Trash That Dress!




This concept is born from the Trash The Dress website - a blog that features photographers and photos of brides in settings less then ideal for preserving a gown: in the water, laying on the sand, etc. The photos are spectacular - magazine ad quality stuff - but emotions on that topic are mixed. Some brides LOVE the idea - some brides aren't sure they can handle doing that to their gowns. Here are some of my thoughts on the idea - if you are considering this idea, these may be of help.

1. Not all brides are choosing to do this with their own gowns - instead they may purchase a second, less expensive gown to use for the photo shoot. If you REALLY love the idea but don't want to use your own dress, this may be a better option for you.

2. A photo shoot of this nature may be better suited for sometime after the wedding date. This would allow you to have the dress intact for the entire reception, and you will be more relaxed during the photo shoot as well.

3. Keep in mind - this may not be as harmful to the dress as you may think. For example, a photo taken in the sand is not going to harm the gown any more then a dirty dance floor will - and can be easily rectified by drycleaning. Also, contrary to popular belief - not all wedding gowns are destroyed by water. If handled properly, many bridal fabrics can handle water perfectly well. Find out exactly what type of fabric your dress is made with, and then do some research to see what the possibilities are. To be more sure, soak a small sample of the wedding gown fabric in water and then hang it to dry to see what the effect is on the fabric itself.

Coming Next: Part 4 - Giving Back to Charity