What to Do With Your Wedding Dress After the Wedding: Sell or Donate?

You’ve said “I do,” danced the night away, and now your beautiful wedding dress is carefully hung in your closet. You may have already considered having it professionally cleaned and preserved, but what if you're looking for a different path for your gown? What happens when you're ready to part with the dress but want to ensure it has a new life or purpose?

Your wedding dress holds incredible sentimental value, but it can be surprisingly difficult to sell, and its retail value drops significantly the moment it leaves the boutique. This is a reality many brides face, and it's important to set realistic expectations.

The Reality of Selling Your Wedding Dress

Selling a wedding dress is often harder than many people anticipate. Factors like alterations, wear, and even the style's age can make a big difference. Dresses that are more than a year old can already be considered "old stock" in the fast-paced bridal fashion world. For example, one of my brides shared her experience trying to sell her Galia Lahav gown, a sought-after designer, for over a year with no success. This is a common story. Even with a highly coveted designer dress, the resale market can be tough, and the value you place on the dress personally often doesn't translate to its market price.

If you are considering selling, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Alterations: If your dress has been significantly altered to fit you perfectly, it may not be a perfect fit for a future buyer.

• Condition: A gown that has been worn, even just once, is no longer considered new. Minor wear and tear, even after a professional cleaning, can be a turn-off for buyers.

• Style: Bridal trends change quickly. A dress that was the height of fashion a year ago might not be what a new bride is looking for today.

If you're still determined to sell, there are several online marketplaces dedicated to pre-owned wedding dresses. You can try listing your gown on sites like Stillwhite, Poshmark and Nearly Newlywed.

The Joy of Donating Your Wedding Dress

If selling your dress proves too difficult or you simply want to give back, donating your wedding dress is a wonderful option. Donating gives your gown a second chance to bring joy to a future bride and supports a great cause at the same time.

One excellent option is to donate to Bridal Boutique by New Name. Their mission is to provide a top-notch bridal experience while simultaneously changing the lives of local women with their dress purchases. 100% of the proceeds benefit women who have been trafficked and exploited in the Chicagoland area.

Another beautiful way to give your dress new life is through the Angel Gown® Program by NICU Helping Hands. This program provides comfort to families who have lost a baby by providing custom-made burial gowns, created by volunteer seamstresses from donated wedding gowns. Please note that donations are currently on a waitlist and accepted on an as-needed basis. You can visit their website for more information on how to donate.

By donating your dress, you're not just clearing space in your closet; you're contributing to a meaningful cause and ensuring that a piece of your special day lives on, bringing happiness to another bride's journey.

For more ideas on what to do with your dress, check out my post on unique ways to reuse your wedding dress. And if you're still on the fence about preserving it, my previous article, Should I get my wedding dress preserved? Let's talk about it, can help you weigh your options.

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