creative with accessories, hair, and makeup, and have fun. You already have the main part of your costume, saving you some money in the process. If you don’t think you’ll get enough mileage out of a Halloween outfit, consider making cushion covers out of the fabric.
Alter It
If you’re more practical and creative, consider making alterations so that the dress can be a regular part of your wardrobe. The classic Disney animated film “Cinderella” featured a ballgown made from cast-off garments and accessories. Shows like “Project Runway” and “Making the Cut” sometimes feature aspiring designers making new garments out of old ones. Scratch your creative itch and make it happen with some scissors, a needle, and thread. Turn a long dress into something appropriate for a hot date or cocktail event.
Gift It
Married couples will often hold onto items from their wedding day as keepsakes. Items such as wedding programs, party favors, and even pieces of wedding cake are common mementos. Consider giving your dress back to the bride as a keepsake. You can gift it in its original form or send it back reborn as a quilt or cushion. Make things all the more special by sending it as an anniversary present.
When you were a bridesmaid, you stepped up and committed to wearing something that wasn’t in line with your tastes. You paid for a dress and now you can do something else with it. Consider these creative ideas for giving a one-off outfit new life.
When a close friend or family member decides to get married, there’s a good chance you may be asked to be in their wedding as a bridesmaid or a groomsman. If it’s a best friend or a close sibling getting hitched, you may be asked to stand next to them as a maid of honor or a best man. In either situation, this is an important responsibility. Members of a bridal or wedding party are expected to contribute time, treasure and talents to the nuptials of a happy couple, and there are some things you should know before committing.
Opting Out Of A Wedding
Before going further, you should understand that being in a wedding party will likely put significant demands on your time and funds, especially as the big day rolls around. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and say yes. However, you should know that you can always say no, and you should do so if you have any doubts about being able to fulfill the role, especially as a maid of honor or best man. If you need time to consider and more details about what is expected of you, it’s best to say something now and not later.
Planning Events
As a bridesmaid or groomsman, you’re expected to be part of a support system for the couple to be wed. This can mean everything from helping to plan events such as a bachelor or bachelorette party to coordinating actual details of the big day. As a part of the bridal party, you’re there to attend to the couple’s needs, which can include helping them stay calm and collected. One classic Canadian event that you may be expected to help organize and plan is a stag and doe party, which serves as a fundraiser to pay for costs associated with the new couple’s life together, including expenses from the ceremony and honeymoon.
Spending Money
Members of a wedding party are often expected to contribute personal funds to help cover various costs. Perhaps the most common expenses arise from wedding fashions. Bridesmaids are often expected to pay for their dresses according to the bride’s preferences. Similarly, groomsmen are usually responsible for renting a tuxedo or purchasing clothes and accessories for the big day. There are a number of expenses that you should take into account if you commit to participating in the ceremony:
Attire, including accessories and shoes
Gifts for the couple at various events
Costs for bachelor/bachelorette events, stag and doe parties, engagement gatherings, bridal showers, etc.
Travel expenses or fees for a destination or remote celebration
You shouldn’t go into debt or experience financial strain from being in the wedding party, so it’s important to ask questions up front before committing.
Helping the Couple Look Their Best
A bride or a groom will look to members of the bridal party to help them get suited and booted for the ceremony. This may include something as simple as helping someone fasten buttons or zippers that are hard to reach or helping tie a bow tie. Get familiar with that YouTube tutorial as soon as possible! Do you know your way around a makeup palette or a set of clippers? The happy couple may have need of special skills that you possess when it comes to putting the finishing touches on their appearance. Again, expectations and requests should be made known well in advance.
Many people consider it an honor to be asked to serve in a wedding, especially as a member of the bridal party. Recognize that you have an important role to fulfill, and if you’re not prepared to make the commitment required, say something right away. The last thing you want to do is leave a loved one hanging and add to the stress of the special day.
If you don’t want a maid of honor, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself with this information before deciding what the best choice is for your big day.
There are a lot of moving parts involved with planning your wedding. Often, couples want all the help possible to get the entire event up and running. Having a maid of honor can be invaluable during this time, as this individual tends to take on a lot of duties throughout the process. Still, you may not feel like you want a maid of honor. There are plenty of reasons for this decision, from not knowing who to select to wanting to keep the affair simple. There is no rule saying you absolutely must have someone fill this role.
If you don’t want a maid of honor, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself a bit with the choice you’re making. Look over this information and decide what the best choice is for your big day.
What Does the Maid of Honor Do?
The maid of honor is usually responsible for a number of different tasks associated with the wedding. Usually these responsibilities include throwing a shower and bachelorette party, taking on jobs like mailing invitations, and keeping tabs on all the members of the wedding party. When you don’t have someone acting in this role, you will need to either take these tasks on yourself or find someone who can organize things for you. Having help is always a plus, even when you aren’t asking someone to be your maid of honor.
