Rhiannon Hendricks
Wedding dresses are often stored away in closets after the big day, but they can be put to good use in many creative and meaningful ways. If you're looking to give away your old wedding dress, you can donate it to a charitable organisation that passes on dresses to brides in need, such as Brides for a Cause, Brides Against Breast Cancer, or Brides Across America. These organisations use the proceeds to support various causes, including breast cancer awareness, early detection, and support for women in the military, single mothers, and abuse survivors. You can also repurpose your wedding dress into decorative items, family heirlooms, or christening gowns. Websites like Unbox the Dress offer services to transform your wedding dress into new designs and keepsakes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Donate to charities | Brides Across America, Brides Against Breast Cancer, Brides for a Cause, Goodwill Industries, Cherie Sustainable Bridal, The Emma and Evan Foundation, NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown program, Unbox the Dress |
| Accepted items | Wedding dresses, veils, tiaras, accessories, engagement rings, wedding favors, bridal accessories, mother-of-the-bride dresses, flower girl dresses, formalwear |
| Donation methods | Online forms, shipping, in-person drop-off |
| Other options | Repurpose/upcycle into decorative elements, family heirlooms, christening gowns, keepsakes, jewellery, sell online or at consignment shops |
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What You'll Learn
Charities that accept wedding dresses
There are several charities that accept wedding dress donations. Brides for a Cause is a bridal store that raises funds for charity by reselling donated wedding gowns and distributing the profits to organizations that provide services and assistance to women. Brides Across America is another nonprofit that passes on donated wedding dresses for free to military and first responder brides at Operation Wedding Gown events twice a year. Brides Against Breast Cancer resells gently used wedding gowns to raise money for breast cancer awareness and early detection.
Cherie Amour is a unique charity that accepts outdated gowns and has volunteer designers and seamstresses who transform the dresses into contemporary styles. Success in Style, a charitable organization based in Maryland, helps women and men in crisis gain employment by providing free business attire, fashion advice, and interview counselling. The NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown program accepts wedding dresses, which seamstresses remake into gowns for photos and burial services honouring the infants of bereaved parents.
Many popular local donation sites such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army also accept wedding dress donations.
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Charities that support women
There are several charities that accept wedding dress donations to support women. Brides for a Cause is a nonprofit bridal store that collects and resells wedding dresses to raise funds for dozens of women-focused charities. Since 2012, the store has donated over $1.2 million to charities that support women in the military, single mothers, abuse survivors, and more. Brides Against Breast Cancer is another nonprofit that resells gently used wedding gowns to raise money for breast cancer awareness and early detection. Brides Across America is a nonprofit that passes on donated wedding dresses for free to military and first responder brides. Brides can also shop at Adorned in Grace in Oregon and Arizona for wedding dresses, formal attire, and other accessories. The profits from these sales are used to support efforts that prevent and raise awareness of sex trafficking.
The Emma and Evan Foundation accepts wedding dress donations that are transformed into angel gowns, which are burial gowns for infants who have passed away. These memorial gowns are offered to grieving families as a source of comfort and remembrance. Cherie Sustainable Bridal in Maryland is another bridal store that supports Success in Style, a nonprofit that offers professional clothing and basic interview skills to clients in crisis. Fairytale Brides on a Shoestring is a nonprofit boutique in Rockville, Maryland, that sells reduced-priced wedding gowns. All of its net proceeds go towards the Alzheimer’s Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Johns Hopkins’ Suburban Hospital Breast Center.
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Charities that support breast cancer awareness
Donating your wedding dress is a great way to support breast cancer awareness and other charitable causes. Brides Against Breast Cancer is a notable organization that resells gently used wedding gowns to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and early detection. The company is based in Atlanta and has sold over 50,000 donated wedding dresses.
- Brides for a Cause: This nonprofit organization collects and resells wedding dresses to raise funds for various local and national nonprofits that support women. They accept wedding dresses no more than five years old and bridal accessories.
- Brides Across America (BAA): BAA is a nonprofit that provides free wedding dresses and covers the wedding costs of military members and first responders. They accept wedding dresses, accessories, engagement rings, and wedding favors.
- Cherie Sustainable Bridal: Located in Maryland, Cherie Sustainable Bridal supports Success in Style, a nonprofit that offers professional clothing and interview skills to clients in crisis. They accept designer gowns less than five years old and bridesmaid dresses.
- Fairytale Brides on a Shoestring: This nonprofit boutique in Rockville, Maryland, sells reduced-priced wedding gowns, with all net proceeds going to the Alzheimer's Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Johns Hopkins' Suburban Hospital Breast Center.
