If you want to keep your wedding dress as a treasured memento, the first thing you should do is have it professionally cleaned and preserved.
Many bridal boutiques offer this service, which involves carefully cleaning your dress and storing it in a special acid-free box to prevent yellowing and damage over time.
If you're not sentimental about your wedding dress, consider repurposing it into something new. You could turn it into a christening gown for your future children, or have it transformed into a cocktail dress that you can wear to other special occasions.
If you'd rather recoup some of the cost of your wedding dress, selling it is a good option. There are many websites and apps that allow you to sell pre-owned wedding dresses, such as Stillwhite, PreownedWeddingDresses.com, and Tradesy.
Be sure to take clear photos and provide accurate measurements and details about the dress to attract potential buyers.
If you don't need the money from selling your dress, consider donating it to a charity that provides wedding dresses to brides in need.
Organizations such as Brides Across America and Wish Upon a Wedding accept pre-owned wedding dresses and give them to military and first responder brides or brides facing serious illness.
If you have a daughter or niece who is interested in wearing your wedding dress, consider passing it down to them. Just be sure to have it professionally cleaned and preserved first, and keep it in a safe and dry place until they are ready to wear it.