For some brides, saving their wedding dress to be passed down through generations is a beautiful keepsake. But for other brides, the benefits of donating their gown outweigh the sentimental value and it may even save them money on taxes. Plus, reducing waste has a positive impact on the environment, since the fashion industry generates so many wasteful textiles.
Many bridal stores and nonprofit organizations accept wedding dresses that can then be sold for a discounted rate to brides in need or used to raise funds for various charities. But there are also a number of more unexpected ways that you can give your gown a second life, some of which benefit mothers and babies in particular.
Some of these surprisingly charitable options for your wedding dress include:
1. Angel Gowns
A local organization in the Capital Region called NICU Helping Hands is the place to donate your dress for parents of SIDS babies. They have about 180 seamstresses around the country that repurpose wedding dresses into angel gowns, which are given to families of deceased infants as a way to wrap their children in love on their last journey. The organization is looking for wedding dresses that are in good condition and can be made into an angel dress within the next six months.
2. Breast Cancer Research
The Wedding Dress Project is a nonprofit that collects and resells donated wedding dresses to raise funds for a variety of women-focused causes. They accept gowns that are less than five years old and can be shipped or dropped off at their store locations or roadshow events. The organization also works with Brides Against Breast Cancer, which offers financial support to women who are facing treatment for the disease.
3. Charity Wedding Gowns
This non-profit bridal store in Ann Arbor sells dresses to fund free programs for people impacted by cancer. They accept a range of styles and don’t require that gowns be professionally cleaned before donating. This makes it easy for brides who are worried about spending extra money on cleaning to donate their gowns.
4. Thrift Stores
A household name, Goodwill stores accept wedding dresses to be sold in their thrift stores across the US. Most Goodwill locations also hold yearly bridal events where hundreds of gowns and other bridal accessories are displayed for brides who might not be able to afford a new wedding dress. Goodwill asks that you contact your local branch before donating your dress to make sure they have room for more and to ask about their specific donation policies.
5. Other Ways to Reuse Your Dress
While it might be tempting to keep your wedding dress as a reminder of your big day, there are so many other fun ways to repurpose the gown. You can turn it into a pillow or baptism dress for your baby, use it as a photo prop for your future kids, or even alter it into a cocktail dress for a special occasion.