Today we’re bringing you a new way to donate your dress – or to buy a pre-loved wedding gown and benefit not just the planet but its people too.

The Brides Project accepts gown donations from all over the USA, and then sells them at under half the retail costs, with all proceeds going to the Cancer Support Community (CSC).

The CSC provides free services to adults, teens and children whose lives have been affected by cancer.

The Brides Project has collected many beautiful bridal gowns thanks to the generosity of other brides and bridal salon owners who want to make a difference in the lives of individuals who have been touched by cancer.

Launch of The Brides Project salon on 17 September

Ann Arbor CSC is sponsoring the first Brides Project salon at 208 West Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The store will offer brides a selection of gently used or new dresses which have been donated to CSC. It is also the Midwest donation point for Brides Against Breast Cancer.

All are welcome at the Grand Opening on Saturday 17 September.

How do I donate my dress?

Dress donations are accepted from anywhere in the US and anyone can purchase the gowns. For more information, please email: info@thebridesproject.org or call 734.418.3332.

Find out more

Cancer Support Community of Ann Arbor

The Brides Project (USA)

The Brides Project (Canada)

Brides Against Breast Cancer

All links open in a new window

Happy donating!

Katie

The stand features two eco-wedding dresses made from sustainable bamboo and silk by Julie Dutton (who exhibited her first eco gown, ‘Remnanta’ at our Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show in 2009). The idea is to show how different countries, communities and individuals are harnessing the Power of Plants to develop skills, jobs and careers and foster creativity.

The Eden Project and City & Guilds got involved in the project to demonstrate the important role plants play in eco-friendly fashion and beauty. Visitors to the stand got the chance to make mood-enhancing floral buttonholes or a glamorous floral hair do.

Find out more about the Chelsea Flower Show

What next?

• Talk to other brides and grooms in the Ethical Weddings Forum
• Sign up for our Ethical Weddings newsletter

Katie

The Alaya is a flattering bias-cut cowl neck dress in crepe silk, and has been a bestseller at Motasem Bridal for the last two years. It is also available with bespoke detailing such as cap sleeves and puddle train.

Sabina says:

Priced from £695, it’s the perfect choice for brides on a budget looking for a classy, understated wedding dress. The Alaya dress is available to order from a sample collection at the London studio and delivered within 5 weeks.

Find out more about Motasem.

Katie

If running Ethical Weddings has taught us anything, it’s that when one bride asks a question, many more are thinking it so here is our answer for all brides who love to wear pre-loved.

Ethical Weddings Directory

Among our Ethical Weddings suppliers, Swoon Wedding Gowns and Oxfam Bridal both have great secondhand wedding dresses.

Charity shop chic

It’s also worth letting your local charity shops know that you’re on the lookout for a secondhand dress (size, style, price range and so on) so that they can get in touch if something suitable comes in.

Here is a selection of UK charity shops with bridalwear departments.

Ebay bridalwear

Other brides have turned to ebay for their dress – see these stories that all feature ebay wedding dresses:

A very vintage wedding

Vintage wedding dresses are another stylish option.

This Q&A mentions The Vintage Wedding Dress Company in London

And you could also take a look at this guide to tracking down the perfect vintage wedding gown.

We hope these tips help you find the secondhand wedding dress of your dreams.  Maybe you could even pass it on again after the big day?

What next?

• Talk to other brides and grooms in the Ethical Weddings Forum
• Sign up for our Ethical Weddings monthly newsletter

Katie

• Should they sell it? If so how and where?
• Should they give it away? Where can it do most good?
• Should they have it re-fashioned into a wearable, everyday dress?
• Or should they stash it away ready for a future descendant with a passion for vintage?

On Ethical Weddings we have bridalwear suppliers who can re-fashion a gown or sell on a pre-loved dress but we wanted to hear from you too.

What did you do or what do you plan to do with your well-loved wedding gown?

Here are a few of the top tips we received:

Denée, Founder of She Just Got Married said:

“Share the Love….save the planet. Sell it to a bride-to-be looking to save on her wedding while allowing the newlywed to recoup a little of her own investment. And why pay to post an ad to sell your gently loved items when there is no charge at “She Just Got Married.”

Anja said:

“I got my David Fielden dress in a sample sale so at fraction of original price (was over 2k!) and has been worn many times by models on the catwalk apparently. Fits me perfectly so no need for alterations – bonus.

It is a a bit unusual in that it’s a short dress in raw silk. I am planning on having it dyed (maybe purple!) along with my shoes, after the wedding so I can wear it again at a posh do etc. I had wanted to get one from Oxfam but I really didn’t like any of the ones they had unfortunately.”

