Rhiannon Hendricks
Wedding dresses are often only worn once, so if you're not planning on wearing yours again, why not give it a second life? There are many ways to recycle a wedding dress, from donating it to a charitable organisation to selling it on a specialist site. You could also get creative and transform it into something new, such as a christening gown or a piece of artwork.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recycle | Unbox the Dress offers a service to transform wedding dresses into bespoke keepsakes, such as holiday decorations, baby clothes, and accessories. |
| Companies like Jem Design and Sockreations repurpose wedding dresses into handbags, clutches, and teddy bears. | |
| Brides Against Breast Cancer accepts wedding dress donations to resell and raise money for breast cancer awareness and detection. | |
| The NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown Program and The Emma and Evan Foundation repurpose wedding dresses into infant burial gowns for grieving families. | |
| Brides Across America accepts donations to lend dresses to military, first responders, and front-line healthcare workers. | |
| Cherie Sustainable Bridal in Maryland donates gowns to Success in Style, a nonprofit that provides professional clothing and interview skills to clients in crisis. | |
| Wedding dresses can be sold on generic sites like eBay or Vinted, or specialist sites like Bridal Reloved, Still White, or Recycle My Wedding. | |
| Wedding dresses can be rented out to other brides via apps like By Rotation or services like Hurr and My Wardrobe HQ. | |
| Donate | Charities like The Salvation Army and Goodwill accept wedding dress donations. |
| Local thrift stores, community centers, and other nonprofit organizations often accept wedding dress donations. |
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What You'll Learn
Charities that accept wedding dress donations
There are several charities that accept wedding dress donations. Here are some options:
Brides for a Cause
Brides for a Cause is a nonprofit organisation that operates showrooms in Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, and Sacramento. They collect and resell wedding dresses to raise funds for various local and national women-focused charities. Brides for a Cause accept new and once-worn dresses that are less than five years old. Since 2012, they have collected over 40,000 wedding dresses and raised over $3,000,000 for charities.
Brides Across America
Brides Across America is a nonprofit that provides free wedding dresses to military and first responder brides at Operation Wedding Gown events held twice a year. They accept wedding dresses, veils, and jewellery that are less than four years old and in wearable condition. Since 2008, they have outfitted more than 28,000 women.
Brides Against Breast Cancer
Brides Against Breast Cancer is an organisation based in Atlanta that resells gently used wedding gowns to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and early detection. They have sold over 50,000 donated wedding dresses since their founding in 1997.
The Brides Project
The Brides Project is based in Michigan and raises money for programs and services at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor through the resale of donated wedding dresses. They accept gently used and new dresses.
NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown Program
The NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown Program accepts wedding dress donations and uses them to create gowns for photos and burial services honouring the infants of bereaved parents. They connect seamstresses with nearby donations of wedding or bridesmaid dresses in light shades of blue, pink, and purple.
Adorned in Grace
Adorned in Grace is a company based in Oregon and Arizona that sells wedding dresses, formal attire, and other related items. Their profits support efforts to prevent and raise awareness of sex trafficking.
Cherie Sustainable Bridal
Cherie Sustainable Bridal in Maryland accepts donated gowns to support Success in Style, a nonprofit that provides professional clothing and basic interview skills to clients in crisis. They stock designer gowns that are less than five years old.
Cherished Gowns
Cherished Gowns accepts worn wedding dresses and turns them into clothing for babies who have passed away. They are currently not accepting donations until early 2023.
In addition to these charities, there are other ways to recycle your wedding dress, such as selling it online or repurposing it into new items.
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Selling your wedding dress online
If you have no emotional attachment to your wedding dress, selling it online is a great way to recoup some of its cost. While you shouldn't expect to get all your money back, as wedding dresses depreciate greatly in value, there is a huge market for second-hand wedding dresses.
You can try generic selling sites such as eBay or Vinted, but you may have more success on specialist sites such as Bridal Reloved, Still White, or Recycle My Wedding, which sell second-hand dresses, accessories, and wedding decorations. If you don't want to sell it online, some bridal boutiques may also buy your dress.
If you live in the US or UK, you can list your dress for rent using the By Rotation app, which can be used for any fashion apparel. This is a great option if you don't want to part with your dress but still want someone else to get some use out of it.
There are also several charities that will buy your wedding dress and use the proceeds to support various causes. Brides Against Breast Cancer, for example, is a nonprofit that resells donated wedding dresses, with a percentage of the sale going towards breast cancer research. Brides for a Cause is another charity that takes wedding dress donations and resells them to raise money for different causes.
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$4.59 $19.99
Renting your wedding dress through an app
If you're looking to recycle your wedding dress by renting it out, there are several apps that can help you do this. Rent Ready Wedding Cloth Dress, for example, is an app that allows you to rent out your wedding dress to others. Another option is to use a clothing rental app that caters to a wide range of users, such as Poshmark or Depop, and list your wedding dress for rent there.