You also will need to think about your wedding party. Are you planning on having bridesmaids and groomsmen? You can still have a wedding party without a maid of honor. In fact, some couples make the choice to forego this position in the party because there are too many qualified options. When you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, you can ditch the maid of honor and simply go with having bridesmaids. This can ultimately be a helpful decision, as you can delegate various duties to each member of the party rather than relying on one specific person.
Party On
As mentioned, the maid of honor is also the person who traditionally puts together the wedding shower. By removing this person from the equation, you’ll need to arrange the plans yourself or find someone else who can take on the job. This could be a perfect task for your mother or the mother of your partner, especially if she wanted to get involved and you didn’t know what to offer. You may also want to see if the members of your wedding party would like to plan this for you, though it is likely you’ll need to give warning.
Showers are also not a requirement. If you had an engagement party, then throwing a shower might be a bit too much. These days, couples are moving away from the traditional route of having a shower. You’re already planning your wedding; you might not want to add yet another event to your calendar that you need to help organize. When you opt not to have a maid of honor, you’ll need to make this decision for yourself and determine whether or not you find a shower necessary.
Trusting Your Significant Other
In the past, the maid of honor would take on a lot of responsibilities that otherwise could have been performed by the groom-to-be. Since more and more couples are contributing equally when it comes to planning a wedding, it is likely you can simply ask your partner to take on many of the jobs the maid would have received. When you have the support of your significant other, the entire process will be a lot easier than trying to do everything by yourself.
The decision to use a maid of honor in your wedding comes down to your own preference. As long as you have people who can assist you along the way, you should be able to take on whatever tasks await.
So you’ve gone and done it. You were a really great friend to someone and performed your duties as a bridesmaid exceptionally. This included buying a dress of questionable fashion that you would’ve never gotten on your own. Now the thrill is gone and there’s no way that piece of clothing is staying in your closet. Whether you’re a sustainability-minded person or not, you don’t just want to throw the outfit away. Consider these ideas for repurposing an old bridesmaid dress.
Sell It
You probably paid for the dress, so why not get some of your money back? Websites such as eBay, ThredUp, and others allow you to advertise clothes for resale. If your dress is in good condition and from a label that’s in high demand, you may be surprised what you can fetch for it. Different websites will require different levels of effort when it comes to creating the listing. Take a flattering photo of your dress or a selfie, post it online, and see what happens. You may be saving another bridesmaid some cash.
Donate It
One person’s trash can become another person’s treasure. Donating the dress to a local charity or resale shop is easy enough, but consider that your threads may be the basis for a fabulous outfit for a prom or other event like a sweet sixteen party or quinceañera. Organizations such as Toronto-based The Corsage Project provide prom dresses and makeovers to high school students who can’t afford to go. Your donation could help someone else’s day more special.
Maybe your outfit has a unique appearance that doesn’t lend itself to a second life as formalwear. Theater companies and performance troupes often need gently used clothes. Consider donating to an organization such as Calgary Young Peoples Theatre or the drama club at a local school or college. Someone somewhere can make great use of that outfit.
Repurpose It
Another option is to reuse or repurpose your dress as a Halloween costume. You could go as a bridesmaid or take inspiration from film, television, or literature. Instead of the Bride of Frankenstein, you could be the “Bridesmaid of Frankenstein.” Get creative with accessories, hair, and makeup, and have fun. You already have the main part of your costume, saving you some money in the process. If you don’t think you’ll get enough mileage out of a Halloween outfit, consider making cushion covers out of the fabric.
Alter It
If you’re more practical and creative, consider making alterations so that the dress can be a regular part of your wardrobe. The classic Disney animated film “Cinderella” featured a ballgown made from cast-off garments and accessories. Shows like “Project Runway” and “Making the Cut” sometimes feature aspiring designers making new garments out of old ones. Scratch your creative itch and make it happen with some scissors, a needle, and thread. Turn a long dress into something appropriate for a hot date or cocktail event.
Gift It
Married couples will often hold onto items from their wedding day as keepsakes. Items such as wedding programs, party favors, and even pieces of wedding cake are common mementos. Consider giving your dress back to the bride as a keepsake. You can gift it in its original form or send it back reborn as a quilt or cushion. Make things all the more special by sending it as an anniversary present.
When you were a bridesmaid, you stepped up and committed to wearing something that wasn’t in line with your tastes. You paid for a dress and now you can do something else with it. Consider these creative ideas for giving a one-off outfit new life.
When a close friend or family member decides to get married, there’s a good chance you may be asked to be in their wedding as a bridesmaid or a groomsman. If it’s a best friend or a close sibling getting hitched, you may be asked to stand next to them as a maid of honor or a best man. In either situation, this is an important responsibility. Members of a bridal or wedding party are expected to contribute time, treasure and talents to the nuptials of a happy couple, and there are some things you should know before committing.
