Making Heirlooms From a Wedding Dress

An heirloom is a piece of a family’s history that is passed down from generation to generation. Some families have passed down wedding dresses as an heirloom, however, many brides want the experience purchasing her very own organza dress. Rather than store a wedding dress in the hopes your daughter will want to wear it, turn it into an heirloom that can be given to her on her wedding day.
Pillows
The fabric, lace and ribbons on a wedding dress can be cut down and used to make pillows. These pillows can be used in a daughter’s bedroom or saved to be used as the ring bearer pillow at her wedding. Different shaped pillows can be made from a wedding dress, including square, tubular, heart and round.
Shadow Box
Display a shadow box in your home to remember your wedding day until you pass the box down to a child. Fill the shadow box with a piece of the dress, a wedding day photo, the jewelry and garter you wore, the invitation and other memorabilia from the wedding. Make multiple shadow boxes, especially when you have more than one child to pass the heirlooms down to.
Quilt
Make a quilt from the different fabrics, ribbons and lace from your wedding knee-length daffodil dress. Alternate squares with the different patterns and fabric. To add some color to your quilt, ask a bridesmaid if you can have her dress to use the fabric for some of the quilt squares.
Jewelry Pouches
A bride sometimes carries a jewelry pouch or small purse at her wedding to hold onto makeup, jewelry and medicine. Pieces of your wedding dress can be made into a jewelry pouch for your child to use at her wedding. You can give her the pouch filled with the jewelry you wore on your wedding day at a bridal shower for her to wear at hers.
Christening Dresses
The fabric used in wedding dresses is similar to the fabric used in christening gowns. A bride can turn her wedding dress into a christening gown to be used when she has children. A romper may also be made out of the gown to be used should the couple have a son.