What to Do With Your Wedding Dress After the Wedding
Updated on
27/10/2026
3 minutes to read
Once the day is over, your dress needs a little care, whatever you decide to do with it next. Here’s what we suggest, from cleaning and storing it properly to passing it on.
Get it cleaned soon
Have your dress professionally cleaned within a few weeks of the wedding, ideally by a specialist in bridal gowns. Some marks, such as champagne, cake or perspiration, are invisible at first and can turn yellow or brown over time.
- Point out any marks you know about, including on the hem and train.
- Ask how the cleaner handles beading, sequins and lace.
- Keep the receipt. It’s useful if you decide to sell later.
Storing your dress
- Use a breathable cotton garment bag, or an acid-free box with acid-free tissue. Avoid plastic covers, which trap moisture.
- Keep it somewhere cool, dark and dry, such as a wardrobe or under a bed, rather than a loft, garage or basement.
- Heavier dresses are better boxed or laid flat than left on a hanger for months, as the weight can stretch the shoulders and straps. If you do hang it, use the inside hanging loops.
- Every year or so, take it out and refold it along different lines so creases don’t set.
Keeping it or passing it on
Some brides keep their dress for years; others would like it to be worn again by someone new. There’s no right answer, and there’s no rush to decide.
Selling your dress on Revow
If you’d like to pass your dress on, you can list it on Revow, a UK marketplace for pre-loved and ex-sample wedding dresses. Revow is run by Evelie Ltd, the company behind Evelie, and it’s open to dresses from any boutique or designer, not only ours.
- It’s free to list during the launch period, and there’s no commission, so you keep the full price you agree.
- There’s no account or password. You manage your listing through a secure link sent to your email.
- Buyers message you through Revow, so your email address stays private.
- Every listing is reviewed by a person before it goes live.
You agree any viewing and the price directly with the buyer. Revow never takes payments or deposits, so anyone asking you to pay or share bank details “through Revow” isn’t Revow.
What you’ll need
- Up to 10 photos of the actual dress: front, back and side, the designer label, and close-ups of lace or beading, taken in daylight against a plain background.
- The designer, size and the dress’s current measurements.
- Any alterations, and any marks or wear.
- The original price, if you have it. If you bought your dress at Evelie, your receipt will show it, and buyers will see the saving next to your asking price.
How much to ask
Most pre-loved dresses sell for 40–70% less than the original price, depending mainly on condition. A dress that cost £2,000 new typically sells for £600–£1,200.