A wedding dress is a symbol of love and joy, but its life doesn’t have to end once the big day is over. Many gowns sit in closets or on display and collect dust, but you can give it a new life by donating it to a worthy cause or organization. Many charities and thrift stores accept wedding dresses, making it a simple way to make a difference and reduce waste.
Before you start packing up your dress, make sure it is in good condition. If you are unsure about how to pack your dress or have any other questions, contact the charity to ask them. This will save them time and effort, and ensure that your dress is donated properly. Additionally, it’s a good idea to have the dress dry cleaned before sending it off to avoid any damage to the fabric.
Goodwill is a household name, but many people are unaware that they also accept wedding dresses. These donations are then sold in their thrift stores at a discounted price and the proceeds go to fund various charitable programs. Goodwill also hosts yearly bridal events where they showcase the gowns that were donated by brides.
NICU Helping Hands accepts wedding dresses and transforms them into beautiful infant burial gowns (also known as Angel Gowns). These are then offered to families for free at hospitals, birthing centers, funeral homes, and directly to grieving parents. The nonprofit works with about 180 seamstresses across the country to turn donated wedding gowns into these beautiful keepsakes for grieving families.
Brides Against Breast Cancer sells preowned wedding dresses at affordable prices and uses the proceeds to support breast cancer awareness and prevention programs. Their website provides information on how to donate your dress, including specific instructions for preparing and shipping it.
Adorned in Grace sells used wedding dresses in Washington and Oregon to support a number of social justice causes. This includes youth mentoring programs, sex trafficking advocacy, and professional counseling for survivors. The charity has three dress shops that are open to the public, and their website has instructions on how to drop off a dress.
Shared Dream Dresses is a Facebook group that matches brides in need with wedding dresses that have been donated by other brides. The nonprofit has gifted over 28,000 wedding dresses to military and first responder brides, as well as others who have lost their own dress in a fire or other tragedy.
The Wedding Dress Charity is a non-profit bridal store that raises money for dozens of women-focused charities through dress sales and auctions. They have a network of boutiques that partner with them to collect and sell dresses, and they host a yearly event where they display the gowns donated by brides. The organization has also been a source of support during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing gowns to brides who have been displaced or lost their dresses due to the pandemic.