Reception Locations

Brides

or many women, a wedding dress is the most extravagant, expensive article of clothing they will ever buy to wear for a single day.     A dress they will treasure and perhaps pass on to future generations.     But some brides say, forget packing their wedding dress into a plastic bag and storing it in the attic. Enter the Trash the Dress photo session, in which the bride, post-wedding, jumps back into her gown and puts it through its paces — swimming in it, wearing it on horseback, even burning it — all while her photographer clicks away.     “Trash the Dress” refers to a new wrinkle in glamour fashion photography. It contrasts elegant clothing with an environment in which it is completely out of place.

Bride: Bridget Lopez Setting: Federal Building, downtown Wilmington

Photos on this page by Ena Sellers of Memorable Moments Digital Photography

Bride: Crystal Lee Rose Gargani

Photo by Millie Holloman Bride & Groom: Amanda and Brent Holloman

Photo by Justin Pearson Bride & Groom: Jenny and Zack Stockbridge

The trend originated on the West Coast among a small group of wedding photographers and has been spreading around the country since 2001.     Sometimes the dress gets only wet or dirty, not literally “trashed,” and may be restored by a professional cleaning service. That would still allow it to be preserved or given away. But some brides do, in fact, go so far as to tear or burn their gowns during the photo session.    A “Trash the Dress” session is typically an additional shoot after the wedding. It can mean the wedding is over, the dress has served its purpose, and it won’t be used again. The photos can be seen as an alternative to having the dress packed away in a dark closet, never again to see the light of day.

Photo by Chris Van Atta Model: Christy Harris Setting: Masonboro Island

Photo by Millie Holloman Bride & Groom: Stacey    and Brian Porter

Photo by Millie Holloman Bride & Groom: Amanda & Brent Holloman

Photo by Ena    Sellers, Memorable    Moments Digital    Photography Bride: Crystal Lee    Rose Gargani

Photo by Millie Holloman Bride & Groom: Stacey    and Brian Porter