Many brides keep their wedding dresses as cherished keepsakes or pass them down to the next generation. Other brides choose to participate in the popular “destroy the dress” tradition and have their gown artfully splattered with paint, mud or other messy media, giving it a unique and often evocative new look. But for those who simply don’t want their dress to end up in a closet or trash can, there are several meaningful charities that will happily accept your pre-owned gown and give it a second life.
Most dress charities and thrift shops require your gown to be in good condition and recently cleaned. They also have specific guidelines for how the dresses should be packed and mailed, so it’s a good idea to contact the organization in advance with your dress details to find out exactly what they are looking for.
One charity that accepts used wedding dresses is Adorned in Grace, a faith-based organization that sells donated gowns at its three stores and uses the proceeds to fight human trafficking. The organization is looking for gowns designed in the last five years, including veils and accessories.
Other charities that have a more singular focus, such as cancer research, are eager to take your dress and use it to raise money for the cause. Depending on the charity you choose, they may offer a tax deduction for your donation, which can be helpful in this challenging economic climate, where millions of Americans are unemployed or struggling to pay their bills.
Another option is to donate your wedding gown to a baby loss charity like NICU Helping Hands, which turns wedding dresses into tiny infant burial gowns that can be given to families who lose their premature babies. A seamstress who works with the organization transforms the dresses into small, angel-like garments that are offered at hospitals, birthing centers and funeral homes to comfort the grieving parents.
Some dress retailers, like Cherie Sustainable Bridal in Maryland, have partnerships with these charities and will resell your gown at a discounted rate to benefit the charity. Other dress companies that offer this service include Brides for a Cause and Operation Prom.
Whether you’re donating to a specific charity or simply taking your gown to a thrift store, it’s always wise to label the box with helpful information about the dress, such as the name of the designer and year it was purchased, to save time for the staff at the charity. It’s also a great way to prevent the dress from getting lost in transit, or mistakenly being mislabeled with other donations.
In addition to helping a worthy cause, donating your dress can help you clear out your closet and free up space for other items that will make your home more comfortable and stylish. Plus, the less clothing that is thrown away in landfills, the better – according to GreenDrop, the production of new clothes and textiles requires hundreds of gallons of water and causes 10% of global carbon emissions.