Here's How to Donate Your Wedding Dress to Help a Bride in Need

Your wedding dress played an oh-so important role in your big day. It got you down the aisle in style, and kept you photo-ready at every turn. But now that it's served its purpose, you might be left wondering what comes next. Well, why not donate your wedding dress? "Donating your dress gives it 'second life' by allowing another bride to wear it," says Erin Scharf, founder and executive director of Brides for a Cause. "It also helps the environment by reducing waste and pollution, and helps free up precious storage space in your closet."

The truth is that there are countless reasons to donate your gown (aside from the ones we just mentioned), and we'll dive into them a bit later. But for now you should know: The process is quick and easy, plus, there are donation centers all across the country. So, if you're looking to support a good cause (and get a tax deduction along the way), take this as your sign to consider bridal dress donation and keep scrolling for everything you need to know about the process including where to donate.

In this article:

• Why Donate a Wedding Dress?
• Where to Donate a Wedding Dress for a Cause
• FAQs About Wedding Gown Donation
• How to Prepare Your Bridal Dress Donation

Why Donate a Wedding Dress?

We get it: Deciding what to do with one of your most sentimental pieces of clothing is not an easy task. But with so many benefits to donating a wedding dress, the pros certainly outweigh the cons. Here's a few reasons why you should consider wedding gown donation.

You'll help a bride in need.

Having just gone through the shopping process yourself, you're probably well aware that wedding dresses are expensive. The reality is that the cost of a wedding dress is simply not feasible for many brides. By donating your dress to a bride in need, you'll help make a couple's wedding dreams come true.

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You'll help the environment.

Extending the lifecycle of clothing is the best way to help cut down on textile waste. When you donate a bridal gown, you're essentially giving it a second life, and in turn, helping the environment by ensuring it stays out of the landfill.

You'll free up some storage space.

Wedding dress preservation is a great option if you plan on wearing your gown again in the future (like at a vow renewal, for instance) or passing it on to a loved one. However, if you don't have any future plans for it, there's a good chance it could end up collecting dust. If you're looking to free up some precious storage space, donating your wedding dress is a great way to do so (especially since your gown is likely one of the bulkiest pieces of clothing you own).

You'll get a tax deduction.

Since your gown would be going to a charity, you'd be able to receive a tax deduction for the donation. A 501(c)(3) receipt is given when a federally certified charity receives a charitable contribution of $250 or more. Once you get your receipt, you can claim your contribution while filing your taxes and get a tax deduction.

You won't have to deal with the resell process.

Yes, reselling your wedding dress can help you recoup some of the money you initially spent on it, but there's a lot that goes into the resale process. Between getting it professionally cleaned and mended, taking high-quality photos of it and waiting for it to sell, you might feel like it's more work than it's worth. On top of that, there's no way to guarantee that your dress will sell. Drew Edwards, Executive Director of the Brides Against Breast Cancer Charity, believes that you should consider donating your dress if you haven't been able to sell it after six months. "Used wedding dresses in great condition that under two years old usually sell for 50% of their retail prices, so if your dress doesn't match that criteria it's probably best to donate instead," he explains.

Where to Donate a Wedding Dress for a Cause

There are lots of places to donate your bridal gown. Beth Chapman, founder of The White Dress by The Shore, suggests doing plenty of research before deciding on one. "Ensure that it is a reputable company and confirm what charity it is benefitting," she says. "You should also select a cause that has significance to you as a couple." By doing that initial research, you can rest assured knowing your gown is going to a good place.

1. Adorned in Grace

Adorned in Grace is a faith-based organization with a mission to bring churches together to fight human trafficking through awareness, prevention and restoration in different communities. They accept donations from bridal shops and brides so they can provide other brides with new or gently-used items. The sales go towards anti-trafficking mentoring for the youth, preparing the dresses and much more.

• What the Charity Accepts: Wedding dresses (no more than five years old), formalwear, mother-of-the-bride dresses, flower girl dresses, wedding accessories (like veils and belts)
• Donation Methods: If you live near one of their locations, you can drop off your donation in person. Otherwise, you can ship to any of their locations following their online instructions.
• Locations: Portland, OR, Gresham, OR, Mesa, AZ

2. Brides Across America

Brides Across America is a nonprofit that supports the military and first responders by gifting them weddings and wedding gowns. Since 2008, Brides Across America has given a military or first responder bride a free wedding gown during their "Operation Wedding Gown Event." They have gifted over 28,000 wedding dresses and over 25 free weddings so far.

• What the Charity Accepts: Wedding dresses (no more than four years old), veils, tiaras, accessories
• Donation Methods: You can ship your wedding dress donation according to the guidelines on their site.

3. Brides Against Breast Cancer

Brides Against Breast Cancer is a charity that helps give early detection education and supports research and legislation efforts with other breast cancer foundations and funds through its wedding dress sales. Edwards advocates for wedding dress donation because otherwise, it's a "no-win decision for brides financially, a no-win for charitable causes, no-win for other lower budget brides, and no-win for the earth."

• What the Charity Accepts: Wedding dresses (no more than three years old), veils, headpieces, other accessories
• Donation Methods: After you complete the donation form on their website, you'll have to wait for it to be approved. Once the form is approved, you can ship the dress based on their instructions.

4. Brides for a Cause

Brides for a Cause is a program that helps raise money for women-focused nonprofit organizations. These organizations help promote positive self-image, education and much more. With boutiques across the country, Brides for a Cause gives nearlyweds an opportunity to purchase an affordable, sustainable and charitable wedding dress.

