My friend was recently a member of her brother’s wedding party. At the reception, she had a LOT of fun, if you know what I mean…A LOT of fun.
Hours later, well into the FUN, my friend got sick and soiled her bridesmaid dress.
It’s been several weeks since the incident and her dress is still sitting in the trash bag that her husband put her dress into. She opened it once to inspect the damage and couldn’t get past the, um, scent.
My poor friend isn’t sure what to do! The dress itself was expensive, the alterations added another $100 to the price, she can’t imagine just tossing it in the garbage. The dress was gorgeous and very figure flattering, but she doesn’t think there’s any possibility that she’d ever wear it again. It IS a bridesmaid dress after all and she doesn’t care what anyone says, but they can’t actually be worn again. Her closet is practically a graveyard of old bridesmaid dresses.
What does she do? Throw it away? Have it dry cleaned and face the horror of having to tell the poor unsuspecting person behind the counter that real reason the dress reeks?
The dress looks a lot, okay, fine, EXACTLY like the dress I’m wearing in this picture of me at MY brother’s wedding.
What a coincidence, huh?
I am the only person I know who has actually worn a bridesmaid’s dress twice.
Barb chose a dress for her wedding, then Amanda got married and didn’t care what I wore. I was her only attendant, so I wore the same dress again.
Your friend should toss the dress. It’s just not worth it to keep it around until she caves in 5 years and gives it to Goodwill. Because Goodwill is where bridesmaids’ dresses go to die.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Partly Cranky with a Chance of Narg =-.
Dry cleaned. But, if she doesn’t want to tell the truth, blame it on a kid. Or a dog.
.-= Crystal´s last blog ..Better than BlogHer =-.
The bag isn’t’ helping any. Try dumping it outside and letting the dress air out and see if the smell will lessen before you decide. I’m sure dry cleaners have dealt with worse anyway. It would be cute to wear again as cocktail dress if you had it shortened to the knee.
.-= annettek´s last blog ..If you aren’t going to BlogHer, well, I’m sorry for this =-.
Yes, I agree you should air it out first. Maybe even rinse it, I don’t know. But DEFINITELY take it to the dry-cleaners. After that it will be as good as new.
.-= Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt´s last blog ..Wherein Drew is spoiled rotten =-.
Let me tell you a little story. I recently brought to the dry cleaners a couch cushion cover that had been soiled by my puppy. When I explained what happened to the woman behind the counter at the dry cleaner’s, she wrinkled her nose, picked up the cover by her fingertips, and said to her assistant, “Get a biohazard bag. Bodily fluids are biohazard. We charge extra for that.” And the tone in her voice implied, “You really should have just burned this cushion cover and saved yourself the expense.” I will never bring another “biohazard” item to the cleaners. Therefore, my vote is that your friend should pitch the dress.
Um, the name on my last comment should have said “Molly @ ADB.” Or “Molly needs coffee.” Take your pick.
.-= Molly @ ADB´s last blog ..Haiku Friday: I totally thought up the Snuggie like five years ago =-.
drycleaners have dealt with all kinds of nasty stuff. clean it and then take it an all the other bridesmaid dresses to a consignment shop and then buy one awesome dress that she will wear again and again with the proceeds
.-= coffeejitters (Judy Haley)´s last blog ..My 20 Year High School Reunion =-.
Google? Call the dress store or a dry cleaner and ask? Or a different dress store and use a fake voice.
Offer some HUGE favors to Tate and see if he’ll take the dress in to the cleaners?
What’s the fabric content? Dresses often have a dry clean care tag even if the fabric is machine washable. I’d hang the dress in a shaded area outside to air it out, then if it’s mostly polyester, try washing it on gentle cycle in cold water.if it’s silk, I’d spray it heavily with febreze and then take to the cleaners.
Take the white ribbon off, instant evening dress. After you’ve got it cleaned that is. I’m sure the cleaners see much much worse – surely a little vomit isn’t the worst bodily fluid they’ve cleaned off a piece of fabric?
Toss it. Or set it on fire.
.-= AndreAnna´s last blog ..I know =-.
I say she gets it cleaned at a dry cleaners she will never go back to. Then get it cut off to make it shorter and she might be able to wear it again. It is a nice dress and if it is not long it might be able to be worn to another wedding.
Love that dress!
My best friend puked in her Kate Spade purse after her big 30th birthday celebration (she was trying to spare the cab) As mortified as she was she took it to a cleaners and they got it completely cleaned and it didn’t cost very much – I still won’t allow her to put in on the table when we go out to eat, but it was saved!!!
