If you wore your dream wedding dress and have been hanging it in the back of your closet since your big day, don’t let it sit there collecting dust. Instead, donate it to a worthy cause and help make someone else’s dreams come true. You’ll also get a tax break and contribute to reducing the pollution from new materials, according to Zola.
There are plenty of places to donate your dress. But it’s important to do your research first to find a trustworthy company and confirm that your donation will benefit a worthy cause. For example, if you are planning to give your dress to Fairytale Brides Boutique in California, be sure that the nonprofit will use it to help a low-income bride. The bridal store accepts dresses in good condition and passes them on to brides in need at the event.
A few other charities that accept donated gowns are:
Brides for a Cause: This bridal store resells its wedding dresses and bridal accessories to raise money for dozens of women-focused charities. It has given away more than $1 million since 2012. The dress donations support military and first responder brides, single mothers, abuse survivors, and other women in need. You can mail your dress to the shop or drop it off at one of its stores or roadshow events.
The Brides Project: This charity sells wedding dresses donated by women and men to fund free programming for families impacted by cancer. The dress donations also support research, education, and awareness campaigns. You can donate your dress by mail, drop it off at the store in Ann Arbor, or schedule a pickup.
Adorned in Grace: This faith-based organization’s mission is to help sex trafficking victims and educate communities about human trafficking. Its donation program gives brides the option to send their wedding dress to a seamstress in a developing country, where they can see it being made and meet her virtually. You can also choose to have the seamstress alter your dress and add accessories before sending it to a bride in need.
If your dress doesn’t meet the criteria for these organizations, you can still donate it to a local wedding dress recycling or repurposing organization. These groups repurpose donated gowns for all kinds of purposes, including home decor, baptism gowns, and more. To ensure that your dress is in good condition, consider having it professionally cleaned before donating it. Many dress shops and charities offer cleaning services for an additional fee. Also, be sure to label the box with helpful information about your dress to save the volunteers’ time. This can include the size, brand and designer, the year you bought it, and its original price. This will help the charity volunteer identify your dress if you’re unable to be there to personally drop it off.