Hello everyone, thanks for taking time to check out our gallery. Trashthedress.com has received a fair share of press this week, so we are getting more visitors than usual. I just wanted to clear the air on a few issues.
First and Foremost, Brides and Photographers that participate in TTD sessions do it for beautiful art. It is not an attempt to destroy the dress, but rather an attempt to create something memorable. To quote a good friend, we just want to let the bride enjoy herself and her gown, and get away from the “Don’t get a spot on my dress” mentality. Why not show your husband how committed you are by showing him that you will never need the dress again…and create some great art with your photographer and/or videographer while you do it! And remember, your daughter will not want to wear the dress in 20 or 30 years, trust us.
NOT ALL DRESSES ARE TOTALLY TRASHED. This decision is purely up to the bride and groom. In MOST cases, the dress is salvageable.
We’ve been receiving several comments on how wasteful this trend is, but again, the intent is to CREATE, not DESTROY. Weddings should be a fun memorable experience. A “trash” session doesn’t have to be in a bayou, in the mud, or involve fire. It can be somewhere out of the normal element. Somewhere that may get a spot or two on the dress. Become liberated, have fun, enjoy the wedding experience!
Many brides have suggested donating your dress to www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.com, which is a great option as well.
We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.
Speaking as the mother of the bride, my daughter and I both love the idea of her doing this. We’re both artists and we can’t wait to see what wonderful pictures there will be from her session. I saved my dress from my wedding dress 26 years ago, just because I didn’t know what else to do with it. It’s “intact” but it would take a lot of cleaning and altering to make it wearable for her. Personally, I don’t care in the least that my daughter bought a beautiful dress of her own that fits her personality much better than my dress would have. With 26 years of hindsight, I’ve looked at my wedding album many more times that I’ve ever looked at my dress. I wish I had thought of “Trash the Dress” back then!
As a seamstress I enjoy cutting up the dresses and making christening outfits for their first born,etc.
This is a good closier for the brides.
The majority of the time the dresses don’t fit your daughter when they are ready to get marry.
Thank you for time.
Millie Kuhel
A totally agree that the term “trash the dress” doesn’t have to be taken literally., most of my brides that have swimm underwater, rolled in the sand and jumped in to caves, have their dresses in pretty good shape after cleaning it. The last one we had, is actually wearing it again for her big reception.
I am also a “bride to be” and I’m so excited to have the most amazing wedding photos ever, having fun in total freedom, I think a wedding day is one of the most important moments in life, and I want the best images to remember how happy I was, and how much I enjoyed the ocassion.
So, let’s have FUN!!!!
Yeah, I totally love the idea.
If a bride decides to trash their dress, it’s her decision, her dress, and her moment (which hopefully is once in a lifetime).
Looking at some of the photos here, many of the brides look like they’re having a wonderful time with it. I’m willing to bet that when they look back through their photos, these are the ones they’ll cherish the most, the ones that will make them smile. More photos please!
You should really start posting these on Flickr! Create a set or group (not sure what it’s called) and let others share their photos.
I guess it all depends on what it is to those who view it, those who do it, and of course, those who shoot it. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but criticism goes in one ear and out the other. And in this case, those who try to condemn your work as “wasteful” or “hateful” towards women perhaps are seeing what they project upon it? Others see it as the beauty of crossing a social taboo by taking the idea of something that is “supposed to be” pure, innocent and immaculate, and intentionally changing it into something out of context- messy, dirty, i.e. “trashed.”
Now granted, not ALL brides want to permanantly wreck their dress. Some may not want to ever have so much as a thread out of place. But some do. Some see it as not so much an object to be preserved, but as a symbol in a cultural ceremony that marks a choice between them and the person they love to spend the rest of their lives together as a family. THAT is what makes a big pile of white silk and lace “special” to these brides, and once that commitment is made, the actual dress itself becomes redundant.
Yes, some may choose to keep it as a souviner. Some may hold the idea of it becoming a family heirloom (although how often does this work out really in a culture where fashions change so quickly for every other article of clothing they and their daughters wear?) and yes, some might even choose to give it away to a charity organization. All those are socially acceptable choices for a bride to make. BUT…
The fact remains that it IS HER DRESS, to do with as she pleases. So some women CHOOSE to “trash the dress” and, in the process, to create a visual expression that reflects the fun, happy, creative and playful side of who they are as a personality, instead of having the dress define them as an image of what society says is “the bride.” If there is a part of her who still holds onto that “inner tomboy” who always wanted to go play in the mud after coming home from church in her sunday dresses, or if she still has a little bit if that punk rocker rebellious aspect held onto deep down inside even after she enters the “grown-up” world of adulthood typically signified by marriage and starting a family of her own, then by choosing to trash the dress- whether a little bit of sand on a beach, or by rolling in the mud, or paint, or whatever until it is no longer “salvagable”- she gets to create images that, 20 years up the road, she can show her daughter that mom was once a fun, playful and happy young woman when she was that age, and hopefully THAT example to her daughter- to be happy, to have FUN with life, even if it gets messy sometimes- is at least equally as valuable to her as handing her a sealed-up up bag of 20-year-old fabric that says “here is a symbol of my youth and happiness. It was pretty once, but then I put it in a bag, sealed it up, and put it away.”