.-= Angie´s last blog ..No Room for Self Pity. =-.
That dress is beautiful! I vote air it out and have it cleaned. While the chances of wearing a dress again are small, that one is prettier than most and could be made to look different fairly easily.
But I would still totally blame the stain on the kids….
.-= Maggie´s last blog ..America’s Birthday Party =-.
Your friend (snerk) is never going to wear that dress again. I’ve never worn a bridesmaid dress again. Just toss it. Guilt free.
.-= NGS´s last blog ..45 x 365 #184 =-.
Seriously have her throw the blame on someone else. She could also have the hem raise to tea-length and be able to wear it again.
.-= Tara R.´s last blog ..SkyWatch Friday ~ 10 =-.
Oh, just dump it. It will sit there reeking for another 2 weeks while you work up the nerve to do anything about it and by then…well, look at what several weeks has done!
Even if you do get it cleaned, it will sit in your closet mocking you. That is the real purpose of a bridesmaid’s dress really….
oh, it’s a really pretty dress! i think your ‘friend’ should get it dry cleaned. your ‘friend’ could totally wear it again! or put it up on ebay as a pretty fancy custom dress
.-= MommyNamedApril´s last blog ..Flashback Friday! =-.
oooh, you’re a sneaky one. I actually thought you were talking about a real “friend” of yours – even after I finished reading, but just for a few seconds. Unfortunately, the only advice i have is to air it out and maybe febreeze it before bringing it to the cleaner.
OR, you could bring it to the cleaners and say that you’re just dropping it off for your own bridesmaid, since she was so great and all.
Anyway, hope all turns out well!
.-= Swiggy´s last blog ..Ladies First! =-.
Toss it. Every time your “friend” wears that dress, she will remember that night…. and even if it doesn’t smell anymore…she’ll still be able to catch a whiff of the fun she had at her brother’s wedding. Ewww.
Hmmm…. I was going to suggest that your friend toss it, but now that I’ve read some suggestions to have it shortened… I guess I would call a dry cleaner and see… But yeah, air it out.
.-= Cathy´s last blog ..Oh hi there, internet. =-.
I would take it to the dry cleaners and just blame it on a baby that had gotten sick. I have had a brides maid dress in my closet for 3 years now, but have had a chance to use it twice. Once for my sister’s wedding & then again at my best friends wedding in Dallas. I would keep it because she maybe able to wear it again. And that dress looks like you could wear it to a charity event or even a nice holiday party:-) Good luck!
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..FHA Extends Credit to Purchase =-.
Oh yeah. Your friend should air it out and get it dry cleaned, shortened and then ROCK THE SHIT OUT OF IT. And dont puke on it again. My gawd. Haha
.-= Miss´s last blog ..The One About Blogher09 =-.
Molly…I wondered what the S stood for!
Hey there. First, yuck. Get that thing cleaned. Then, suggest she do a diva photo shoot of some sort. I have done with we call Trash the Dress shoots with some of my girlfriends who are willing to model for me. we do crazy things like run thru fountains at Seattle center, climb trees, etc…in formalwear…all for the sake of some fun photos. Almost all the girls were able to use old bridesmaids dresses for these shoots. I know I’m not local (seattle area), but I’m sure there is a photog in your area (or you) that would be willing to do a shoot like this. Check out my flickr page for ideas: http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttercupyaya.
Dana
.-= buttercupyaya´s last blog ..Love Thursday =-.
cbrks12, They do mock! All 3 of mine cackle each time I open my closet.
Angie, If this was a Kate Spade bag, NO DOUBT I’d have that bad boy cleaned! Embarrassment and all!
Beth, Exactly, I’m afraid of the memories. OH DEAR GOD, the memory of that night. {shudder}
Miss, yeah that’d kinda the key, not to puke on it again. “My friend” should be so embarrassed. Geez, can’t hold her liquor, such a pity.
I guarantee you will ever wear that dress again; even if you had a place, you’ll worry that it still smells. Save yourself the $25 at the drycleaners and toss it.
.-= ShallowGal´s last blog ..What Happened to the Girl I Married? (1) =-.
Hi buttercupyaya!! That is actually a really FUN idea. Totally silly and fun, I bet I could get some others to join in…
Thanks for the idea!
Shallow Gal, Yes! And it’s not like I want to spend MORE money on the darn dress, I’m already out over $300.
First of all, you think a drycleaner has never seen a bridesmaid dress with puke on it? LOL. Even if you don’t tell them what it is, they’re gonna know. Take it to the drycleaners with pride! You have two kids and you still know how to have a good time! That said, I like the idea of taking all your bridesmaid dresses to Goodwill or a consignment shop. But if you just can’t stomach taking the dress out of the bag, then toss it out for goodness sake. You still have the pictures, right?
