Wedding Reception Slideshow

If you had any difficulty seeing our reception slideshow using the link on the left, here it is again.

Just Five Cards a Day

Even though the wedding day has come and gone, that does not mean that wedding-related activities have come to an end yet. The principal task before us now is to send out thank you cards to our family and friends. At first, it seems like a very daunting task, particularly since I want to write custom messages in each card as opposed to writing the same standard "Hallmark" message in all of them. Our strategy is to write out five cards a day. Today was my first day writing out thank you cards and I can say that five cards in one sitting is an appropriate number.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Colin's cousin, Ivy from Hong Kong who was very kind in helping us order our invitations and thank you cards from Kamdo.

My Wedding Gown - Now What?

So, the big day is over and I am faced with a new wedding dress dilemna: what to do with it after the wedding. I knew this day would be coming ever since I bought my dress. I had my mother dry clean my wedding dress while Colin and I went off to our honeymoon. (Thanks Mom!) And now, it is hanging in my closet at my parents' house in a garment bag. After talking to a couple of other former brides, I know that my dress cannot stay in the garment bag for long. Otherwise, it will start to mold.
The way I see it, I have the following options:

1. Sell it
I could try to get some money back by selling my gown. It is in perfect condition and has only been worn once. If I were to sell my wedding gown, I would probably try to sell it myself versus give it to a consignment shop. I would need to put it up for sale soon otherwise it could go "out of style". I would also have to find a short bride since the gown has been hemmed - which could prove to be difficult.

2. Donate it
Shortly after we got engaged, I read an article in the Globe and Mail about the Bride's Project. It's an organization run by a woman in Toronto's east end who sells wedding gowns to budget conscious brides with all the proceeds going towards cancer research. I had initially thought about buying my wedding gown through this organization but her business hours were so limited that it made it difficult for me, as an out-of-town bride, to check out her collection. If I were to donate my gown, I would donate it here. I wouldn't be making any money off of it but I could be satisfied knowing that once my gown is sold, I would be making a contribution towards cancer research.

3. Box it and keep it.
I really like my wedding dress. I love the look and feel of it. I know that it is just a piece of clothing but for me, it symbolizes so much more. If I were to keep it, I would have to preserve it properly. And that means wrapping it and putting it in a proper box. And while you can get a box that has a window, enabling you to see the dress, it is not the same as seeing it hang off a clothes hanger. They say that when you keep your dress, you can pass it off to your daughter. But honestly, fashion trends come and go. I'm not counting on my daughter re-wearing it.

There is one other option that I have already ruled out: Trash it. Some brides basically throw it away or destroy it. Unless I had only spent $50 on my wedding gown, I would not trash it.

So, at this point, I am still not sure what to do. Option #2 is probably the easiest and requires the least amount of work on my part. Option #1 might be good to recoup some wedding costs. Option #3 allows me to keep it but where the heck am I going to find space to store it?

Any thoughts on what I should do with my wedding gown?

[By the way, I don't have the same concerns with my Chinese wedding gown. It was pretty cheap (lucky $88) and I figured one of my remaining single sisters/sister-in-law/single female cousins can take it when it's their turn.]