If you’re a bride-to-be or recently married, your wedding dress is likely one of the most precious pieces of clothing in your closet. Many brides choose to have their bridal gown preserved for a special occasion or pass it down to a daughter, but others find that the benefits of donating the dress — more closet space and a tax deduction — outweigh the sentimental value. Whether you want to get rid of your own dress or give a wedding gown to a friend or family member, there are several charities that accept bridal dresses and other formalwear.
If your wedding dress is less than five years old and in good condition, you can donate it to Operation Wedding Gown. This organization provides free wedding gowns for military and first responder brides and also sells the dresses to raise funds for other causes. You can drop off the dress at one of the charity’s store locations or mail it following their online instructions.
This nonprofit bridal shop sells dresses that have been donated by other brides to raise money for dozens of women-focused charities. Brides for a Cause has raised more than $1.2 million since its founding in 2012. It accepts wedding dresses and other formalwear, as well as bridesmaid dresses and bridal accessories. The nonprofit has several donation drop-off locations and roadshow events throughout the year, but you can also donate your dress online.
When donating your wedding dress to an organization, it’s important to clean the dress prior to dropping it off or shipping it. This helps to save the charity time, as they don’t have to inspect the dress and may be able to process it faster. A professional cleaner specializes in cleaning dresses and is the best option for getting your gown ready to donate.
The NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown program at the University of Michigan Health-West accepts donated wedding dresses to repurpose into garments for the families of infants that have died in the neonatal intensive care unit. This practice offers solace and dignity to grieving parents.
Adorned in Grace sells new and gently used wedding dresses, prom dresses, bridal accessories and other formalwear to raise funds for anti-trafficking efforts in communities around the country. The nonprofit has drop-off locations in Oregon and Arizona, as well as an online donation form that allows you to send a dress from anywhere.
The Salvation Army has been helping people across the globe since 1865, with programs for adults and children that include rehabilitation, prison ministry work, disaster relief and more. It accepts wedding dresses, shoes and other accessories, jewelry, furniture, appliances and more. Donations are accepted at most local Salvation Army thrift stores and can be shipped or dropped off in person. You should clean your gown prior to donation, as the Salvation Army has a list of approved dry cleaners that are available for this purpose. It’s a good idea to label the box with helpful information about your dress, including its size, the brand or designer and the year it was purchased. This will help to save the charity volunteers’ time and make the dress more valuable.