Wedding dresses can be expensive and some brides don’t have the extra cash to afford a new gown. By donating your dress, you can help another bride feel beautiful on her big day without breaking the bank. Donating your dress can also help brides who have lost their dresses in natural disasters or other emergencies.
There are plenty of organizations that accept wedding gowns as donations. In addition to charities that specifically focus on bridal gowns, many used clothing stores and general charities will accept dresses as well.
The main thing to keep in mind when deciding to donate your gown is that you want the dress to be clean. Even if there are no visible stains, it’s best to take it to a specialist wedding dress cleaner rather than trying to do it yourself. This way, there’s less chance of ripping or ruining the delicate fabric.
Some charities will resell the dress or use it for other purposes, so it’s important to research different charities before selecting one. Some of these charities will post stories on their social media pages, which can give you a glimpse into the impact that your dress will have.
For example, Shared Dream Dresses in Michigan sells donated gowns through their online store and uses the proceeds to provide free programming for families impacted by cancer. The charity also posts stories about brides who have bought a gown from the site and how it helped them. Similarly, Adorned in Grace in Oregon works with local churches to sell used gowns and raise money for a variety of charitable causes, including youth mentoring programs and aiding survivors of human trafficking.
Other charities may repurpose the gowns, such as NICU Helping Hands, which converts the dresses into infant burial gowns for families who have lost a baby too soon. The organization has around 180 seamstresses across the country who painstakingly turn these donated dresses into angel gowns to be given to parents as a memento of their little one.
Another option is to donate the dress to a general charity, such as Goodwill. Almost all Goodwill locations will accept used wedding dresses, which are sold in their thrift stores at a discounted price. The proceeds are then used to fund their various programs and services, such as employment training, youth mentoring, and community outreach.
Some charities will accept both the wedding dress and any additional bridal accessories, such as veils, shoes, and purses. It’s important to carefully pack up the dress before dropping it off, as any mistakes could rip or stain the dress. Make sure you have a garment bag to transport the dress, which will prevent any wrinkles or snags from forming. You can also pack the dress in a suitcase, which will be more easily accessible when you get to your donation location. Be sure to label the box with any important information, such as size and condition, so it can be shipped back to you if needed.