Summer means more than hot weather, shorts, and vacations; it’s wedding season. If you’re one of those lucky couples who tied the knot, then you likely have an excess of accessories and no clue how to get rid of them.

Whether that includes flowers, a wedding dress, or ceremony decorations, we’ve got you covered in this week’s Where Can I Wednesday!

Donate or Sell your Wedding Dress

If you want to give your wedding dress a second life instead of hanging it in a closet, you have two options: sell or donate.

Sell Your Wedding Dress

• Sabrina Ann – A store specifically for “once worn bridal,” Sabrina Ann will take your dress and offer you a 50/50 split once it sells (which is a pretty good deal). They do have pretty strict standards, so make sure to check out their website beforehand. 24 Ardmore Ave, Ardmore PA
• Consignment Shops – Most consignment shops will take wedding dresses as long as they’re clean, but others have stricter regulations or may not take them at all. Unfortunately, the average percentage you’ll get from consignment shops is only 40%. That’s definitely better than nothing, though! Here are a couple that takes them; if neither of these are near you, The Thrift Shopper is sure to help you locate one:

o   Philly AIDS: Donate any time except during the first or last hour of store hours (usually 11 AM – 8 PM). 710 South 5^th Street

o   Circle Thrift: Donate any time the store is open (usually 10 AM – 7 PM). 2233 Frankford Ave OR 1125 Broad Street

• Smart Bride Boutique – Basically an online classified site, Smart Bride connects local buyers with sellers in the same area. They don’t even take a commission – you keep 100% of the profit. They don’t just do wedding dresses too, so if you’ve got shoes, decorations, or accessories, be sure to check them out!

Donate your wedding dress

• Brides Against Breast Cancer – Mail your gown to their headquarters, and they take care of the rest! All proceeds go towards wellness and education services to anyone affected by cancer. They accept all gowns dated after 2009 as well as veils and slips! And we can vouch: our guest blogger Leslie found her perfect dress through this great organization.
• Brides for a Cause – A bridal store that has partnered with Wish Upon a Wedding, a charity organization that gives couples facing terminal illness or life-altering situations their dream wedding or vow renewal. Just mail your dress to their Portland store, and you could even get a tax deduction for the donation. They accept all gowns 2008 or newer as well as any bridal accessories.

where to Donate or Sell Bridesmaid Dresses

Similar to wedding dresses, recycle a bridesmaids’ dresses generally comes with two options, selling or donating. One of our previous Where Can I Wednesdays covered donating your ‘maids gowns. As a refresher, here’s one great cause where you can donate:

• Fairy Godmothers – An organization that helps junior and senior high school students attend their prom by providing dresses to those who cannot afford them. Just drop off your dress at their annual Prom Fair in the Cheltenham Mall (2385 West Cheltenham Ave) to donate. Gowns must be fewer than 5 years old; jewelry and purses are also accepted.

Leftover Wedding Food

Although most brides try to plan their food to a T, it’s not uncommon to have leftovers even despite the best planning. Instead of throwing it away, donate to a food bank instead! Here’s the closest one in Philly:

• Second Harvest – If you call in advance, they will even send people to come pick up your leftover food from your wedding reception! They accept all food that has not been served or reheated. 2045 Harvest Way, Allentown

If you’re looking for another food bank in the area to donate to instead, Feeding America is a great website that provides resources!

Repurposing Wedding Flowers

Weddings are beautifully covered with flowers, but sadly many are tossed after the wedding. Instead, try donating to retirement homes. Here are a couple ones close to Center City that will take them:

• The Watermark: 2 Franklin Town Blvd; (866) 543-8577
• Atria: 150 North 20^th Street; (866) 586-9881

If these aren’t close to you, Assisted Living Info can help you find one. Most retirement homes won’t pick the flowers up, so you’ll have to bring them over yourself, but be sure to call and confirm first.

Recycling wedding Decorations & Everything Else

• 

  Tradesy – The world’s largest wedding marketplace, Tradesy allows you to list your wedding items on their site. They accept everything, from decorations to invitations to those unwanted wedding gifts, and they only take a 9% commission!

• Toss the Bouquet – Toss the Bouquet does upscale sales all around the Philadelphia area. The best part? They take everything, even DIY items and stuff that may be a little unusual. You even get 70% of the sale! Simply sign up for $10 to get started!

So whether you’re planning a wedding right now or have just had one, don’t just throw everything out afterward! Choose one of these great options instead!

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Catharine was an Editorial Intern in 2014. From growing up in Damascus, Maryland to studying Marketing and Finance at Saint Joseph’s University, she got her first taste of sustainability in Elementary School when her mother went on a recycling binge and got the family on board. She assumes she'll probably be something like that when she grows up, too. She loves her other roles as a Resident Assistant and barista at Starbucks. In her spare time, she loves to go for long runs, reading Game of Thrones, and watching Hockey. View all posts by Catharine Gaylord