4 Things To Do With Your Wedding Items After The Big Day

You go through months and months of planning your wedding and the big day is finally here! You put on your dress, your heels, your makeup, and of course, your jewelry, and then the day seems to fly by. It’s probably the most amazing experience ever, but it’s gone in a blink of an eye. After the wedding is over, what are you supposed to do with all of your wedding items? Some, depending on where you get married, are disposable and/or rentals, but there is usually a lot leftover like candles, other wedding decor, and of course, your personal belongings, as well. I’ve been trying to help walk my nephew through this process because his wedding is coming up and there is just a lot to consider! Here is what we came up with:

Donate

First thing is first – you can always donate items, but as most of you know, you will more than likely not be able to use this as a tax deduction now, so keep that in mind before you donate your beloved wedding items. I do, however, think that there are good instances where you can and should donate. For example, NICU Helping Hands put together The Angel Gown program.

According to their website, “NICU Helping Hands’ Angel Gown® Program began in 2013 because we recognized there was an overwhelming need for better support for families who lost a baby. Our Angel Gown® Program provides comfort for bereaved families through the gift of a beautiful custom made gown for final photos and for burial services. We provide support resources and mentoring programs for bereaved families as well. There is no greater gift that can be given to a grieving family than affirming the importance of the life of their child by offering the simple gift of our Angel Gown® Garments and supporting them emotionally and educationally afterwards.

Our program is made possible because of wonderful donors and volunteers who have often experienced the loss of their own children or of another loved one. Brides from around the world donate their precious wedding gowns to NICU Helping Hands. The wedding gowns are then distributed to our team of over 180 seamstresses throughout the United States to convert into perfectly made garments that a family will use to wrap their precious baby in for their final journey. Our garments are a gift of love from both a bride and a seamstress to honor not only a precious baby but their family as well.

It is a privilege for us to provide gowns free of charge to any hospital or family requesting our Angel Gown® Program garments.  Please note: Our Angel Gown® Program is a nationally registered and trademarked program and is available across the United States.”

In instances like this, you can make a huge and great difference by donating!

Sell Your Jewelry

While there are some instances where donating items is great, you do not really get any benefit from it. You spent so much money on this wedding and you deserve to get at least something back, which is why I’m a big fan of selling your wedding valuables, if you do not have a use for them. While you’re at it, go through your jewelry box and see what else you could sell, or get a collateral loan off of! But, where do you take those items? I have that answer for you, as well! Chapes-JPL, located in Buckhead (in Atlanta, Georgia) does just this: they buy your valuables (like jewelry) and also give collateral loans in exchange for your valuables. They are the Nation’s premier pawn loan lender and the best place to sell and pawn high-valued assets, such as gold, jewelry, diamonds, watches, cars, boats, handbags, electronics, and more. They have been serving Georgia businesses and residents now for more than 30 years out of their private and confidential offices. They say, “Our mission from day one was to provide our local residents an alternative to the low-balling, high-charging pawn dealers. We are proud to have upheld that commitment for the past 38 years and we look forward to keeping our rates low and affordable.” So, when you are considering what to do with your wedding jewelry, head on over to Chapes-JPL to see how they can help you!

Frame The Dress

Most people just get their dress preserved, just in case someone in their family wants to wear it one day, but I say to go a step further and possibly frame your wedding dress. You only had the chance to wear this beauty one or at most, two days, so don’t you want the chance to look at it every single day? Of course, I wouldn’t place it in your living room or anything, but it would look great hanging in your closet, displayed for yourself and your loved one to see.

Use As Home Decor

Last but not least, use your leftover wedding decor as your new home decor! I’m sure not everything can be used, but you have to have something that can be used in your home. This will not only spruce up your house, but it will always remind you of the most special day!