Where to Donate Wedding Dress?

Your wedding day comes and goes in the blink of an eye. After months of planning and anticipation, you finally walk down the aisle in your dream wedding dress. But now that the big day is over, what do you do with your gorgeous gown? Where to donate wedding dresses? Donating your dress is a great way to find a new home and spread joy

Why Donate Your Wedding Dress?

There are a few key reasons brides choose to donate their wedding dresses:

Help Those in Need

Donating your gown to a charitable organization helps raise funds to support their cause and serve needy people. Many charities provide dresses for military brides, disaster victims who lost everything, or underprivileged women who can’t afford a wedding dress. Your gift can make a real difference in someone’s life.

Save it From Sitting in the Closet.

After your wedding, your dress will likely hang in the closet gathering dust. Donating it gives this precious garment new life and lets someone else enjoy wearing it on their special day. It’s a joy to imagine another bride feeling like a princess in your gown.

Make Room for the New

Your wedding dress takes up space. Donating it clears room in your closet and lets you move forward with your new spouse without clinging to the past. Out with the old, in with the new!

Recoup Some Costs

Wedding dresses aren’t cheap, but you can recoup some costs by donating it to a shop that will resell it. This helps offset a small portion of what you spent on your gown. Every little bit helps!

Do Good for the Environment

Keeping your dress in storage for years isn’t great for the environment. Donating it reduces waste and stops it from potentially ending up in a landfill. It’s a small green decision that enables reuse and recycling.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Donating

Before packing up your dress for donation, ask yourself these key questions:

• Is my dress clean and in good condition? Make sure it’s freshly cleaned and not damaged. Spots, stains, or tears will make it unusable.
• Does it still have sentimental value to me? Are you sure you’re ready to let go of this symbolic dress? Don’t rush into a decision you’ll regret.
• Do I have all the accessories? Veil, sash, gloves, etc. should be included if possible so the full bridal look can be reused.
• Am I donating because I feel guilty throwing it out? Donate for the right reasons, not just to avoid waste. It’s okay to trash it if need be.
• Will I get a donation receipt for tax purposes? Some organizations will provide documentation for write-offs.
• Do I need money for the dress? If hoping to recoup costs, consider consignment vs donation.

Taking time to clarify your motivations and the dress condition will ensure a smooth donation process you feel good about.

Where to Donate Your Wedding Dress

You have many wonderful options for places to donate wedding dresses. Here are some top organizations and programs to consider:

1. Bridal Stores and Consignment Shops

Many local bridal shops and upscale consignment stores accept donated wedding dresses. Call shops in your area to ask if they purchase used designer gowns. Typically they’ll dry clean and restore the dress before selling it at a discount. You’ll often receive 30-40% of the resale price.

Benefits of consigning your dress with a shop:

• Receive cash payout for the gown.
• Easy process with no shipping or paperwork.
• Help local businesses and shoppers.
• The dress is prepped and cleaned by professionals.

Things to consider:

• Selection is limited to consignment shops in your area.
• You won’t receive a tax deduction.
• Lower-income brides still may not afford the discounted cost.
• A gown may sit at a shop unsold for years.

2. Charitable Wedding Dress Organizations

Many non-profit groups accept donated wedding dresses and provide them to military brides, cancer survivors, disaster victims, and other deserving recipients free of charge or at very low cost. This allows you to help a person in need directly. Popular programs include:

Brides Across America

This national organization partners with bridal salons to provide free wedding dresses to military and first responder brides. Over 20,000 gowns have been donated so far! Perks include:

• Tax deduction for the appraised value.
• Easy process coordinated through a local salon.
• Seeing photos of recipients in your gown.

Brides for a Cause

With 90+ boutiques across the U.S. and Canada, this charity collects new and used wedding dresses and distributes them to cancer patients and survivors. Benefits:

• Dresses go to an inspiring cause.
• Recoup 25-30% of the resale price.
• Gown helps women reclaim their femininity.

Donate My Dress

This organization ships donated dresses across the U.S. and abroad to partner with groups helping disadvantaged brides worldwide. Pros:

• Tax receipt for the appraised value.
• Broad reach to help brides globally.
• Accepts all dress conditions from new to damaged.

NYCares Bridal Project

Donate gowns in the New York City area to benefit victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Perks:

• Local NYC metro area drop-off sites.
• Empower vulnerable women to regain self-worth.
• Provides complete wedding looks beyond the dress.

Research groups accepting dresses in your region to find the best fit for your priorities whether it’s a tax write-off, cash return, or charitable impact you seek.

3. Donate to Individuals in Need

You can also donate your dress directly to a person or family facing hardship. Ways to connect with potential recipients include:

• Local Facebook community groups (search for “wedding dress donations needed”)
• Nextdoor app for those in your neighborhood
• Your church community and bulletin boards
• Shared by word of mouthAsk trusted friends, networks

While this takes more effort than the other options, it lets you meet the bride and know your dress is cherished. Always thoroughly vet any interested parties to confirm the legitimacy and real need. Here are a few red flags to watch for:

• Requests to ship the dress overseas or far away
• Urgency saying it’s needed ASAP for an upcoming wedding
• Unwillingness to provide identification, contact info, or details

Follow your instincts if something seems amiss. When in doubt, stick to reputable organizations for giving away your gown rather than individuals.

