Affordable Wedding Dresses that Give Back

Photo Courtesy of Stillwhite

Written by Curator Tina Wong, owner of Grace + Ivory

Building a more socially conscious world is important to me, which is why I am focused on building a more sustainable fashion and bridal brand that also supports women’s causes. Many couples want to plan their wedding with intention, including supporting businesses and brands that give back to their communities or stand for their personal values. Here are 3 tips and brands that can lead you to choosing a bridal gown that gives back in a variety of ways.

Buying Secondhand

Buying a previously worn wedding dress is a great way to contribute to conserving resources and protecting the environment by reducing carbon emissions. Overall, reusing and recycling clothing keeps these garments out of landfills and reduces pollution. Buying secondhand also gives you access to designers and gowns that are no longer available new. There are some really great options to finding a second-hand wedding, dress and it's a sustainable choice that aligns with eco-conscious values.

Where to buy:

Stillwhite is a great site to search for a secondhand dress. You can search by designer, sizing, and price range, making this site a popular destination for brides looking for more affordable options or unique dresses that may no longer be available in stores. As an online marketplace specifically designed for buying and selling pre-owned wedding dresses, it is a terrific platform for individuals to connect and transact directly with one another. The website acts as a centralized marketplace where sellers can list their wedding dresses, and potential buyers can browse and purchase dresses that suit their preferences.

Photo Courtesy of Wish Upon A Dress

Donation Boutiques: Buy Off the Rack Samples

Secondhand not for you? Not a big deal! There are other ways to shop for your wedding dress that does not require you to wear a pre-worn dress. A budget-friendly option is shopping at off-the-rack boutiques that also gives back to a greater cause. This does a double-duty, usually off-the-rack dresses might have been part of a bigger production and so you’re again keeping these garments out of a landfill (which they sometimes go to even brand new and unworn) and part of your purchase goes to a good cause. This typically means that a portion of the dress purchase is donated directly to a non-profit they are working with.    

Where to Buy:

For Chicago, Wish Upon a Wedding has a beautiful showroom downtown and a large variety of designers, styles, and sizes! Wish Upon a Dress was created to support its non-profit sister organization, Wish Upon a Wedding, which is an organization that grants weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illnesses or life altering health circumstances. Check out their sites to read about their social cause, and book your appointment here. 

Photos Courtesy of Grace + Ivory

Photos Courtesy of Grace + Ivory

Slow Fashion - Made-to-Measure & Custom

Did you know that fast fashion is the second-largest polluter in the world? Luckily, the wedding dress industry has many slow fashion options that promote a more sustainable and ethical approach to fashion consumption and production. It encourages a shift away from the fast-paced, disposable nature of the fashion industry towards a more mindful and conscious way of dressing. If you have a very specific vision for your dress, if your proportions don’t work with standard sizing, or if you simply want your dress to be “your dress” (and that’s OKAY!), then a slow fashion option is the way to go. More so, you can look for a made-to-measure or custom brand that also gives a donation back to bigger social causes.  

Where to Buy:

For Chicago and nationwide, Grace + Ivory offers exclusively custom, made-to-measure wedding dresses and a percentage of dress proceeds is donated to womxn’s initiatives. Grace + Ivory currently supports The Chicago Foundation for Women and all dresses are made-to-order. They have a showroom in Chicago that hosts brides and their guests for appointments, or you can try their samples nationwide via their try-at-home program before ordering your made-to-measure gown. Check out their dresses and order samples to try-at-home or book a showroom appointment here. 

I hope some of the ideas here have helped you expand the search for your socially conscious wedding dress, whether in Chicago or beyond. There are a ton of options out there; you will find the perfect one for your big day!