Why I Never Cleaned My Wedding Dress // with Brittney Kluse
While scrolling through my Facebook feed today, I saw an image… from Brittney Kluse – a photographer friend that I just adore. The image stopped me in my tracks and the story kept my attention. I didn’t expect that the post would resonate with me so much… Well it did and I immediately messaged her asking if I had her permission to share with you all. So here it is… Why Brittney never washed her wedding dress (and you shouldn’t too!)
Why I never cleaned my wedding dress by Brittney Kluse
“There are certain things we take through life that carry years of memories. For me, it’s my wedding dress.
First year
On our first year anniversary Blake came home from work to find me hanging out in the kitchen in my wedding dress reading magazines. He knows how quirky I can be, so I’m sure he was more amused than shocked, but when he asked why I was wearing it, I responded “because I wanted to! And it’s my wedding day!”
I never felt the need to preserve my wedding dress like a jar of jelly. And on that first anniversary, I was glad I didn’t.
I went to the closet and put it on – still dirty on the bottom from hours of dancing with my friends the year before. Beer drops from my drink and food stains from people’s hands who hugged me that night still cover the dress.
It told a story of that day. Slipping into it and walking around my house helped bring back all the memories of the best day of my life.
By our second anniversary this had become a “thing.” Blake knew to expect to see my in my dress.
On our third anniversary I was two months away from having our first child – but I didn’t let it stop me! It only slid on to the bottom of my hips, but I didn’t care. I wore it as a skirt and wore a maternity PJ tee over it.
I’ve worn this dress pregnant, nursing a baby, changing my kids diapers, cleaning house, editing photos – and even running through my favorite coffee drive-through.
Some years the zipper flies up the back and fits like a glove … some years it doesn’t make it past my hips.
Alas – this year, despite pulling and tugging, I cannot make it zip! I sighed a little … then I laughed and remembered why it wouldn’t fit … a summer of fun with the people I love.
So despite a half-zipped wedding dress, I won’t let it get me down! I’m wearing this thing all day, and Blake and I will look through our beautiful wedding photos from website here and we will watch our fun wedding video from website here and sit with our kids on the couch and explain to them why some people they know now look different in that video.
If you’re getting married this year – my advice is don’t treat your dress like jelly. Let it be a living thing that zips up and down with you throughout your life! Put it back on each year and remember WHY you wore that dress down the aisle WITH the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life alongside!
Maybe 2016 is my year for it to ZIP once again!!! Cheers, peeps!
Connecting with Brittney
You can find more of Brittney on social media:
Here is her Facebook & Instagram!
And her beautiful photography work can be found on her website here!
Thank you so much for sharing your sentimental story with us all Brittney!