.-= Beth´s last blog ..Looking Back: The State of the Hahns 2009 =-.
um, pitch it – never look back. That’s what I would do with it….
.-= DesignHER Momma´s last blog ..Preparing for the Fruits of my Labor =-.
A fry cleaner won’t touch it if it’s had human fluids on it. Her best bet is to air it out in the garage for a while and let it soak in cold water for a few hours. She might want to look into some kind of product that exterminators use – I think ti’s called “Stink Be Gone” no joke – that gets rid of odors. VERY powerful stuff. She might could keep the dress and the deoderizer in a large plastic tub ( be sure not to let the deoderizer get on the dress ) and once all this is done have it dry cleaned.
First step is getting the puke out of the dress.
.-= Knot´s last blog ..You people are such wooses =-.
I say pitch it. I could see getting it altered (I know again) to maybe a tea length, but really if it has been that long since your friend’s hubby put it in the garbage bag I would be scared to get it cleaned. And you…er, your friend…might always smell the smell of vomit when you put it on whether its there or not.
.-= Heather-Domestic Extraordinaire´s last blog ..Preparing for BlogHer =-.
I think your “friend” should totally do what buttercup suggested and do a photo shoot. If there’s a bridesmaid dress graveyard in the house to be purged and used, then do it! How much fun would THAT be?!
.-= Mad Woman´s last blog ..For the love of crap =-.
That’s tough…because that dress is gorgeous! But if she’s SURE she’ll never wear it again…it might be easier (okay, WAY easier) to just chuck it.
Heh. No pun intended.
.-= Mary @ Giving Up On Perfect´s last blog ..Crossing the Line =-.
I’d totally give up on the dress. But honestly, I’m just happy to hear that there are other mothers of two children who still make fools of themselves at weddings. Um, not that I’d know or anything…
Air it out, take it to the cleaners and tell them your kid threw up on you afte too much cake.
.-= Jen L.´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: Fishing Rodeo =-.
Oh this confirms we are gonna get along just fine.
.-= The Glamorous Life´s last blog ..Win-nah… =-.
This dress would be very appropriate to wear at other formal functions (even a fancy Date Night w/ the hubby). I would definately try to have it cleaned. Hang it outside for a day or two to air out, scrape off the residue, and take it in!
.-= kj @ Where my boys at?´s last blog ..7 Days :: day 4 =-.
Yep, throw it out in the rain, drag it to the cleaners, hem it to the knee and use it again. Or burn it – that works for me too.
.-= Leanne´s last blog ..Good Grief =-.
Well, I’d tell your “Friend” that it’s not worth it. PITCH the dang thing. Think of the space you’ll save in your closet. Er, HER closet.
.-= tracey´s last blog ..Crybaby =-.
I would probably dryclean it, hang it up, and never wear it again. If I ever had an occasion for evening wear, I know I wouldn’t get it out of my closet again. An event like that is very rare for me, and I know I would not feel confident heading into, say, a work function with my husband knowing I was wearing a bridesmaid dress, even if it was a nice one (and your friend’s does look nice). Seems like if your “friend” were to wear it again, she would have to invest more money on the cleaning and possibly shortening of dress. One option, though it would still cost you money, is to dryclean it and donate it to one of those prom dress organizations or save it for Ella’s dress-up box.
.-= mep´s last blog ..You and Me, Under the Stink Tree =-.
You could dry clean and take it and your other dresses to an organization that gives prom dresses to needy teens.
DonateMyDress.org
I say air it out for a bit then take it to a dry cleaners on the other side of town so you never have to see them again. Then bring the hem up to just above the knee and then rock it with cowboy boots and a denim jacket in the fall.
Oh and high five to your friend for having such a great time at that wedding…
.-= valerie @ Robots and Candy´s last blog ..Who loves David Bowie? =-.
va – va – voom !!!!
.-= lceel´s last blog ..W.C. =-.
I have a sudden gigantic respect for dry cleaners. Gag.
.-= Scary Mommy´s last blog ..I like free stuff and I cannot lie =-.
Air it out in the sun, just dump the bag and run. The sun will kill the stinky bacteria and make it reasonable to take it to the cleaners.
As for the closet of old dresses, donate them to an organization that provides prom dresses to high school students OR…
an organization that provides dresses for young Marine wives to wear to the birthday ball.
.-= Katrina´s last blog ..OK OK, I get it… =-.