How to Incorporate Family Heirlooms Into Your Bridal Look
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue!
This age-old, traditional wedding saying tells a tale of the four objects that are supposed to bring you good luck on your big day. Repurposing your mother or grandmother’s wedding gowns could pass as something borrowed or something old, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll want to rock it in full form on your wedding day. As much as most brides want to honor their mother on their wedding day, they also want to have the chance to portray their personality and style in their wedding gown. It can also be extremely hard to wash out any yellow stains or smells that have accumulated in the garment bag or box over the years. But, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on incorporating a family heirloom into your wedding. If you have the permission of your mother or grandmother, here are a few ways you can use a part of their dress as one of your wedding day accessories!
Wedding Veil
If your mother’s veil is still in good shape you can rock it as is! But, if you don’t want to wear the exact wedding veil your mother wore on her big day, you can repurpose the lace from either her wedding gown or her veil to make your own. This way you can still incorporate it into your bridal look without having to stick to its original form. You can also re-fashion the original veil to suit your bridal style and the wedding gown you’ve chosen for your big day if you’re set on keeping your family heirloom intact.
Photography by All The Little Stories Photography
Photography by In Our Image Photos
Interior Dress Patch
A popular option for many brides, if you don’t want to commit to wearing your mother’s gown, is to take a small, smooth patch from the dress and sew it into your gown. You can use it as a base for the patch and embroider your initials, your mother’s initials, or a family saying on top to keep close to you on your big day. It’s a subtle way to include a family heirloom in your bridal look, while still having your style shine through.
Garter
If you’re looking for a family heirloom that can be passed down without the worry it will go out of style, a garter is the way to go! It can be made out of the material of your mother’s wedding gown and is so much easier to adapt to any wedding look than a whole gown. You can then pass this down later on in life to any children you may have or keep it as a memento of your wedding day.
Photography by Q Hegarty Photography
Photography by Alyssa Parker Photography
Bridal Bouquet Wrap
Your florist will need to wrap your bouquet in a piece of material or ribbon to hide the stems and keep the flowers together. So, instead of using any ribbon, cut off a piece of your mother’s gown for your florist to tie your bouquet together with, or if the material is too fragile they could layer it over the ribbon they planned to use. This way you can carry it with you all day and preserve it after the wedding with a few of the flowers from your bouquet.
Family Jewelry
If you have any piece of jewelry that has been passed down in your family, whether it’s a ring, bracelet, or earrings – consider wearing it on your wedding day. This is the easiest way to incorporate a family heirloom into your bridal look as it doesn’t require any re-fashioning. But, if you have a piece of family jewelry that isn’t in the best shape, you can also take a stone from a brooch or ring and put it in a new setting to wear as an accessory.
Photography by She of the Woods
Share this with a bride who is looking for “something borrowed” to include in their bridal look. Trying to find a wedding gown that will complement a family heirloom? Browse our collection of made-to-measure wedding gowns that are curated for the modern bride!
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