So for the critics who consider this art as a negative thing because they are uncomfortable with the message THEY see in it, look at it this way. At the very least, these photos make people notice and make them think. It inspires debate, it holds a mirror to one of the few social taboos left in modern society (albiet a rather mild one) and says “no, THIS woman CHOSE to be someone other than what she was told to be, and the photographer helped her make a very visually captivating expression of that for all the world to see.” Her beauty is MORE than her pretty dress, or her pretty face- her beauty is in WHO she is. How is that “hateful” of women?
And as far as the controversy of these images, well, isn’t that what art aspires to do?
As One of the brides that trashed her dress, I love that i did it, I would rather have pictures that tell and amazing story that a dress hanging in a closet that will never be used again. I love makeing memories and the more i can make the more happier i am, Thanks the Mark and Heather i got to do this. Thanks guys.
I am very big into photography and I love this Idea. I am not married or anything, and of course someday wish to be. But after that, I would want photos of something like this. I think it is beautiful and seems very libarating for the brides. I want a beautiful wedding- then its time to get down and dirty with the dress. This is something that is unique and wonderful. Keep up the good work!
I have nothing against photos of trashing the bridal gown, except a couple of the photos where the women appear dead, (they’re easy to spot) are really creepy. But that’s just my opinion..otherwise the photos are remarkable.
Drifter,
For what it’s worth, I do have a small Yahoo group called “Muddyformals” for just that sort of thing. Anyone here that wants to join and share their images or just appreciate viewing people’s photos from around the web of getting muddy in formal wear (wedding dresses, prom dresses, etc.) is welcome to join. I do have the membership restricted to control the spammers, so when you sign on, be sure to include “TDD” or “trash the dress” so that I will know to admit you.
Jay
FABULOUS! I didn’t read the indroduction/subtle disclaimer before I dove into the stunnning photos, never considered any controversy whatsoever until I came back and read the page. And it was obvious to me right from the start that Trash the Dress isn’t a literal term.
I love how the dress becomes part of an experience instead of a prop – which it turns into in most settings. Beautiful work, every one.
Didn’t care so much for the dead bride stuff…
If the bride payed for the dress would she still have TTD?
Who has 5 ot 10 thousand extra to roll around in the mud needs to have their head examined.
There are too many starving children that need to be feed or clothed…. that’s what wrong with the rich
they are wasteful and spoiled brats.
It’s only teaching children it’s ok to tear up what momma and daddy worked hard for and paid for……..dumb dumb idea just more disrespect!
Mark, maybe you should post a list of dry-cleaners over in the section where the photographers/videographers are
I think it’s a great idea – why not go a bit wild at times ? But I can see that some people won’t like the idea, that they think it’s wasteful etc. But then I suppose it’s wasteful buying a dress for just one day anyhow… One thing is sure; the idea of passing it on to your daughter hardly ever works anyhow.
But anyhow, I don’t think that these things truly wreck the dress. Just getting it wet ? Or a bit dirty ? No, that will come out. Out of all the pictures here I think the one where one bride took the scissors to her dress is the only one that truly ruined her dress (well, plus the fire one if that one is real, my guess is that it must be trick photography somehow, no bride would be that daring.
I’m all for doing something like crazy like this after our wedding. My h2b is all for it too, but at the same time a bit worried: he’s into politics and he feels that this might not be considered politically correct by some people. So he thinks we should go for it, but I don’t think he’d want to publish it! But our idea is mainly to do something along these lines at the end of or right after the wedding, not a few days later or something. Maybe we can get our whole wedding party to join in
I think this can be a good way to break the wedding stress too. After all the planning and all the work getting it all together you just goof off and go crazy, even though you’re in such an expensive dress! Once in a lifetime I guess…
I think instead of destroying such beautiful dresses, they should donate them to women who can’t afford wedding dresses.
I had not heard of anything like this until running into it on our local radio station “buzz” and had to stop everything to check out the site. I LOVE this idea. The pictures are very creative and beautiful. I just had a coversation with my 15 yr old daughter this morning about what I should do with the my dress. If she hadn’t have told me that I should keep it for her, I would absolutely look into this.
