A WEDDING gown is the clothing worn by a bride during a wedding ceremony. It can only be worn once and yet it is very expensive, beautiful and elegant. After years of going through bridal articles in newspapers and magazines, trying on countless gowns in the fitting room and potentially spending more on one item of clothing than you ever will again, you finally found the dress.
When you walked down the aisle your husband almost swooned, mum cried, family and friends couldn’t stop telling you how gorgeous you looked on your wedding day. The wedding gown is so pretty that you wish you could wear it every day, every weekend, to every party in town.
Unfortunately, you can’t, well you could but you might raise some eyebrows so what have you done with your gown or what are you planning to do with it.
A certain bride was told by elders not to hire it out as this is bad luck but to send it to the village, present it to the ancestral spirits. The person who bought the wedding gown has not forgiven her for such an act. Some of the ideas I come up with are that you can save it as a keepsake. I know many gowns are hanging in the garment bag since that night with the dirt and grass stains still underneath the dress.
The best thing to do if you are preserving it, take it to a bridal dry cleaner, as they are specialised in bridal wear because DIY machine washing can sometimes damage a gown’s detailing. To prevent discoloration, store the gown in an archival box made of paper that’s acid-free or pH-neutral without plastic windows, which may eventually erode and harm fabrics.
Avoid dry cleaners that won’t allow you to inspect the gown before it’s boxed. Keep out of the reach of cockroaches.
Keep the gown for your daughter, cousins, sisters and friends. Just keep your fingers crossed it does not get out of fashion. New styles and designs are coming in all the time, so whether your style is classic or cutting edge, you’ll find a gown that is perfectly designed with you in mind.
They say you never know what the future holds, so keep your gown for your future daughter, sister and cousin if you love your gown and can envision it walking down the aisle in the future you should have it professionally preserved. This idea allows you to pass down your gown and connect your special day with important women in your family.
The good thing about a wedding gown even when borrowed by your daughters to wear can be changed into something new to suit the current generation and no one will notice that it was worn in the 80s or 90s.
The point I am about to make is good but very challenging to a Zambian married woman. The gown can be worn on your anniversary. It’s difficult to many as they put on weight at a supersonic speed. You will look really good in your gown, taking beautiful anniversary photos to enjoy and put in “for your eyes only” photo album.
Hire it out to other brides who can’t afford to buy one for themselves or some don’t want to buy a gown which they will keep in their homes just accumulating dust. I personally love my wedding gown, a top and skirt, l remember many were against such a design as they thought it only has to be a dress. I have kept it for display, for hire, well preserve and it’s currently awaiting its future fate.
The price should be reasonable when hiring out. I have learnt that the price to have a wedding gown hired, tailored for you and getting an already made gown is just the same. The price tag should be different.
Frame and display it like an art work. Treasure it just like an artist does with a painting.
Whether they are silk, satin or lace wedding gown is so much more than just a piece of fabric. For many brides their dress is the embodiment of their personal style and love story.
Modern women get very few fairy tales these days, but they can wear a princess dress on their wedding day and feel on cloud nine. Deciding what to do with your gown post-wedding can be very difficult.  If it was your favourite aspect apart from your fiancé well then keep and preserve it for future outings like annual bowl, birthday parties and fundraising ventures but not for your friend or someone else’s wedding.
This way you can place your gown and use it in a new way on another life’s happiest occasions.
Wear it again for that fancy occasion in the future and maybe even dye it a different colour. Make good use of it without destroying it.
We now have two in one wedding gowns which can be worn on the day of the event and for other special outings. We had the princess gowns, then the two piece gowns, which was designed a dress separate from the tail meaning the tail is not permanently attached to the gown can be removed at any time.
Now we have gowns that fit like a glove. A dress that Eunike Chanda wore on her wedding day (see the photo below) can be worn for dinner date, other celebrations. It was lace and long sleeved to suit any type of weather pattern. Less busy such that to another function it cannot be recognised as a wedding gown.
She looked sensational, delicate embellishments in the right place, tailored with her in mind and she embraced the summer season in style. Eunike’s dress is elegant, feminine and brings out the natural grace when worn and it will ensure that you too are perfectly turned out to any red carpet event.
She had two wedding dresses both suitable for other functions and this has become more popular among the modern brides. The first gown is worn for the ceremony and photos, second gown for the reception then the third gown worn when cutting the cake.
Like romance itself, elegant gowns of satin, lace, tulle and silhouettes will never go out of fashion they are timeless. An elegant gown is always a feast for the groom’s eyes. Choose a gown that will make a statement, with dazzling details to be of use in future also.
Donate it to charity. They can sell it and use the money for those in need and you will be glad you did. In Proverbs 19:17 says when you give to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord, and the Lord will pay you back. It is not easy just to donate but it is worthy it as it will give you valuable insights into how to live a life that honours being part of humanity and the planet Earth.
God gave us his only begotten Son and we learn how to give cheerfully from what he demonstrated. Blessed is a hand that gives and when you do so it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.
Whatever you end up choosing to do with your wedding gown be glad that you met the love of your life and had the opportunity to be a bride. Share the joy with someone else in future.
For comments and contributions:
Cell: 0966665468
Email: sunittasyabeene@yahoo.com