Weddings are one of the most exciting times in your life. But, when the big day is over, you don’t always know what to do with your beautiful dress. You might want to sell it, or you may decide that it should be a part of someone else’s special day. Whatever your decision, donating your dress is a great way to help the environment and give your dress a second life.
Donate Your Wedding Gown to a Charity
There are many charities that accept wedding dresses and other donated clothing. Some have a specific cause, such as breast cancer, and some are more general. When choosing where to donate your dress, it’s important to find an organization that aligns with your values and passions.
Brides Against Breast Cancer (BABC) has been helping women since 1997, so it’s a great choice for wedding dress donations. Your donation will be put to good use, and you can feel good knowing that your dress is helping women who are fighting breast cancer through their early detection and awareness programs.
Adorned in Grace is a faith-based nonprofit that helps fight human trafficking with a mission of “creating awareness, prevention and restoration.” They accept new and gently used wedding gowns as well as formalwear. The sales of the gowns go to their anti-trafficking fund, which provides professional counseling and other services for survivors.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused some organizations to suspend their dress donation program, so it’s a good idea to check with the charity you plan to donate your wedding gown to to make sure they’re still accepting them. Some have specific guidelines for vetting your donation, so it’s a good idea not to send in something that has been damaged or stained.
You can also consider donating your dress to a thrift store or charity that will clean and box it for you. This is especially helpful if you’re donating your dress during the pandemic, as it will reduce the risk of mold and other toxins developing on the fabric.
Other charities that accept wedding dresses include Brides Across America, which provides wedding dresses to US military brides. The charity was started by a bridal salon owner who saw how much a gift of a free dress meant to a military bride and made it her life’s work.
Another nonprofit that accepts wedding dresses is Wish Upon A Wedding, which gives gifts to terminally ill couples who are facing their wedding or vow renewal. The nonprofit also works with Fairytale Brides on a Shoestring, which offers reduced-price bridal gowns and accessories to underprivileged women in the D.C. area.
If you want to donate your wedding dress to the Salvation Army, you’ll need to contact your local Salvation Army to see if they have pick-up services or if you need to schedule an appointment online. Each location has a different donation policy, so it’s best to call ahead before dropping your dress off.