5 Insanely Cool Things You Can Do With Your Wedding Dress

So you found your dream dress and married the love of your life in it. But what happens to your treasured bridal gown after the "I do's" are done? Before you "trash" it or lock it up and throw away the key, consider these clever ideas for repurposing your gown.

Turn it into jewelry.

Yes, you read that right. San Francisco-based jewelry designer Gabrielle Bratton can transform the fabric of your wedding dress (or veil! Or your mother's dress or veil!) into metal via a wax casting process. That means you can wear your wedding dress long after the big day, as a necklace, bracelet, ring, brooch, or earrings. You can even make a pair of cuff links for your guy.

Donate to charity.

Brides Across America supplies wedding dresses to military brides, and Adorned in Grace will re-sell your gown, with the proceeds going toward fighting human trafficking and supporting its victims. Giving your dress to someone who needs it is not only selfless, but it allows your dress to become part of even more love stories.

Alter it.

Okay, okay, so this isn't revolutionary, but if the thought of only wearing your dress once makes you want to cry, consider simply hemming it, or enlist the help of a seamstress to make your dream a reality. You don't even need to go as far as dying or completely reconstructing your dress. Blogger Artemis Russell of Junkaholique posed for a few farewell photos before cropping hers into a shorter shift she can wear regularly. We love the idea of taking photos on your anniversary before making the cut.

Pass it on.

Tuck your gown safely away for now and, when the time comes, offer it to a daughter, friend, or relative. Though wearing heirloom dresses has become less common in modern years, it's possible that she'll want to rework it for her big day or for another wedding event. Carrie, pictured, always knew she wanted to wear the same wedding dress her mother, Rosanne Cash (daughter of Johnny Cash!) wore.

Dress a little one.

If you're planning on having kids, a little jumper or gown is a simple and creative idea for what to do with your wedding dress. But even if you're not, the Angel Gowns program or Cherished Gowns for Angel Babies will turn it into outfits for babies who pass away in the NICU or babies who are stillborn, respectively.