From trashing to selling: Aussies reveal what they've done with their wedding dresses

Many women start dreaming about their wedding day from a young age.

A central part of that dream is envisioning the dress, whether it's a tulle princess-like gown or something tailored and silky.

Sadly, the cost of a wedding dress is enough to make you not want to have one, with the average gown in Australia setting you back a hefty $2,637, according to Easy Weddings.

READ MORE: The $40 dupe for the expensive tights everyone wants

So, a natural question to ponder is what happens after your big day, when you've spent all that money on a dress...

In an exclusive Nine.com.au poll, we asked readers what they did with their wedding gown, and the results might surprise you.

Of the respondents, 65.5 per cent decided to hold onto their gowns – presumably for nostalgic and more meaningful reasons.

But, what about the other 34.5 per cent of respondents?

READ MORE: The best portable air conditioners for every budget

Well, 20 per cent donated their wedding dresses and 4.5 per cent decided to make some cash back by selling theirs.

Meanwhile, 9.5 per cent of people wore a dress they'd rented or borrowed, so it was returned.

Given the cost of wedding gowns and the sentimental value they hold, it is unsurprising that a majority of brides chose to keep them after their big day.

"My wedding dress was my mother's, so very sentimental – hoping one of my granddaughters will wear it," one poll respondent said in a comment.

READ MORE: Fans to help you keep your cool in summer

However, the act of selling or renting out used wedding dresses is becoming a more common practice with a lot of preloved websites helping brides make money off their old dresses.

Another, more *unique* option, would be trashing your wedding gown, as one of our respondents did: "I drove over [my dress] back and forth a few times and then set it on fire."

The idea of trashing a wedding gown might seem a little out-of-the-box, but some brides take the opportunity to trash their gowns in professional photo shoots – making for dramatic and fun photographs to hang as artwork on the wall.

Whatever floats your boat!