Kristen said:

“Donate your wedding dress to help an African bride have a very special day.  Jireh Women is a Christian organisation which exists to support women living in poverty around the world: www.jirehwomen.org

They’re currently planning on setting up wedding dress hire shops in Kitgum and Kampala in Uganda, which will bring a sustainable income to some of their partners and give Ugandan brides the chance to buy a beautiful dress they can afford. Email carol@jirehwomen.org or tel: 01257 266155 or 07947 456129”

If these tips have inspired you, why not send in your own top tips?

Read more ethical wedding top tips.

Katie

I’ve been trying to get around to writing about my outfit and those of the rest of the “wedding party” (Partner, 2.5 yr old son and 5.5 year old daughter)…

£10 wedding dress

Yes, that’s right I have bought my wedding dress for £10.  From Ebay.

Now, the last time I wrote I was getting a bit desperate as I couldn’t find anything I liked which I could afford.  If money was no object I would definitely have liked one of the gorgeous dresses by Tara Lynn, but I could never justify spending that sort of money on something that would never be worn again.

Adaptation. divx

• Prey dvdrip

I think I’ve probably always imagined I’d be married in the big meringue, but when it comes down to it, it’ll get put in the loft in a box, once I’ve scraped the mud off (we are getting married on a farm).

Once I’d made that decision, I enlisted some friends to come with me while I tried on cocktail type dresses, just so I could get an idea of what might suit me – my life doesn’t usually involve cocktail parties and so I had no clue.

It was quite surprising to me what did suit (strapless, full skirt types) and once I’d worked that out I kept looking on Ebay, and generally trawled the internet.  I tried on a few nice dresses in Monsoon, and thought I might end up with one of those, but nothing really grabbed me. I was getting a bit despondent.

Anyway, one day I found a “Make me an offer” dress on Ebay.  Description “Vintage rockabilly dress”.  Photo – not great.  I decided to bid £10 and put it in the dressing up box if it wasn’t any good.  But AMAZINGLY not only does it fit like a dream, but it’s quite “weddingy”.  It’s the most uneco mix of polyester and nylon, and is a bizarre colour, but I love it!  I’m afraid that’s all I can say for now, just in case the fiance sees this.

So, after saving loads of money I’ve now spent a vast amount on a necklace and earrings!  I went to the Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show (which was fab!), and what kept playing on my mind was the jewellery by Rosie Weisencrantz.  I tried on about 10 different necklaces, but finally picked one with a butterfly pendant in the middle.

It wasn’t actually that expensive (£150 for both). “Rosie” is lovely and makes her jewellery using pieces of vintage stuff she picks up.  She even gave me a silver sixpence for my shoe!  It’s the sort of thing I can imagine wearing on special occasions, and then handing down to my daughter, Ruby, if she gets married.

Now what the hell sort of shoes am I going to wear….? I’m going to customise a pair of wellies, as part of our ceremony is in the woods, but I definitely need a pair of dancing shoes. No idea what at the mo.

The others

The day my dress came in the post I was feeling really chuffed already (or should I say SMUG…!), as I had just bought Ruby a dress from TKMAXX.  A beautiful lilac bargain, which she absolutely loves – just perfect for a 5 year old girl, with a big floaty skirt, and sparkly butterflies on it. She is chief bridesmaid of course and will have a little posy too.  All the other little girls will be “bridesmaids” too, but wearing whatever they like.

You may have gathered by now, we are not big on “themes”.

My partner says he is going to wear a frock coat (although he has also told me he might wear his cycling lycra…!!!!).  As far as I know though, he has made no moves to get this organised and I am resisting the very strong urge to do it for him.

I had also tasked him with sorting out Heath, our son, as almost the first thing he said when I proposed was “Great – Heath can wear a suit”!  His view is that we have to dress him up as we haven’t got a dog!

Anyway, the more I think about it, the more I think a suit is quite a silly idea for a child who likes rolling in the mud and insists on wearing his bright yellow, thin bee raincoat even if it’s -20 outside.  So, I am taking matters into my own hands…

Sam

Read Sam’s profile

The Big I DO REDO is a charity ball that lets you squeeze into THAT dress and slip into THOSE heels again, to re-celebrate your marriage while raising money for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

“It’s a sad fact,” say the organisers of the event, “that many people are wholly ignorant of pancreatic cancer, even though it is the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths in Europe and the USA.”

The Big I DO REDO is a fantastic way of supporting this charity in their efforts to raise awareness and conduct research into this disease.