Opting Out Of A Wedding
Before going further, you should understand that being in a wedding party will likely put significant demands on your time and funds, especially as the big day rolls around. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and say yes. However, you should know that you can always say no, and you should do so if you have any doubts about being able to fulfill the role, especially as a maid of honor or best man. If you need time to consider and more details about what is expected of you, it’s best to say something now and not later.
Planning Events
As a bridesmaid or groomsman, you’re expected to be part of a support system for the couple to be wed. This can mean everything from helping to plan events such as a bachelor or bachelorette party to coordinating actual details of the big day. As a part of the bridal party, you’re there to attend to the couple’s needs, which can include helping them stay calm and collected. One classic Canadian event that you may be expected to help organize and plan is a stag and doe party, which serves as a fundraiser to pay for costs associated with the new couple’s life together, including expenses from the ceremony and honeymoon.
Spending Money
Members of a wedding party are often expected to contribute personal funds to help cover various costs. Perhaps the most common expenses arise from wedding fashions. Bridesmaids are often expected to pay for their dresses according to the bride’s preferences. Similarly, groomsmen are usually responsible for renting a tuxedo or purchasing clothes and accessories for the big day. There are a number of expenses that you should take into account if you commit to participating in the ceremony:
Attire, including accessories and shoes
Gifts for the couple at various events
Costs for bachelor/bachelorette events, stag and doe parties, engagement gatherings, bridal showers, etc.
Travel expenses or fees for a destination or remote celebration
You shouldn’t go into debt or experience financial strain from being in the wedding party, so it’s important to ask questions up front before committing.
Helping the Couple Look Their Best
A bride or a groom will look to members of the bridal party to help them get suited and booted for the ceremony. This may include something as simple as helping someone fasten buttons or zippers that are hard to reach or helping tie a bow tie. Get familiar with that YouTube tutorial as soon as possible! Do you know your way around a makeup palette or a set of clippers? The happy couple may have need of special skills that you possess when it comes to putting the finishing touches on their appearance. Again, expectations and requests should be made known well in advance.
Many people consider it an honor to be asked to serve in a wedding, especially as a member of the bridal party. Recognize that you have an important role to fulfill, and if you’re not prepared to make the commitment required, say something right away. The last thing you want to do is leave a loved one hanging and add to the stress of the special day.
If you don’t want a maid of honor, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself with this information before deciding what the best choice is for your big day.
There are a lot of moving parts involved with planning your wedding. Often, couples want all the help possible to get the entire event up and running. Having a maid of honor can be invaluable during this time, as this individual tends to take on a lot of duties throughout the process. Still, you may not feel like you want a maid of honor. There are plenty of reasons for this decision, from not knowing who to select to wanting to keep the affair simple. There is no rule saying you absolutely must have someone fill this role.
If you don’t want a maid of honor, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself a bit with the choice you’re making. Look over this information and decide what the best choice is for your big day.
What Does the Maid of Honor Do?
The maid of honor is usually responsible for a number of different tasks associated with the wedding. Usually these responsibilities include throwing a shower and bachelorette party, taking on jobs like mailing invitations, and keeping tabs on all the members of the wedding party. When you don’t have someone acting in this role, you will need to either take these tasks on yourself or find someone who can organize things for you. Having help is always a plus, even when you aren’t asking someone to be your maid of honor.
You also will need to think about your wedding party. Are you planning on having bridesmaids and groomsmen? You can still have a wedding party without a maid of honor. In fact, some couples make the choice to forego this position in the party because there are too many qualified options. When you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, you can ditch the maid of honor and simply go with having bridesmaids. This can ultimately be a helpful decision, as you can delegate various duties to each member of the party rather than relying on one specific person.
Party On
As mentioned, the maid of honor is also the person who traditionally puts together the wedding shower. By removing this person from the equation, you’ll need to arrange the plans yourself or find someone else who can take on the job. This could be a perfect task for your mother or the mother of your partner, especially if she wanted to get involved and you didn’t know what to offer. You may also want to see if the members of your wedding party would like to plan this for you, though it is likely you’ll need to give warning.
Showers are also not a requirement. If you had an engagement party, then throwing a shower might be a bit too much. These days, couples are moving away from the traditional route of having a shower. You’re already planning your wedding; you might not want to add yet another event to your calendar that you need to help organize. When you opt not to have a maid of honor, you’ll need to make this decision for yourself and determine whether or not you find a shower necessary.
Trusting Your Significant Other
In the past, the maid of honor would take on a lot of responsibilities that otherwise could have been performed by the groom-to-be. Since more and more couples are contributing equally when it comes to planning a wedding, it is likely you can simply ask your partner to take on many of the jobs the maid would have received. When you have the support of your significant other, the entire process will be a lot easier than trying to do everything by yourself.
The decision to use a maid of honor in your wedding comes down to your own preference. As long as you have people who can assist you along the way, you should be able to take on whatever tasks await.
