Most brides keep their wedding dresses in a closet, but if you don’t plan to wear your dress again, donating it can free up space and benefit a worthy cause. Donating your gown to charity also helps reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing new clothes and fabrics. “New clothing production requires hundreds of gallons of water and releases carbon dioxide into the air,” says GreenDrop.
Some people try to resell their wedding dresses, but the resale process can be time-consuming and expensive. Plus, you don’t know if your gown will sell. Instead, you can donate your dress to a charitable organization for a tax deduction.
Many local charities accept wedding dresses, but you can also give your dress to national programs that help women in need. For example, Michigan-based The Brides Project raises money for dozens of women-focused nonprofit organizations by selling donated bridal gowns. The nonprofit provides support groups, counseling services, nutrition workshops and more. Donated gowns are sold at a discount in the boutique and online.
Cherie Sustainable Bridal in Maryland offers a similar program to support marginalized individuals. The store sells wedding dresses, formal attire and bridesmaid dresses at a discount and donates the proceeds to Success in Style, a Maryland-based nonprofit that provides job skills training and professional clothing to clients in crisis. The store accepts donations year-round and has specific instructions for donating your dress via mail or in-person on its website.
Another option is the Emma and Evan Foundation, which repurposes donated wedding gowns into angel gowns and bonnets for infants who have passed away. The organization maintains a waitlist for donated gowns, connecting seamstresses with families who need the memorial dresses. The foundation accepts wedding and bridesmaid dresses, prom and formal dresses, veils and other accessories.
You can also donate a wedding dress to the Salvation Army. Its thrift stores help women and children in need, including those recovering from substance abuse, domestic violence or homelessness. The nonprofit has a network of nearly 300 centers nationwide and operates a website that allows you to search for a local donation center. You can also drop off your donation at a local thrift store or at one of its roadshow events. COVID-19 update: Most local Salvation Army locations are open with social distancing protocols, but some are closed for cleaning and storage purposes.
Other nonprofit bridal stores also sell donated dresses at a discount. Fairytale Brides on a Shoestring in Rockville, Maryland, for instance, is a boutique that raises funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Johns Hopkins Suburban Hospital Breast Center. The bridal shop accepts gowns that are less than five years old and professionally cleaned. Other donations, such as jewelry, veils and shoes, are accepted as well.