Lyla Dejesus
There are several places where you can donate your wedding dress. Brides Against Breast Cancer, for example, resells gently used wedding gowns to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and early detection. Brides Across America, on the other hand, gives donated dresses for free to military and first responder brides. Brides for a Cause, a bridal store that raises funds for charity, also accepts wedding dress donations and distributes the profits to organizations that provide services and assistance to women. Adorned in Grace, Cherie Sustainable Bridal, and Little Angel Gowns are other organizations that accept wedding dress donations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Charities | Brides Against Breast Cancer, Brides Across America, Brides for a Cause, Adorned in Grace, Cherie Sustainable Bridal, Success in Style, NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown program, The Emma and Evan Foundation, Little Angel Gowns |
| Causes | Breast cancer awareness and early detection, support for military and first responder brides, support for women, preventing and raising awareness of sex trafficking, support for clients in crisis, bereaved parents, families grieving the loss of a baby |
| Requirements | Dresses should be in good condition, less than four or five years old, and may need to be professionally cleaned |
| Other ways to donate | Local high school theater departments, vintage stores, Facebook groups like Shared Dream Dresses |
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What You'll Learn
Charities that accept wedding dress donations
There are several charities that accept wedding dress donations for a variety of causes. Here are some notable organizations:
Brides for a Cause
Brides for a Cause is a nonprofit organization with showrooms in Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, and Sacramento. They collect and resell wedding dresses to raise funds for various local and national charities focused on supporting women. Since its inception in 2012, Brides for a Cause has collected over 40,000 wedding dresses and donated more than $3 million to charities across the country. They accept new and once-worn dresses, preferably within five years of the wedding, and offer multiple ways to donate, including mailing and local drop-off options.
Brides Across America
Brides Across America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring military personnel and first responders by gifting them wedding gowns and, in some cases, hosting weddings. Their "Operation Wedding Gown Event" has taken place twice a year since 2008, providing free wedding dresses to military and first responder brides. They accept wedding dresses, veils, and jewelry, preferably less than four years old and in good condition. Donations can be shipped according to the guidelines on their website.
Brides Against Breast Cancer
Brides Against Breast Cancer is a charity that resells gently used wedding gowns to raise funds for breast cancer awareness, early detection, research, and legislation efforts. They accept wedding dresses, veils, headpieces, and other accessories within three to four years of the wedding. Those interested in donating can fill out a donation form on their website and then ship the dress based on their instructions.
NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown Program
The NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown Program provides custom-made gowns for final photos and burial services for families who have lost a baby in the NICU. The organization accepts donations of wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses, preferably in light shades of blue, pink, and purple. Seamstresses then remake these dresses into burial gowns. The gowns are offered free of charge to hospitals, bereaving families, funeral homes, and birthing centers.
Fairytale Brides Boutique
Fairytale Brides Boutique is a unique charity that offers affordable and accessible wedding gowns to brides on a budget. They accept wedding dress donations to stock their boutique with beautiful, low-cost options. They prefer dresses that are no more than five years old and offer both in-person drop-off and shipping options for donations.
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Donating to a local theatre department
There are many places you can donate your wedding dress to, including charities and local theatre departments.
Donating your wedding dress to a local theatre department is a great way to give back to your community and support the arts. Theatre departments, especially in schools, often have tight budgets and rely on donations to create their productions. Your wedding dress can be a valuable addition to their costume collection and can be used in a variety of performances.
To donate your wedding dress to a local theatre department, you can follow these steps:
- Identify the theatre departments in your area that may be in need of costume donations. You can start by contacting local high schools, universities, or community theatres.
- Reach out to the theatre department or school to express your interest in donating. A simple phone call or email can be a great first step to understanding their needs and confirming if they would accept your donation.
- Prepare the dress for donation. Ensure that the dress is clean and in good condition. You may also want to remove any alterations or personal touches that were specifically for your wedding, such as a train or veil, to make the dress more versatile for different productions.
- Deliver the dress. Once the theatre department has confirmed their interest, you can arrange a time to drop off the dress or have it picked up. It's a good idea to take this opportunity to learn more about their upcoming productions and how your donation will be used.
- Stay involved. Consider staying in touch with the theatre department to learn about their performances and see your dress in action! You can even offer to help with costumes for future productions if you have an interest in continuing your support.
Donating your wedding dress to a local theatre department is a unique way to give your dress a second life and bring joy to your community. Your donation can inspire creativity, support aspiring performers, and contribute to the arts in a meaningful way.
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Online groups for sharing wedding dresses
Facebook groups are a great way to share wedding dresses online. One such group is Shared Dream Dresses, which was started by Gwendolyn Stulgis, a bride who wanted to give her wedding dress a new home after her own special day. The group has now grown to 19,000 members, with 200 gowns finding new owners. The group allows previous brides to post photos of their wedding dresses, along with the size and details about the fit, and anyone interested in the gown can reach out to the owner.