You really got some serious press and the concept really caught on. Congrats! Don’t mean to be a pain, but just thought I’d let you know there is a minor typo, destory rather than destroy. Looking forward to more great pictures! Let me know if you get any good shots w/ Diamonds or Diamond Rings in them and I’ll post them (with your permission of course).
I disagree with this “trend” every bit as much as I disagree with the concept that you must have a dress that is so — bizarre is the only word I have for it! — that you cannot ever wear it again! The whole concept of weddings is out of hand…. has been for year and it only getting worse. It makes no sense to spend mega bucks on a single day, no matter HOW special it is supposed to make it.
What makes thing special is the LITTLE things, the emotional things, the heartfelt things, not over-choreographed extravaganzas that would make a Rocketts production pale in comparison.
Find something simple that you can wear again and again, that is CLEANABLE for pity sake! Take yourself and your beau, the officiant and your bridal party somewhere meaningful, say your vows and make a toast with your friends. Go somewhere nice for a few days and then enter your new life together with special memories and perhaps a nice nest egg, not months of stress and a flat wallet!
That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.
I love how there’s differieng opinions to this whole trashing thing. Great discussion going on here, but what is it really all about? It’s different things to those who decide to do it. A bride who spent the whole wedding day worrying about keeping the dress pristine can now let go and get the really fun portraits that reflect her personality more. And what’s wrong with a fun, fashionable, sexy, dirty photo shoot? It’s probably going to be as memorable as the day she got married. When is the bride really going to where that dress again? Afterwards, she can even clean up the dress and donate it. Most of the trashing sessions don’t even put the slightest damage to the dress anyway. For the bride it’s all about having fun and memories, for the photographer it’s about creating art.
I think the photos are absolutely amazing, what a beautiful piece of art!
As for one of the posters above talking about rich spoiled brats, I worked hard, paid for my entire wedding myself including the dress. I would love to do something like this. I have no qualms about rolling around in my discounted $250 dollar wedding dress.
I have bookmarked your site and will continue to check back!
I think something everyone needs to consider (and which you did a good job of mentioning) is that everyone thinks differently about how their wedding shoud be–including their dress. I fully intend to donate my dress b/c that is what I want to do. My husband and I are working on losing weight and are going to stage a vow renewal/2nd reception type thing to celebrate and I will be trashing that dress.
I paid for my entire wedding myself–$12,000–and we aren’t broke by any means. It was important to us to have a nice relaxing celebration with our family and friends. It wasn’t stuff, it was very laid back and everyone had a great time. My mom, who is very against big weddings, told me afterward that she is so glad we didn’t listen to her or other family members that told us we were being too extravagant or paying too much because it turned out so nice.
You may not like this concept or want to pay a lot for your wedding, but you shuld do what YOU feel comfortable with and let other do what they are comfortable with.
I do think the wedding industry is way out of whack, but you can find good vendors that will work with you and don’t charge too much. I didn’t pay full price for one single thing to do with our wedding (not even my dress…which was only $150).
To all brides which trashed or are going to trash their dresses.
I’m willing to buy the dresses after the trash sessions…
Please feel free to contact me.
Many thanks
Wendy
When I first found this site, I was so enamored of the work. Gorgeous, artistic, edgy shots. They reminded me of glossy photo shoots from fashion magazines. While not for me personally (I couldn’t see putting that kind of thing on our walls, and besides I donated my dress), I could still see the appeal to some brides and loved coming back to see the new images. So beautiful; such great photography.
Lately however, the photos haven’t inspired much more than a cringe. A wet bride next to clown-hued washers? A stoned-looking bride on fire? I don’t know. I don’t find those photos beautiful or artistic. Just pointless and inane.
My aim is not to offend, but instead to maybe make a suggestion. Stop trying to “out-do” the last set of images by creating a nonsensical shoot, but instead keep to the original draw of the images. Going so wacky, especially so soon in this concept, will only make a great idea burn out quickly. Don’t let this cool idea turn out to be a flash in the pan.
Keep up the great work ladies and gents, some of the photos on this site are absolutely stunning. Just don’t lose that initial vision.
d – how presumptuous of you. Yes, I paid for my own dress. We actually paid for our entire wedding, reception, and honeymoon ourselves. And we were only 21 and 20 when we got married. So I can safely say, yes, I’d still trash my dress, even though I’m not a spoiled rich child, like you seem to think all brides are. And a $5-$10k dress? HA! I didn’t even spend that to buy my car. I got married in a $99 dress from David’s Bridal. So save your holier-than-thou judgment for someone else.