There are also apps for renting clothing directly from other members' closets, such as Nuuly, FashionPass, and Rent the Runway. These apps offer a range of clothing items, including wedding dresses, and allow users to earn money by listing their own dresses for rent. Nuuly, for example, charges a monthly flat rate of $98 to access six clothing items per month, while FashionPass offers five items per month starting at $94. Rent the Runway offers flexible plans, allowing users to rent more items when they like and keep items for as long as they want.
It's important to note that, when renting out your wedding dress, you may need to consider factors such as sizing and alterations to ensure that the dress can be worn by a range of people. Additionally, you may want to include accessories or other wedding items with the dress to create a more appealing package for potential renters.
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Transforming your wedding dress into new clothing
If you're looking to recycle your wedding dress by transforming it into new clothing, there are several options to consider. You can either do it yourself, work with a tailor or seamstress, or use a service that specialises in repurposing wedding dresses.
One option is to alter the dress yourself or with the help of a seamstress to make it more wearable. This could involve shortening the dress, removing sleeves, adding a belt, or even dyeing it a different colour. You could also create a two-piece set or a mini dress from the fabric. If money is no object, you could also get a beautiful print painted on.
Another option is to use a service that specialises in repurposing wedding dresses. Companies like Unbox the Dress™ and Lovellfaye work with brides to transform their wedding dresses into new clothing or keepsakes. The process typically involves sending in your dress and then working with their design team to create a new piece. This option can take several weeks and may involve additional costs for expedited delivery.
You could also turn your wedding dress into clothing for a baby, such as a christening gown, or into holiday-themed items like a Christmas tree skirt or angel tree topper.
If you're feeling creative, you can also frame your wedding dress as a piece of art to display in your home. This can be done with the help of companies like The Beautiful Frame Company and Outrageous Framing.
Lastly, if you're looking to part ways with your wedding dress, you can sell it on generic sites like eBay or Vinted, or on specialist sites like Bridal Reloved, Still White, or Recycle My Wedding. Donating your dress to charitable organisations like Brides for a Cause or Brides Against Breast Cancer is also an option, as they raise funds for various causes by reselling donated wedding gowns.
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Framing your wedding dress
Choosing a Professional Service
There are companies that specialise in framing wedding dresses, such as The Beautiful Frame Company. They offer a range of frames or can help select the perfect frame for your dress. Framing services can be quite expensive, so it's worth shopping around and waiting for potential sales. Keep in mind that you may need to bring in your dress only on the day they work on it to avoid any damage or dirt.
DIY Framing
If you're considering framing your wedding dress yourself, be prepared for a challenging and potentially costly project. You'll need to order a custom frame due to the size of the dress, as well as the mat, mat board, backing, and hardware. Acrylic is recommended instead of glass to avoid excessive weight. Non-glare acrylic can be very expensive, so regular acrylic is a more affordable option.
Cleaning and Preservation
Before framing your dress, it's important to consider cleaning and preservation to prevent yellowing over time. Professional cleaning and preservation services are available, but they come at an additional cost. If you're planning to do it yourself, store your dress in a cool closet in a light-blocking bag until you're ready to frame it.
Timing
Keep in mind that framing a wedding dress can take time, especially if you're using a professional service. The process may involve multiple steps, from designing the frame to mounting and sealing the dress. If you're using a company like Unbox the Dress, the transformation process can take up to 15 weeks from the initial design call.
Cost Considerations
Framing a wedding dress can be expensive, with costs varying depending on the frame, materials, and services used. If you're considering a professional service, factor in the cost of cleaning, preservation, and framing. Compare prices and look for sales or discounts to help reduce the overall expense.
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Frequently asked questions
You can donate your wedding dress to a number of charitable organisations, including:
- Brides Against Breast Cancer, which resells gently used wedding gowns to raise money for breast cancer awareness and early detection.
- Brides for a Cause, which operates showrooms in Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, and Sacramento, reselling donated wedding gowns and donating the profits to organisations that provide services and assistance to women.
- The Salvation Army and Goodwill, which will gladly accept wedding gown donations.
There are many ways to repurpose your wedding dress. You can:
- Transform it into a christening gown for a new baby.
- Make adjustments to the dress, such as shortening the hem or removing the sleeves, to make it more wearable.
- Send your dress to Unbox the Dress, a women-owned company located in North Carolina, which transforms wedding dresses into bespoke keepsakes.
You can sell your wedding dress on generic selling sites such as eBay or Vinted, or on specialist sites such as Bridal Reloved, Still White or Recycle My Wedding. You can also try selling your dress to a bridal boutique.
