There’s a lot to think about when it comes to planning your dream wedding. One of the biggest questions many brides have, however, is what to do with their dress once they’re married. Rather than hanging it in a closet and forgetting about it, donating your dress can give it a second life and support a worthy cause at the same time.
There are a number of charities that take donated bridal gowns to help women who otherwise could not afford a traditional wedding dress. For example, Brides Across America helps military brides and first responders get married for free by giving them wedding dresses from their nonprofit store. Other organizations that accept donations include Wish Upon A Wedding, which helps brides with terminal illness and Fairytale Brides on a Shoestring, which provides low-cost bridal gowns and accessories to new brides in need. These organizations’ websites list specifics on their donating procedures and tax deduction information.
Another organization that accepts donated dresses is Adorned in Grace, a faith-based charity that brings churches together to fight human trafficking in their communities. Their stores sell new and gently used wedding dresses and formalwear, with sales proceeds going to anti-trafficking mentoring for youths, preparing the dresses, and more. Their website also lists their locations and contact details for those wishing to drop off donations.
Most of these organizations accept wedding dresses that are not more than five years old, along with accessories and bridal hats and veils. They can usually accommodate both in-person and online donation submissions, but their guidelines differ slightly from one to the next. For instance, some may require that the dress be professionally cleaned before donating it while others will clean it for an additional cost. Some may require that you fill out a form or email them to receive their mailing instructions.
Some groups that accept wedding dress donations also make use of the men’s ties you might have in storage to create infant burial gowns or wraps for families who lose babies too soon. This type of group, commonly known as an Angel Gown Network, has spread to most states in the US and even parts of Canada. Here’s a link to search for one near you:
Many thrift stores, such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army, accept donated wedding dresses. Their guidelines for donation are different, but most of them will offer pick-ups or curbside drop-offs. In addition, some will resell the dresses to raise funds for their missions, which can include job programs, housing, veterans, and more. The best thing to do is check out the individual guidelines on their websites for more information about what they accept and how to donate.