MY EX-WIFE´S
WEDDING DRESS

When I started my blog I asked people for suggestions – things I could do with the dress I was left with. Many people suggested I donate it to charity. A few charities contacted me asking if the dress was still in salvageable condition and if I would consider donating it. I also received many comments on my blog and emails to myexwifesweddingdress@gmail.com from women that had wedding dresses they did not know what to do with. Some of these women were divorced and others were happily married. So – my brother did a little research and we came up with this list of organizations that do good things with wedding dress. My dress is in no condition to donate, but I’m happy to say that quite a few women wrote me to let me know they had chosen one of these charities to send their dresses to. I like to think that my ex-wife’s wedding dress shenanigans resulted in many dresses going to charity that would otherwise be collecting dust.

Success In Style – http://www.successinstyle.org

Success In Style is a non-profit organization in Maryland. They provide free business wardrobes to men and women seeking employment. They have been incorporated since 2002 and have helped thousands of individuals onto lives of self-sufficiency. In 2008 they opened a resale shop to support their mission. Since then they have grown and moved to The Historic Savage Mill mall in Savage Maryland. Most recently, they opened a bridal resale shop, Cherie Amour. It is a beautiful and elegant shop, also in Savage Mill.  They take donations of wedding dresses.

Brides For A Cause – http://www.bridesforacause.com

Brides for a Cause is more than a bridal store – it’s a social mission to encourage women to reuse, resell and re-wear their wedding gowns to help make a difference in the world.  Wedding gowns are prized possessions – they are the piece of clothing worn on the day that you make the most exciting commitment of your life.  But what if your wedding gown (which may or may not be taking up way too much space in your closet) could be used to help someone in need?

Brides Against Breast Cancer – http://www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/

“How can you help make dreams come true? At this time, we are in need of contemporary gown styles, slips and veils dating from 2005 until the present day. Each gown that arrives at our organization is carefully prepared for our upcoming “Brides Against Breast CancerTM, Nationwide Tour of Gowns” sales. The thousands of generous donations we receive from designers, manufactures, bridal shops, and individuals worldwide, enables Making Memories to grant final wishes to women and men suffering from terminal breast cancer.”

Adorned in Grace Bridal and Formalwear – http://adornedingrace.org

For people who want to donate their gowns to help rescue those trapped in modern-day slavery. “One community need that we as an organization are actively involved in is raising awareness of the growing human trafficking issue in our neighborhoods and helping those victims that want to escape. We opened Adorned in Grace, a gently-used bridal and formal wear shop that sells donated gowns to raise funds to create safe shelters for young women victimized by human trafficking.”

Mary Madeline Project – http://www.marymadelineproject.org/

“We are a non-profit organization that donates infant / baby burial gowns and blankets to local hospitals for bereaving parents. Women donate their cherished wedding gowns to the project and volunteers give of their time, talents and love by making the baby burial gowns and blankets.”