When and where

The Big I DO REDO takes place on 1 November at the London ANdAZ Hotel, Liverpool Street, London

There are 300 tickets on sale and tickets cost £65 each. Profits will go to Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Married couples, bridesmaids and best men are all welcome in their wedding best and will enjoy a champagne reception with photographers on hand to snap every move. The night also includes drinks and canapés, a dance extravaganza, prizes and many, many surprises.

Mini I DO REDO

If you can’t make it to the party in London, why not have one in the comfort of your own home with a Mini I DO REDO party pack and a bunch of wedding-mad friends?

Just register your party with The big I DO REDO to receive a fundraising pack including:

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus movie download

• Love vouchers for you to copy and sell
• Some exclusive cocktail recipes created by the staff at the sumptuous 1901 Cocktail bar situated in ANdAZ Liverpool Street
• Some fantastic game ideas to help you raise money

If you do redo, get in touch, we’d love to hear all about it!

Take care,

Katie
Chat about ethical wedding dresses in the Ethical Weddings Forum

Are you considering a green wedding but don’t think you’re going to find a “green” gown that fits your style? Hemp not your thing? Organic cotton or bamboo doesn’t fit the bill either? Maybe you think that eco-friendly gowns don’t fit into your image of wearing high fashion.

Don’t worry you can still go green and wear high fashion… by wearing a beautiful bridal gown from another era.

Are you a gal that loves the styles from eras long gone? The glamour of vintage fashion, gowns from the golden age of Hollywood. Well, did you know that vintage gowns are a very green option?

Why, you may ask?

They are so vintageously green because no new resources are needed to create them. The greenest choices are the ones that require no energy or new resources to create- a vintage gown fits that definition perfectly.

A touch of history

Vintage gowns have become very popular in recent years, not just because of the massive movement towards going green but a renewed interest in the beauty and style of the past has emerged. Many celebrities have donned vintage gowns for red carpet events and for their own weddings.

Just imagine all the styles and elegant fashions you can choose from. The quiet elegance or flapper styles of the 20s, the understated beauty of the 30s, the glamour of the 50s, and the psychedelic fun of the 60s and 70s. Maybe you wish to go back even farther in time to romantic Edwardian or Victorian fashions.

Do your homework

To research vintage fashions and styles of wedding gowns two fabulous books are Vintage Wedding- Simple Ideas for Creating a Romantic Vintage Wedding by Daniela Turudich and Accessorizing the Bride-Vintage Wedding Finery through the Decades by Norma Shephard.

These books will help you see what kinds of dresses were popular during different decades. That way when you start looking for a vintage bridal gown you’ll have a better idea of what to search for.

So where can you find vintage gowns? You never know you may find a gem at a local thrift store, consignment shop, or antique store. You might even be lucky enough to have a vintage clothing retailer in your town.

Online vintage

If not, there’s always eBay and a host of online retailers that specialize in vintage gowns. Two well known online retailers are VintageWedding.com and VintageVixen.com. If you are in the UK check out VintageDress.co.uk.

How to find that vintage gown

Be careful when shopping for vintage gowns, especially if you purchase from an online retailer.

1. First of all make sure the gown is not a reproduction but an actual vintage gown. Several popular stores offer vintage “style” dresses. They are not real vintage gowns. That means they are not green. New materials and resources were used to create them.

2. Also be sure that you get a gown that is wearable. Some real vintage gowns are so old and fragile they cannot be worn, at least not without a lot of expensive and time consuming restoration which only a very qualified seamstress could accomplish.

3. Ask for full disclosure of the gown’s condition. Any stains, rips, or tears? Do the zippers, buttons, snaps, etc all work properly? Is anything missing? Is the elastic in good condition?

4. Ask for plenty of good quality photos so you can examine the gown you are considering.

5. Another big issue with vintage gowns is sizing. Sizes have changed over the years. You’ll want to ask for measurements of any gowns you are considering. Get accurate measurements of yourself and an item of clothing that fits you well and compare them.

6. Ask the retailer about refund policies and get insurance on anything shipped to you.

7. The last thing to consider when purchasing a vintage wedding dress is undergarments. You’ll want to know what kinds of undergarments were worn with that specific style of dress. Some styles may require a corset or a hoop skirt.

One of the greatest things about going vintage is you can centre your whole wedding theme around the era of your gown. Think flapper 20s, 50s retro, 80s glam, or the restrained elegance of Victorian times.

You’ll see that going totally vintageous can be a lot of fun in addition to being so very trendy and green.

About the author

• this is it

Wenona Napolitano is the author of ‘The Everything Green Wedding Book’ out in December 2008. To pre-order your copy go to The Everything Green Wedding Blog.

