Re-using mom's wedding dress

I think you could do so much to this dress- Remove the sleeves add a corset back! I think it's so awesome that you get to wear your mom's dress!! I wish i could have worn my moms but she was like a size 2 i was never even close to her size lol

I feel like making the sleeves into cap sleeves, adding a couple more appliqués at the bottom, and a belt might do the trick. It's a beautiful dress you just have to modernize it a tiny bit. I won't be wearing my mothers dress - she donated both of hers to be angel gowns. Though, her marriage choices were iffy so I can't say Id really want to as a symbolic gesture.

My sister wore our mother's 70s dress (also a lace turtleneck with cap sleeves) and it was gorgeous - and meant a lot to my mom. I'm a little envious, as sis barely squeezed into it and I'm a good 3 sizes larger than her, so I can't wear it at all.

Your mom's dress could easily be turned into something less 80s looking. The lace hem and overskirt are verrrrry trendy right now! I would take it to a good bridal seamstress and discuss options for altering the neckline and sleeves, maybe adding an internal corset or corsetback and boning for more bust support, and a little crinoline to form a more classic A-line shape.

I actually love older dresses and found one for a steal on eBay. The bottom half looks a lot like your moms, the top and sleeves are different though. If you like the older look, I say rock it. Put together some nice accessories and a pretty veil and I think you'd look great! Personally, I'm doing a nice flower crown, bare foot in a beautiful local park but everyone's different. If anything, I'd say alter the sleeves to make it a little more modern if that's something you're looking into-- otherwise, I think that dress is stunning all on its own.

One bride that got married last summer (ish) took her Mom's dress and completely redesigned it - it turned out looking beautiful!

When i hear about women wearing their family wedding dress, it's usually taking apart the dress and refashioning it into something the modern girl can wear. There was a great photo project of a seven time worn dress in a family that the latest girl had repurposed since it had been in such a sad state by the sixth bride in the 80s had finished using it.

The bottom is gorgeous, maybe get rid of the sleeves and do a thin strap?

Not really answering the question, but I always think it's adorable when people recreate their parents wedding photos. Find a similar looking spot to a bridal portrait your mother has and do a similar pose if only to have those two photos to compare together. Fun and adorable and sentimental. You don't even have to wear it for your wedding if you decide to go another route.

My mom made Angel Gowns out of her wedding dress, but she kept her headpiece for us to use so I'm going to incorporate it into a belt maybe. Or a hair piece.

My mom is way smaller than me. I'm turning her train into a veil and the remainder of the dress will be used to make my daughters dress; whose the flower girl.

I'm wearing my mom's dress! My plan is to cut off the crazy shoulders to make it strapless and add a hoop to make the aline into a ball gown. To be honest a seamstress can do amazing things so you can walk down the aisle looking modern (and glamorous) in your mother's dress.

In '87 I bought a gown from the '40s. Beautiful ivory satin with a little bit of beading (crystals and seed pearls) around the fancy cut-out neckline, ball-gown shape. Had dress and train cut off to make it tea length. Borrowed a petticoat/crinoline from the vintage clothing shop. Total cost $125 (gown $75; alterations $25; drycleaning $25).

I think you should remove the sleeves and make it strapless or do lace straps!

I'm using pieces of it. The lace sleeve will go around my bouquet, then I took pieces of lace from my mom's dress and a bit from my gram's dress and had a garter made from it. My mom was tiny when she got married (no way i'm fitting in it!), but she didn't mind me taking pieces from it (mainly sleeves).