Another similar Facebook group is Brides Across America, which passes on donated wedding dresses for free to military and first responder brides at Operation Wedding Gown events twice a year. Since 2008, the nonprofit has provided wedding dresses to over 28,000 women. To donate, simply fill out an online form with details about your gown, veil, and jewellery, and your items will be accepted if they are less than four years old and in wearable condition.
The Emma and Evan Foundation is another organisation that accepts donated wedding dresses, which are transformed into angel gowns or burial gowns for infants who have passed away. Dresses are accepted year-round, and the organisation provides details for mailing or dropping off donations.
Outside of Facebook, Reddit is another online platform where users can find and share information about wedding dresses. The subreddit r/weddingplanning, for example, has discussions about where to find cute wedding guest dresses, with users sharing their recommendations and experiences. While not specifically dedicated to sharing wedding dresses, this subreddit and others like it can be a useful resource for brides-to-be looking for dress options.
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Recycling wedding dresses
Wedding dresses are often preserved by brides, but donating them can be a great way to help someone in need and create more closet space. Brides for a Cause is a bridal store that accepts new and once-worn wedding dress donations and raises funds for charities supporting women. Brides Against Breast Cancer is another organisation that resells gently used wedding gowns to raise money for breast cancer awareness and early detection. Brides Across America is a nonprofit that accepts donations of wedding dresses, which are then passed on for free to military and first responder brides.
The Brides Project raises money for programs and services at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. Adorned in Grace in Oregon and Arizona accepts donations of wedding dresses, formal attire, and accessories, and uses its profits to support efforts to prevent and raise awareness of sex trafficking. Cherie Sustainable Bridal in Maryland donates gowns to Success in Style, a nonprofit that offers professional clothing and basic interview skills to clients in crisis.
Donated wedding dresses can also be transformed into infant burial gowns, also called Angel Gowns, which are offered to hospitals, birthing centres, funeral homes, and grieving families free of charge. This is done by organisations such as Little Angel Gowns and The Emma and Evan Foundation.
There are also online communities, such as the Facebook group Shared Dream Dresses, where wedding dresses can be offered to those who want to wear them for their wedding.
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Donating to a charity shop
One option for donating to a charity shop is to find an organization that supports a cause close to your heart. For example, Brides Against Breast Cancer resells wedding gowns to raise money for breast cancer awareness and early detection. Similarly, Brides for a Cause operates showrooms in several states and donates profits from the sale of donated dresses to organizations that support women.
Another option is to donate your wedding dress to an organization that provides gowns for military and first responder brides, such as Brides Across America. They host Operation Wedding Gown events twice a year, where donated dresses are given to deserving brides at no cost.
If you're looking for a more local option, you can consider donating your wedding dress to a nearby charity shop or thrift store. These stores often support a variety of causes and are always in need of donations to stock their shelves. You can also look for specific programs or initiatives within your community that may benefit from your donation, such as a local high school's theater department or a nonprofit that provides professional clothing and interview skills to clients in crisis.
When donating to a charity shop, it's a good idea to research the organization's guidelines for accepting donations. Some charities have specific criteria for the age and condition of the dresses they accept. For example, Brides for a Cause typically accepts dresses that are five years old or newer. Additionally, some organizations may have preferences for certain styles or colors. It's also worth considering the impact of your donation and how it can benefit both the charity and the future wearer of your dress.
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Frequently asked questions
Brides Across America is a non-profit organisation that accepts wedding dress donations. They pass on the dresses for free to military and first responder brides.
Yes, Brides Against Breast Cancer, Brides for a Cause, Cherie Sustainable Bridal, Adorned in Grace, and Little Angel Gowns are some other organisations that accept wedding dress donations.
Some organisations, like Brides Against Breast Cancer, resell the donated wedding dresses to raise funds for their cause, which in this case, is breast cancer awareness and early detection. Brides for a Cause operates similarly, using the profits from the sale of donated dresses to support women-focused non-profits. Cherie Sustainable Bridal, on the other hand, donates the gowns to Success in Style, a non-profit that offers professional clothing and interview skills to clients in crisis. Adorned in Grace uses the profits from the sale of wedding dresses to support efforts to prevent and raise awareness about sex trafficking. Little Angel Gowns transforms the donated wedding dresses into infant burial gowns, which are offered for free to grieving families.
Some organisations, like Brides Across America, have specific criteria for accepting wedding dress donations. They typically accept dresses that are less than four or five years old and in good condition.
You can typically donate your wedding dress by mailing it to the organisation or dropping it off at one of their locations. Some organisations, like Little Angel Gowns, may require you to send an email to inquire about their dress acceptance policy.
