If your wedding gown is a size too big or you simply don’t wear it anymore, there are plenty of places to donate it. Many bridal shops and charities accept preowned dresses to help brides who can’t afford to buy their dream dress or raise money for other important causes, such as breast cancer research. Some of these organizations resell the dresses, while others turn them into christening gowns, cocktail dresses or accessories like purses or shawls. You can also give your old dress new life by repurposing it as a quilt or a decorative wall hanging.
It’s best to check the guidelines of your chosen charity before you start cleaning or packing your gown. Some have specific rules about how old your dress can be, for instance. For example, a charity that resells used wedding dresses may only accept gowns that are no more than five years old. This is to ensure the dress has not been worn out or damaged, which can damage the fabric and leave behind stains. Similarly, some charities only take lace dresses and not chiffon or polyester ones.
The charity will likely wash the gown before they resell it or pass it to someone else. If the dress is clean and dry, the process will be much easier for the charity volunteers. In addition, it’s a good idea to label the box of your dress before you send it off, as this can save valuable time for the charity volunteers. The label should include helpful information such as the dress’s size, the name of the brand or designer, the year you bought it and its original price.
A wedding dress that is stored for too long can become a haven for rats and insects. It can also develop mold if it is exposed to moisture. If your gown has been in storage for a while, it’s best to wash or dry clean it before donating it. The dress should also be inspected for any signs of stains or rips that need to be cleaned.
You should also ask about the organization’s COVID-19 policies before you drop off your dress. Some charities have been updating their guidelines during the pandemic. This may affect how they accept and store the dresses, as well as how they distribute them.
Some of the resale charities have a singular focus, such as Brides for a Cause, which collects gowns to sell and then donates the proceeds to dozens of women-focused charities. This charity also accepts bridal accessories and tiaras.
There is also NICU Helping Hands, an organization that turns donated wedding dresses into angel gowns for infants who die in the womb or shortly after birth. These babies often spend a lot of time in the hospital, and their parents are overwhelmed with grief. The gowns can give their baby a beautiful funeral and send them off on their next journey in style.