Donating your wedding dress can help give a new bride the chance to have the wedding of her dreams. Many bridal or thrift shops accept gowns, while other nonprofits take in other items like jewelry and accessories. During COVID-19, donating dresses is an especially good choice because the virus can live on some fabrics and materials for a couple days and can be dangerous to touch and wear. Regardless of whether the charity you’re donating to takes gowns or other items, it’s best to follow the dress donation guidelines to ensure your dress is in good condition for its next owner.
Before you begin the reselling process, you should first contact your chosen charity and ask what their requirements are. For example, some charities will only accept dresses that are less than five years old, while others require the dress to be professionally cleaned before being donated. Some will even offer to clean the gown for an additional fee, which saves you money and time. Some organizations also have specific deadlines for gown donations, so make sure to check the website for dates and instructions.
Alternatively, some bridal or wedding expos may host gown sales that benefit local or national charitable causes. These events are a great option for brides looking to sell their used dresses because they often attract a large audience, making it easier for brides-to-be to find what they’re looking for.
Some charities that take in dresses will post them online to help match them with brides who are interested. Shared Dream Dresses, started by PEOPLE writer Emily Stulgis, is one such group that’s currently connecting 19,000 brides with their perfect dress. Stulgis says that the group’s success is partly due to its transparency. The private Facebook page allows brides to share photos of their dresses, along with size and fit details. Other brides then reach out to connect.
You can also donate your gown to a general organization like Goodwill or the Salvation Army, which has an extensive network and can make your dress available to more people than you might expect. In addition, some community theaters or schools will accept gown donations that can be repurposed as costumes for stage productions.
If you decide to donate your gown, be sure to store it in a sturdy, acid-free box. This protects the fabric from stains, which can occur when a dress isn’t properly stored and cared for. The box should also be labeled with helpful information about the dress to save charity volunteers time, including the name of the dress, the brand or designer and the year purchased.
While reselling your dress can be an excellent way to recoup some of the money you spent on it, the time and effort that goes into the reselling process might not be worth it for you. Moreover, donating your wedding dress helps you declutter your closet and reduces the amount of space it takes up in your home.