Trash VS. Treasure: What Should a Bride Really Choose to do with Her Dress?

photo courtesy of jessikafeltz.com

In last week’s post, Looking for Something to do with Your Dress after the *I do’s: Trash It, I showed you one of the wedding industry’s biggest growing trends… brides trashing their wedding dresses and photographers documenting it for all to see! 

While this can create some seriously ahhhh to the mazing photographs, it’s not always a girl’s first choice to destroy the greatest dress she’s ever worn in the name of fashion… nor is it something her parents or other financial contributing parties necessarily look forward to having documented.  I mean hello?!?!  After alterations, a wedding dress can be QUITE an investment, and these days, sooooo many of us can’t afford to lose those :)

So, what are the options for the more conservative or sentimental brides still looking for a fun, captivating way to immortalize their dress?  Well, lots, actually.  Instead of trashing your dress with fluorescent paints, murky mud or less than sanitary pond water, why not treasure it forever in a high end, editorial fashion shoot??

You heard me right.  It’s time to let that inner-model shine!  Woot, woot! 

Often times still labeled as “Trash the Dress” sessions, brides will set up post nuptial dates with their photographers to have alternative photographs taken.  They generally take on the same feel and fall under two categories: style or location. 

The “Style” shots will more than likely contain more of a sense of who the bride is.  By allowing the bride more creative freedom, they can generate even more personal shots than before.  With their less traditional look and more editorial appeal, this type of “Trash the Dress” session doesn’t have to trash the dress at all.  In fact, it can simply showcase it in another way that could be more fitting to another side of the bride’s personality.

The “Location” shots will focus more on putting the bride (and her gaaarrrrgeous gown) in areas that will juxtapose with her pristine look.  Think industrial, urban or grunge.  Think farm, rural or po-dunk.  Think Goth, dark or rustic.  Really, think anywhere you’d want.  From old, closed down factories and dairy farms to dimly lit castles or even creepy cemeteries, location bridal shoots provide the atmosphere, while you (and possibly yours) provide the rest.

Think of these shoots as an extension of your wedding photos, but the more relaxed and carefree version.   It’s also super fun to include the hubs in the shots for more authenticity and even more captured memories!  <siiiiighhhh>  I love weddings :)

If you’re still having a hard time totally getting the picture, check out some of these artistic, (un)Trash the Dress Sessions:

photo courtesy of litratophoto.com

photo courtesy of rawphotodesign.com

photo courtesy of dlweddings.com

photo courtesy of retrospectstudios.com

photo courtesy of jessikafeltz.com

photo courtesy of victoriasouzablog.com

photo courtesy of rawphotodesign.com

photo courtesy of chelseanicoleblog.com

photo courtesy of chelseanicoleblog.com

photo courtesy of giseleholloway.net

photo courtesy of trashthedressaustralia.wordpress.com

photo courtesy of tim-larsen.com

Looking for Something to do with Your Dress after the *I do’s*: Trash It

photo courtesy of stacyable.com

You heard me right, ladies.  It’s 2010, and one of the fastest growing trends in wedding photography is “Trash the Dress” sessions.  “What’s a Trash the Dress session?” one might ask… 

Well, as the title clearly states, it’s an event in which you (the now Mrs. Prince Charming) trash the wedding dress you wore one the day you said “I do,” while a photographer captures it on film.  (Please pick your grandmother off the floor, as I’m sure she fainted at the mere hint of a wedding dress being garbage-ified.)

Assuming Grandmama is better, let’s continue :)

Basically, Trash the Dress sessions create an avante garde solution to the more traditional deep cleaning, boxing and storing option most brides choose.  Plus, they give you one more reason to put that puppy on and work it, touch it, bring it… turn it, leave it, stop, format it… Busta Rhymes, anyone?  Yes?  No?  Maybe?

Anyyyyhoooot…

Trash the Dress photo shoots are also a dynamic way to get one more day out of your most favorite dress ever and create a spectacular outlet for some seriously sassy editorial shots.  But don’t let Grandmama have a heart attack just yet, because this can also be something for the more faint at heart – who aren’t quiiiiiite ready to trash their dress completely.

For you ladies out there not quite ready to give up the dress dream just yet, you can merely wear it to a park and play around for a bit or climb a tree or build a sandcastle or go fly a kite in the rain… or simply choose a more urban, off beat or industrial area to shoot in.  Really, the options are limitless, and the decision for what your Trash the Dress session becomes is entirely based upon how far you’re willing to go… just make sure to check with mom or dad or whoever else might’ve helped paid for it before you do anything drastic… I’m not trying to encourage any excess, unneeded Family Feuds.  While the game show was money, the real life version is always less cheer worthy :)

Here are some of my favorite shots from my favorite Trash the Dress sessions:

Some more ladies who chose neon paint…

photo courtesy of digitalweddingforum.com

photo courtesy of galinawalls.co.uk

photo courtesy of designerevents.wordpress.com

photo courtesy of heatherlynnphotography.com/

Some that chose the less abraisive H2O option…

photo courtesy of sakuraphotography.com

photo courtesy of flickr.com

photo courtesy of charlottesvilleweddingblog.com

photo courtesy of waynewallace.com

photo courtesy of jessikafeltz.com

Some that chose a more modest approach…

photo courtesy of chelseanicoleblog.com

photo courtesy of elizabethannedesigns.com

photo courtesy of fionacarsonphotography.com.au

photo courtesy of richelledantephotography.com

photo courtesy of duluthweddingphotography.com

photo courtesy of prettychicky.com

And some that just completely outrageous…

photo courtesy of 2duce2.com

photo courtesy of bcrstudiosblog.com

photo courtesy of jeremyigo.com

photo courtesy of agwpja.com

photo courtesy of jeffcookephotography.ca