Whether in the ocean, a pile of paint, or a scenic countryside, modern brides have found a second use for their wedding gowns. It has always been the tradition to buy a new dress for your wedding day, wear it once and then….what? It’s 2011, and it’s time for a new tradition. “Trash the dress,” is the latest development in the wedding industry, and it is exploding on the scene. The basic concept of the ritual involves the bride celebrating her new marriage by participating in unconventional activities while she wears her dress, and taking photographs to tell the tale. After a beautiful and memorable day, the one thing a new bride needs is a little therapy; which she can find through retail, indulgence, relaxation, or destruction.
Brides have given many different reasons for partaking in “trash the dress.” Some women report that the ritual symbolizes the one time they will wear a wedding dress, expressing their devotion to their marriage. Others want a more artistic look at their dress, contrary to their clean cut traditional photos. Then there is the simplistic reason that another photo shoot gives a second use to an expensive one day accessory.
Although “trash the dress” seems taboo to many women, others find it to be a perfect and symbolic use of their treasured ensemble. A common misconception of this trend is that the dress is then ruined, and must be discarded. However, depending on the setting the bride chooses, the dress can often times be cleaned and restored to have for safe keeping or donated to charity.
Photographers in all areas are catching up with the trend and sometimes offer their services in a package deal for the day of the wedding, and a separate date for “trash the dress.” Boston photographers such as Kevin Jacobus (http://www.kevinjacobusphoto.com/) and Jamison Wexler (http://www.jamisonwexler.com/) offer price breaks on trash the dress photo shoots to brides who have booked their wedding with their company. Furthermore, a great companion to finding the perfect photographer for your wedding and/or trash the dress session is the Boston Wedding Photographer Guild. This collaborative website offers contact information, pictures, and fascinating ideas from a variety of Boston photographers.
So, will the trend stick and be turned into a tradition? Who knows, but for now modern brides are taking the plunge.
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