- The Emma and Evan Foundation: This organization transforms wedding dresses into angel gowns, which are burial gowns for infants who have passed away. They provide these memorial gowns to grieving families as a source of comfort.
- National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF): The NBCF provides help and support to those affected by breast cancer. They have received high ratings from charity evaluators, with an average of 82% of their spending directed towards life-saving programs.
- Susan G. Komen: This foundation offers a breast care helpline with free support from trained oncology social workers and guidance to local resources. They also have a financial assistance program to help individuals afford treatment.
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Charities that support the military and first responders
If you're looking to donate your old wedding dress to support the military and first responders, consider giving it to Bride Across America (BAA). BAA is a nonprofit organization that donates 2,000 wedding dresses annually and covers the wedding costs of military members and first responders. They accept wedding dresses less than five years old, accessories, engagement rings, and wedding favors.
Now, here is some information about charities that support the military and first responders:
The Robert Irvine Foundation
The Robert Irvine Foundation supports the physical and mental well-being of service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. The foundation provides food, wellness, community, and financial support to promote healing and address the needs of these heroes. Their programs include shared meals, service dog matching, and grants and scholarships for service members and their families.
The Gary Sinise Foundation
The Gary Sinise Foundation, established by actor and 40-year advocate Gary Sinise, supports active-duty military, veterans, first responders, and their families. They build specially adapted homes for severely wounded veterans, host celebrations at military medical centers, and provide meals to veterans and their families.
Hope for the Warriors
Hope for the Warriors was founded by military families who witnessed the effects of war on service members and their families. They provide comprehensive support programs focused on transition, health, wellness, and peer engagement for service members, veterans, and military families.
Operation First Response (OFR)
OFR has served over 37,000 families of Wounded Heroes, Disabled Veterans, First Responders, and Gold Star Families nationwide since 2004. They provide critical financial and emotional support, addressing personal and financial needs from the onset of injury or illness through recovery and transition to civilian life.
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Repurpose your wedding dress
If you're looking to give your old wedding dress a new lease of life, there are endless ways to repurpose it. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Alterations
Consider getting your wedding dress altered into a more wearable garment. You could work with a tailor or seamstress to create a new piece of clothing that you can wear again and again. For example, you could turn it into a charming mini dress, a two-piece set, or even a robe that you can wear each morning.
Accessories and Homeware
If you're handy with a sewing machine, you can transform your wedding dress into a range of creative accessories and household items. You could craft sentimental baby blankets, bassinet covers, christening gowns, pillows, tablecloths, table runners, or napkins.
Keepsakes and Gifts
You can also repurpose your wedding dress into bespoke keepsakes or gifts. Unbox the Dress is a company that specialises in transforming wedding dresses into modern bridal gifts and family heirlooms. For example, they can create a robe and clutch set, a Christmas tree skirt, angel tree topper, or guardian angel ornaments.
Dye and Refashion
You could also consider dyeing and refashioning your wedding dress into a new garment that you can wear again. This way, you can give your dress a completely new look while still enjoying its comfort and sentimentality.
Repurposing your wedding dress allows you to extend its life and create something new and meaningful. Whether you choose to wear it again, transform it into accessories, or create family heirlooms, your wedding dress can continue to bring joy long after your wedding day.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several organizations that accept wedding dress donations, including Brides for a Cause, Brides Across America, and Brides Against Breast Cancer. Brides for a Cause is a nonprofit bridal store that collects and resells wedding dresses to raise funds for women-focused charities. Brides Across America is a nonprofit that supports the military and first responders by gifting them wedding gowns. Brides Against Breast Cancer resells gently used wedding gowns to raise money for breast cancer awareness and early detection.
Other organizations that accept wedding dress donations include The Emma and Evan Foundation, which transforms wedding dresses into angel gowns or burial gowns for infants who have passed away, and Cherie Sustainable Bridal in Maryland, which supports Success in Style, a nonprofit that offers professional clothing and basic interview skills to clients in crisis.
Websites like Brides for a Cause provide platforms where preowned wedding dresses can be sold online or at consignment shops. Before selling your wedding dress, it is important to ensure it is in pristine condition and has been professionally cleaned and mended.
Yes, there are several creative ways to repurpose your old wedding dress. You could transform it into decorative elements like pillows or an heirloom quilt, or fashion a christening gown for your child. You could also pass down parts of the dress as family heirlooms or transform it into new designs, modern bridal gifts, or family keepsakes.