If you tied or are going to tie the knot in a gorgeous shade of green, Wenona would love to chat with you via email for future features.

Get in touch with Wenona at everythinggreenweddings@yahoo.com – and I’m sure she’d be happy to give you a few going green tips too!

• The Oxford Murders ipod

, feast your eyes on this tasty confection courtesy of the Urbanites, aka Nicole Da Silva and Phong Nguyen from Hackney Community College – as spotted on SmartPlanet.

buy Body Heat The pair took an old wedding dress from a charity shop and worked their magic to make it shiny and new! The only thing that gave the game away was the information about recycling that the students had printed onto the fabric…

For sheer style coupled with an eco-conscience the gown came out on top in the Ethic Fashion Awards at London’s Fashion and Textile Museum

• Hamlet 2 dvd

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If you’ve customised an old wedding dress for your big day, or know someone else who has, why not share your ethical fashion expertise with other brides in the bridalwear section of the Ethical Weddings forum where brides are already swapping top tips on the best way to make your own dress.

Katie
For the latest ethical wedding tips, chat, articles and more, free to your inbox, sign up to the monthly Ethical Weddings Newsletter or meet other green couples in the Ethical Weddings Forum

• Kim Possible: The Secret Files full movie

With just days to go before the big day, I probably shouldn’t even be taking a few minutes to write on here, but I know that if I don’t, it will be a whirlwind and a new surname away before I get around to it!

One thing that this ethical wedding journey has taught me is that the more you learn, the more you care. For a few years now, I have been concerned with ‘sweat shop’ clothing and exploitation. It hadn’t wildly influenced my buying decisions, although I had started to make some of my own clothes at home, and wear more second-hand, or recycled clothing.

I started to understand that a quality garment could not make it to Australia and sell for less than AUD$5 unless the process was flawed in some way.

At the beginning of our ethical wedding adventure, I started doing some research on various fabrics. In an ideal world, I would love to find an ethical fabric which was entirely eco-friendly, but as I learned more, I discovered that every fabric has its pros and cons.

I’ll go into these in greater detail when I’ve more time (!), but NO new fabric can ever have truly good ethical credentials. No matter how pesticide free the growth, the processing involves between a bare minimum and a vast plethora of toxic chemicals. Such is life. The trick, I guess, is in somehow finding your way through to a fabric that best suits your needs, and balancing it up against its ethical credentials.

I won’t bore you with the tedious hours of fighting between organic cotton, hemp, tencel and bamboo, but the winner for me was bamboo. I love the fabric: it is delightfully soft and really does rival silk for its sheer luxuriousness. Naturally pest resistant, it usually requires no pesticide. It does however require a fairly hefty chemical treatment to process that hard wood-like grass into said soft fabric.

In an ideal world, this would be better researched, and at the absolute LEAST, guaranteed that the chemical process is a ‘closed loop’ process which recycles the chemicals and doesn’t release them. Maybe the real world isn’t so far away, as bamboo processing IS currently being researched, with a closed loop system already developed.

Aside from a real passion for alternative fabrics, I have a passion for telling others about them, and I figured our wedding day would give me a good chance to let some of our friends discover bamboo for themselves. Prior to seeing bamboo fabric for the first time, I didn’t even know it existed. I want to be able to show them the material too, and let them feel how incredibly soft it is.

I don’t think people can be pushed towards sustainable living by force. I could harp on about the poor little silkworms for hours and leave them tutting about ‘the hippie’, but if I can let them fall in love with bamboo for themselves.. well, maybe that’s half the battle already won.

I know that our wedding is about us. It will be: I think Lachie and I have been secretly delighted by how close we’ve stayed through all the pre-wedding madness. As every day goes by, I’m more and more excited to think we’re soon to be married.

So a wedding isn’t the right time for making an ethical, eco-statement. But isn’t a wedding a time to show your family and friends who you are, what you believe in together, and what your union really means? It’s in that spirit that I want people to be able to experience a more ethical wedding, and in that spirit that I intend to make sure those little ethical touches are EVERYWHERE!

Well I guess this will be it until I’m a Mrs! We’re from a close community back in Brisbane, so over the next few days, our house is going to fill to bursting point with guests.

It’s a 2 bedroom house with a good size lounge room, and at the last count, I’m expecting it to house ten people on Saturday night.. eek!

The trial run with the cake (fairtrade chocolate, homemade) takes place on Friday night, and we make the real thing on Sunday.

My outfit is half made, and I just ordered my shoes from Adili! It sounds pretty haphazard and crazy, but we wouldn’t do it any other way. How exciting!