Where to Donate Your Wedding Dress/Bridal Gown

You searched and searched for the stunning, elegant, breath-taking wedding dress for your special day. You felt like a princess. It was just like you had dreamed about since you were a little girl. The dress was perfect.

But now its all over. Your new life with your husband has begun.

You've got the pictures, video and memories. And, you still have the dress hanging in your closet.

Sure, you can leave it there for the next 30 years or so.

Yes, you could preserve it. But, no, your daughter (or grand-daughter) won't want to wear it. And chances are, if you wanted to wear it at your 50th Anniversary, it wouldn't fit.

So, what's the best thing to do?

Donate it. There are several charities that would be thrilled to receive your special dress. It will be resold and the proceeds will benefit others. It's a great way to make a difference in someone's life. If you have thought about donating your bridal gown, here are 5 places that would be delighted to accept your wedding dress.

The Bridal Garden

If you want the proceeds of your dress to help New York City children, consider giving it to the Bridal Garden. The money will go towards Sheltering Arms Children's Services. They primarily help with education, foster care, and adoption. It's mission for its charter schools is to "engage in a process of teaching and learning that inspires excellence in academic performance, encourages life-long learning, builds self-respect and respect for others, and develops responsible leaders and citizenry." They will also accept bridal accessories such as veils and tiaras. For more information, please call them at (212) 252-0661, or visit their website here.

Brides Against Breast Cancer

If your dress was made in 2007 or later, Brides Against Breast Cancer is a fabulous charity to donate it to. Your dress will be sold and the money earned from it will help women with breast cancer and their families. The proceeds will go towards granting a wish to a woman with breast cancer, which could really make a difference in a child and family's life. To read more about this agency, visit their website here. You will need to mail your dress, instructions are provided on the site. Your donation is tax-deductible, as it is to all of the other agencies as well.

Goodwill

If your dress is a little older, but you still think it would be a beautiful gown (or even dress up clothing for a little girl), consider donating it to your local Goodwill store. Goodwill is a reputable social service agency that helps people with disabilities find employment. If you click on their website, you will read that their mission is to "enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals, families, and communities by eliminating barriers to opportunity and helping people in need reach their fullest potential through the power of work." For more information on Goodwill, just visit their website at www.goodwill.org. There are about 2200 resale stores across the nation. To find your local Goodwill store, just look in the phone book or online. Your dress might be listed on their online auction site, www.shopgoodwill.com.

American Council of the Blind

The American Council of the Blind helps improve the lives of people with visual impairments. The have several resale / thrift stores across the country. The money from the sale will go towards things such as scholarships for students who are blind, public education, and advocacy. Most larger towns and cities have an ACB resale store. To find if there's one in your area, look in the phone book. To read more about what the American Council of the Blind does visit www.acb.org. Most stores would be thrilled to get your dress, especially if it is less than 10 years old. They might hang in the window for more exposure. The donation will make a difference for sure.

Other Charity Resale Stores

Most communities have other charity thrift stores that would be delighted to accept your dress donation. Often shelters for abused women have a resale store to help fund their services. Sometimes local organizations such as the Junior League run a resale shop where proceeds are used to help local community agencies. Search in your phone book or online to find other stores. You might also call your local United Way for suggestions. A plus of donating a dress locally is that the money will be used within your community.

Not only could your dress be meaningful to someone on a tight wedding budget, it could help make a small difference in the lives of others. Giving your wedding dress to charity is a thoughtful and kind gesture. Donate your dress today!

Sources:

www.bridalgarden.org/charity.html
http://makingmemories.org
www.goodwill.org
www.acb.org