I heard about this site from a friend. Tonight is the first I’ve heard of this movement and I LOVE IT! It makes me want to get my dress out of that keepskae box and have a new photo shoot! :0)
RE: to Em’s post, yet another good reason for a Flickr album so people won’t have to scroll through pages in the archives to find some of the truly inspiring photos.
Then you could use the Flickr widget to display photos back here on the blog, creating a link between the two.
Hi,
Just wanted to let you know that we’ve published a light hearted interview with John Michael Cooper here:
http://news.weddingpath.com
(Hope it’s ok to post these details here!)
Sujay
Im a bloke and absolutely LOVE your site!.
Im getting married, eventually, to a nice
girl and i saw a super gown with a really big
skirt, Id love her to wear and later trash.
I try to get a decent photo of it to show you.
Please carry on like that!!
Armin&Victoria
Has anyone trashed a dress using a chocolate fountain. Dunking a bride in a fountain seems like it would be a treat for the groom. Better yet dunk both or even the wedding party. If you could set up the fountain to spray chocolate you could get a set of shots that would have you laughing for 50 years. By the way chocolate good chocolate can come out of most materials so trashing would not necessarily be trashing……
if you are concerned about people thinking that you are destroying wedding dresses and that that is not what your project is about – you should have better thought through your name for the project.
“trashthedress” has a very violent and destructive connotation. trashing something has no relation to creating. you could have come up with a million names, and yet you chose a very simple, quick and catchy one – one that communicates right away an idea of what you are doing – except that you say that this is now what you are doing. and now you make these statements defending yourself like people are mis-interpreting your project. they are only reacting to the name that you chose for it.
a name is a huge part of a conceptual piece. of course people are going to think that this is about destroying dresses.
well, “getaspotonthedressthatshouldwashout.com” just seemed too long.
I just trashed my dress…5 days ago. I didn’t trash it so I could clean it and save it still. I TRASHED it to TRASH it. I know a lot of people don’t agree with this for different reasons which are understandable. My pictures are posted under the “Good Morning America” post.
I didn’t realize when I was trashing it just how liberating it really was. I had such a blast doing it and then got some really AMAZING photos. I am so glad I did it and have no regrets in doing it. I think the more memories that you can make in your wedding dress the better….your getting your “money’s worth”!!..if thats yuor issue…your wearing it more than that one day for a few hours.
I definately think that every girl that is open to the idea of trashing their wedding dress should do it!
My mother was the first person that I called when MarkEric first asked me if I wanted to trash my dress. She told me that it was my decision and if I wanted to trash it that she knew it would make some amazing photos that not all brides get the chance to have…and just like my mom has a bridal portrait of me in my wedding dress during my bridal portraits…I am going to get a “portrait” of me trashing my dress to hang in my house.
I think that trashing your wedding dress is not for a traditional bride. Today SO many brides are trying to do so many different things so everything is not soooo traditional. I love that I have pictures that none of my friends have…and I am so glad that I trashed my dress and I definately have no regrets!
To experience it is another level of understanding REALLY!!!
~AND THATS MY TWO CENTS!
HAHAHHAHAHA…Mark thats great!
I love this idea!! I think it would be so nice to have such beautiful pictures. There are no photographers in Jersey though.
What do you really do with your wedding dress after the wedding anyway????
this is a nice discussion.
the pictures are beautiful and creative
i got married in may and this is exactly what i want to do with my dress
i would like to participate and know more about it
Paula S., the chocolate fountain sounds like a wild idea but I don’t think that you can find one that big ! It would take a huge one to get the bride in there, even more so if you want the entire wedding party in it ! But I’m sure it could make for some really funny pics…
You guys have taken this to a new level. I love the look you’ve given to something that can be done poorly or done well. Ya dun gooood!
What a fantastic site and concept. I think that the idea of having the perfect wedding and spotless wedding dress shows that we are consumed with an idea of perfection that doesn’t equate to post-wedding everyday life!
A fun site. Yes it’s wasteful, but so’s keeping the dress. I suppose the dresses could be dry-cleaned and then donated.
The common theme is release, usually involving water, dirt, and nature. The symbolism is obvious. The underwater swimming brides were very mermaidish. I particularly liked the car-wash bride.
I will say that being a photographer has been one of the best decisions I have ever made! I love every bit of it and would not trade it for anything. I just discovered this new thing and I think it is the most amazing thing yet (for me anyways). I have not participated but I would love to try it out. It is beauty….that is all I see. Someone who is not afraid to do anything. The person is daring, inspiring, fun, takes chances, etc. This is how I see it! Nothing but fun and not the slightest bit about really trashing the dress or the idea of trashing it! One of the neatest ideas yet!!