4. Repurpose or Upcycle It

If you want to keep your dress in the family, consider having it remade into something new. Christening gowns, ring pillows, and flower girl dresses allow your little ones to continue their legacy. Other upcycling ideas include:

• Framed display of fabric swatches and lace
• Clutches, purses, or totes from the skirt fabric
• Bows, headbands, and neckties for your kids
• Decorative throw pillows with lace appliques
• Shadow boxes with dimensional dress details
• Quilt, blanket, or tapestry from pieces
• Ornaments, topiaries, or wreaths to display

Check sites like Etsy for talented seamstresses who can repurpose your gown into custom keepsakes or new fashions. This eliminates waste while producing heirlooms from your dress.

How to Prepare Your Dress for Donation

To ensure your gown is ready for its next big day, follow these tips:

Clean the Dress Professionally

Even if it looks pristine, professionally clean your dress to wash away sweat, oils, and any yellowing. Any rips, missing beads/pearls, or stains will decrease the value.

Check Condition Details

Inspect your dress closely in bright lighting to see any small flaws. Note missing buttons, tiny holes, or snags in the fabric. Capture pictures of any damage to share.

Have It Appraised

Visit a wedding dress shop to have your gown valued by professionals. Most non-profits require an appraisal for the estimated fair market value to provide a donation receipt.

Obtain Tax Documents

Keep all dry cleaning receipts, appraisal paperwork, and donation confirmation letters to save for tax documentation. These prove the value and completion of your charitable contribution.

Pack Properly

Protect the dress by carefully packing it inside archival boxes and wrapping tissue paper or plastic around the beadwork. Avoid overstuffing the gown or letting it bend.

Include All Parts & Pieces

Donate your headpiece, veil, sash, underlayers, etc. to complete the look. Note any missing accessories like gloves or jewelry that a recipient would need to pair with it.

Katy – Donated to Veteran’s Bride

When she married her high school sweetheart, Katy wore her grandmother’s vintage lace gown. After her wedding, she donated it through Brides Across America to honor her late grandfather who served in WWII. She was thrilled to receive a photo of a veteran’s wife wearing the dress on her big day, along with a heartfelt thank you note. Katy was touched knowing her family heirloom created new memories.

Aisha – Upcycled IntoChristening Gown

Aisha had a stunning beaded ballgown with a huge princess skirt. She didn’t want it sitting unused in her closet after her wedding. She decided to repurpose the bodice into a christening gown for her baby niece using the original lace and pearls. Seeing her niece baptized in that gown meant the world to Aisha. The skirt fabric was sewn into decorative throw pillows as keepsakes.

Jenny – Donated to Friend In Need

Jenny planned to donate her dress to charity until a recently immigrated coworker mentioned her upcoming wedding. She had no budget for a wedding gown, so she had to balance supporting her family and paying medical bills. Jenny excitedly gifted her the dress, which fit her coworker perfectly. Seeing photos of how gorgeous and happy she looked wearing the gown brought Jenny to tears.

Michelle – Consigned With Local Boutique

Michelle opted to consign her $3,000 designer gown to recoup some costs. A high-end bridal shop sold it for $1,200 and Michelle received 40% of the profit. That $480 cash was a nice change for her apartment’s new living room furniture. She was glad the dress went to a bride who loved it as much as she did.

Brooke – Donated to Cancer Patient

Brooke donated her gown to Brides for a Cause after losing her mother to breast cancer. Knowing her dress would go to a cancer patient or survivor gave her joy. The organization sent her a photo of the recipient who said she felt like a princess wearing the gown for her Make-A-Wish wedding. Brooke felt this was a meaningful way to honor her late mother’s memory.

Spread Joy Through Your Thoughtful Donation

Donating your cherished wedding gown reflects the spirit of your special day. By gifting your dress to someone in need, you pass on the gift of beauty, confidence, and empowerment. What better representation of the new chapter ahead than sharing the love and moving forward? Just imagine the delight you’ll bring to someone as she slips on your once-in-a-lifetime dress and feels like Cinderella. That’s a special legacy to inspire your own bright future filled with hope and kindness.

FAQs

Q: What condition does a donated wedding dress need to be in?

A: The dress should be freshly dry cleaned and in good wearable condition without major stains, tears, or missing pieces. Small flaws can often be repaired but extensive damage may prevent it from being reuseable.

Q: Can I donate just my veil or accessories rather than the entire gown?

A: Yes, many organizations happily accept donations of veils, sashes, capes, or other bridal accessories. These items allow them to complete the bridal look when only dresses have been donated.

Q: Do I have to dry clean my gown before donating it?

A: It is highly recommended to clean it professionally to sanitize the dress and refresh it before passing it along. Some groups may dry clean it again after donation.

Q: How much tax deduction can I get for donating my wedding dress?

A: You can deduct the fair market resale value as appraised by a wedding dress shop. Get the appraisal in writing. Keep all receipts for the appraisal, cleaning, and shipment costs related to the donation.

Q: What happens if my wedding dress gets lost or damaged during shipping?

A: Take precautions like obtaining shipping insurance and tracking to cover the dress if lost. Most organizations advise shipping via UPS or FedEx with signature confirmation to ensure it arrives safely.

Conclusion

Donating your cherished wedding dress allows you to pay it forward and support others in need. Whether you wish to aid military brides, cancer patients, disaster victims, or an individual in hardship, your gift makes a meaningful difference. Understanding the distinction between a Wedding Shower and a Bridal Shower is as essential as taking the time to clean, pack, and ship your gown properly, ensuring it arrives ready to walk down the aisle again. Be sure to research reputable charities and local shops to find the best fit based on your priorities. Let go and look ahead to the next chapter, as your dress brings joy to someone new.