• What the Charity Accepts: Wedding dresses (no more than five years old), bridal accessories
• Donation Methods: You can drop off your wedding dress at one of their locations, or send it in the mail. They have specific details on how to pack and mail your dress on their website.
• Locations: Portland, OR, Tacoma, WA, Seattle, WA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA

5. Cherie

Cherie's mission is to help give individuals from marginalized communities the tools they need to succeed. As a nonprofit charitable organization, they offer comprehensive fashion consultations, high-quality professional clothing for interviews and new jobs (as well as other major life events, such as weddings), and basic interview skills. Their store is run by a dedicated team of volunteers from the community.

• What the Charity Accepts: Wedding dresses
• Donation Methods: You can drop off your dress in-person at Cherie, or at their sister store, Charity's First Picks. You can also mail your dress to them following the instructions listed on their website.
• Locations: Savage, MD

6. Fairytale Brides Boutique

Fairytale Brides Boutique believes that planning a wedding should be all about the couple's wants, not the cost. Because of that, they are committed to offering affordable and accessible wedding gowns. They seek wedding dress donations in order to keep their boutique stocked with beautiful, low-cost options.

• What the Charity Accepts: Wedding dresses (no more than five years old)
• Donation Methods: You can schedule a time to drop off your gown in-person on the boutique's website, or contact them directly for their mailing address to have your dress shipped.
• Locations: Rockville, MD

7. NICU Helping Hands' Angel Gown® Program

The NICU Helping Hands' Angel Gown® Program started in 2013 with the mission to help families who have lost a baby in the NICU. The program provides comfort for bereaved families through the gift of a custom made gown used for final photos and for burial services. The gowns are free of charge for any family or hospital that requests them. The program also supports grieving families through mentorship and other resources.

• What the Charity Accepts: Wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses in light shades (pale pink, pale blue and lavender)
• Donation Methods: There are NICU Helping Hands' Angel Gown® Programs in 48 of the 50 states. You can visit the program's website for specific information on how to donate in your state.

8. The Brides Project

The Brides Project is not your average bridal salon. They carry brand new dresses for a fraction of the cost thanks to donations from boutiques across the country. They also have a pre-loved section, consisting of gowns donated by former brides. Proceeds from every purchase goes to support families touched by cancer by providing services at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor.

• What the Charity Accepts: Wedding dresses (no more than five years old), accessories such as belts, sashes, veils, headpieces, jewelry and jackets
• Donation Methods: The first step is to fill out a donation form, which can be found on the store's website. From there, you can drop your dress off in-person, or ship it via the instructions listed online.
• Locations: Ann Arbor, MI

9. Thrift Stores

Many thrift stores, like Goodwill and The Salvation Army, use donation sales to support job programs, housing, veterans and much more. There are numerous thrift stores across the country that accept wedding dresses as donations. Visit your local store to learn how to donate.

• What the Charity Accepts: Everything from clothing to electronics. Contact your local thrift store to ask about which items they don't accept.
• Donation Methods: Depending on the thrift store, you can schedule a pick-up from your home, put your donation in a drop-off bin or deliver your donation in person.

FAQs About Wedding Gown Donation

Now you know where to donate your wedding dress, but you might still have a few questions. Below, we're breaking down the answers to the most common FAQs about donating wedding dresses to charity.

Can you donate a wedding dress to Goodwill or Salvation Army?

Yes! If you're hoping to offload your wedding gown as soon as possible, Goodwill and The Salvation Army are the places to go. They have donation drop-off locations all across the country and don't require you to fill out any paperwork to donate.

Where can you donate a vintage wedding dress?

Because most charities do not allow you to donate a wedding dress older than 5 years, you may have to look elsewhere to donate a vintage garment. Vintage dress shops and consignment stores are a great place to start.

Is donating a wedding dress tax deductible?

Looking to write off wedding expenses? Bridal gown donation is the way to go. Like we mentioned earlier, you'd be able to receive a tax deduction when you donate your wedding dress. Be sure to check the IRS Charitable Contributions page to find out if your dress is eligible.

How to Prepare Your Bridal Dress Donation

After searching "where to donate wedding dresses near me" and deciding on a charity, the next step is to prepare your gown for donation. While the process might look a little different for every charity, these four steps are a great place to start.

1. Contact the charity for specific instructions.

Each charity has different guidelines for how you should prepare and deliver your wedding dress donation. Call or email your chosen charity to get answers to any specific questions you may have.

2. Make sure the dress is in good condition.

Assess your wedding dress for any signs of tearing or fraying. Check for mold (which can develop in moist and humid environments like a basement) and discoloration on dresses older than a few months. While significant damages may disqualify your gown from donation eligibility, minor ones can be fixed with the help of a qualified seamstress prior to being donated.

3. Thoroughly clean the dress.

Even if there are no stains on your wedding dress, you'll still need to have it cleaned before donating it. We recommend taking your wedding dress to someone who specializes in wedding dress cleaning rather than you trying to clean it yourself. Don't have time to go to a dress cleaner? Some charities offer to clean the dress for you for an additional charge.

4. Pack and label your dress for donation.

Once you've packed up your wedding dress, make sure you label the box with helpful information about the dress to help save charity volunteers time. List the size of the dress, the brand or designer, the year you purchased it and its original price.

Additional reporting by Chapelle Johnson

Please note: The Knot and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, financial or tax advice and should not be used as such. You should always consult with your financial and tax advisors about your specific circumstances. This information contained herein is not necessarily exhaustive, complete, accurate or up to date and we undertake no responsibility to update. In addition, we do not take responsibility for information contained in any external links, over which we have no control.