An ethical wedding confession

I've been seriously debating what to do with my wedding dress over the last few weeks.

Yep, as founder of Ethical Weddings I put my hand on my heart and confess my guilty secret - I have not worn it since the big day in 2005! (Well, I've put it on and twirled around in it a few times but it hasn't actually made it out of the door!).

I should take a leaf out of Camilla's book who according to Hello! has regularly been recycling her wedding outfit for her royal duties.

The thing is, it isn't even obviously weddingy (as you can see from the pic). In fact, at our reception, one of the bar maids asked who the bride was - no white meringue in sight you see! No, the problem is I just don't have enough posh dos to go to that require a long dress.

The only occasions I attend that might be appropriate are weddings - and most of the weddings I go to are for people who came to mine. It seems a bit of a faux pas to wear your wedding dress on someone else's wedding day - or is that just me?!

My dear husband is a bit sentimental and I think would like me to wrap it in rose petals until our firstborn can wear it down the aisle (sex depending of course!).

I, on the other hand, am tending towards the chop it at the calf solution. A much more wearable length for a floaty summer dress. And I did get a sewing machine for my birthday...

If I do go down that route, I'll have to get my bridesmaids to follow suit! My one regret from our wedding planning is that I didn't just give my bridesmaids a colour and tell them to go to the shops and pick out a dress that suited them. I'm afraid the long dresses they ended up with don't lend themselves to regular wear (despite extensive consultation with them on the design I hasten to add!).

What do you think? Have you already got plans for your dress once The Day is over? Or is it your dream dress and practical considerations can't come into it? I'd love to hear your thoughts... and promise to share the pics if / when I get round to the cropping of the skirt!

Happy planning,

Katie
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