You met the man of your dreams, then you found the perfect dress, and your wedding day will fly past in the blink of an eye. While traditionally the bride’s wedding gown is kept in perfect condition as a family heirloom, a trend has emerged for brides to give their gown one last wear in a Trash the Dress Session!

Wait… Did I just say TRASH the dress?

Trash the Dress at Sandy Point State Park |  Carmen Wang Photography

That garment of elegant perfection that you spent hundreds or even thousands on? What could this crazed wedding blogger possibly be talking about? Could brides plan to ruin their gowns and actually hire someone to photograph them doing it?

Despite the my exaggerated enthusiasm, the short answer is – Yes! Trash the Dress sessions have been gaining popularity and attention for years and brides around the country have been breaking tradition to photograph their gowns in creative ways.

One of the greatest arguments in favor of Trash the Dress sessions come from the rarely followed custom of re-wearing your mother’s vintage wedding gown! Why let your gown go to waste in your closet for decades, when you could wear it one more time? And after the wedding day, there is less concern for keeping the gown spotless which allows couples to be even more daring with their portraits!

Trash the Dress Session |  Rebekah Hoyt Photography

Rebekah Hoyt, a talented local photographer and recent bride, photographed an incredible Trash the Dress Session this summer, featured above! She explains, “As the photographer, I have never felt more free to take risks and be creative.  Nothing was off limits, and I was so fortunate to have a bride who was willing to try anything I suggested.  By far, this shoot was the most fun I have ever had and it shows because this is the shoot people remember the most!  I really hope more brides decide to do trash the dress shoots – they are a blast!”

In Annapolis and around the Chesapeake Area, many Trash the Dress sessions include running through the water, sitting on the sand, and actually jumping into the Bay with your gown. Other trash the dress sessions are more relaxed and tame, capturing the couple more casually – - sometimes without the true destruction or damage.

As a photographer – I love the idea… As a bride? I don’t think I could EVER go through with it. After finding my absolutely perfect gown, I couldn’t imagine trashing it!  No matter how much I love the photographic opportunity, it feels borderline sacrilegious to destroy your wedding dress! But regardless of my hesitations, there are brides out there that truly love the idea of doing a trash the dress session and more power to them!

Would you ever do a Trash the Dress session? Why or why not?