Wedding Dress Nightmares

Some brides spend forever looking for the perfect dress. And by "forever," of course, I mean months and months filled with trips to every bridal store in the continental United States, trying on dozens of dresses and PRAYING to find the perfect one.

I found mine online, tried it on the store, and walked out 45 minutes later, the proud owner of a dress. And I'm so thankful it worked that way because I didn't have months and months to visit every bridal store in the US of A.

I loved my dress so much. It was exactly what I wanted, I felt beautiful in it, and it fit our beach wedding perfectly.

But, you see, after you do things like...walk along the beach at sunset, you pick up some dirt on the dress. And when you have an at-home reception three months later, you have to get it cleaned so you can make your second appearance.

And we did.

And the reception went very well:

But you see, after you do things like...parade around outside in an Indiana winter, you get your dress a little dirty, so you need to get it cleaned.

Which we forgot to do.

And so it was that when we cleaned out the home office during Snowmageddon a couple of weeks ago, we saw my beloved dress looking less than beloved, slumping from its hanger inside the garment bag...and I asked Ryan if we could take it in and get it preserved.

I'm not really sure why I wanted/needed to get it preserved, as I don't intend to ever wear it again and we don't have kids to pass it down to, but it was just my way to seal up the most special day of my life.

Ryan picked up the dress last Friday and brought it home to me, and I was so happy to see my beautiful dress all snuggly safe inside its forever home:

I posted a photo on Facebook and...oh my goodness. The stories!! I had no idea so many debacles took place over wedding dresses!

Well, first there were the non-disaster stories of what brides did with their dresses after the wedding:

Kathy said, "Mine's in a Rubbermaid. I used purple tissue to reduce yellowing. That is the most care I put into mine." {Side note: Did NOT know purple tissue would reduce yellowing!}

Jennifer said, "Mine from my first wedding stayed in the plastic zip bag and hung in the closet. I never did get it preserved. Then I did not have a wedding dress for my second wedding."

Megan said, "I had mine preserved and it is fun to get it out and show it to my girls. I doubt they will want to wear it when they are ready to get married, but it's still fun to have.

Molly said, "I didn't really have a wedding dress, but my sister did. I think she got hers preserved."

Amie said, "I didn't know that was something that needed done! Mine's been hanging in a closet for 5 1/2 years. Now that we've moved, its new home is cedar, though."

Carol said, "Mine was preserved for 50 years and then was displayed on a dress form at our 50th anniversary party." {SO COOL}

And then....oh people. Then there were the disasters.

Amy said, "I tried to have mine preserved and it was stolen from the cleaners. I was so sad to find out. I think insurance reimbursed me, but now I have four daughters and no dress or veil to show them." {Heart. Is. Breaking.}

Stephanie said, "Mine got thrown out with the trash...by accident." {WHAT!?!?!?}

Heather said "A cat had her kittens on mine just a few months after the wedding. No dry cleaners can clean the ick factor out after that." {Eyes bugging out + WHAT???!!!!}

I am speechless.

I had no idea there were so many post-wedding dress debacles!!! So I have to ask...if you're married, what did you do with your dress after the wedding? And if you have a disaster to add to the list, I HAVE to hear it. So tell me!!

{You single girls listen up! Keep your dress away from the trash, the pregnant cats, and apparently...sit with it while it's cleaned and preserved!!}