See How Your Old Wedding Dress Can Help Grieving Parents Heal

Many brides spend hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars, countless hours, and a few tears on their wedding gowns . . . but what becomes of the dresses after the honeymoon is over? Usually gowns are boxed up and stored in a dingy closet for decades, rarely finding use aside from the occasional game of dress-up. Thanks to NICU Helping Hands' Angel Gown Program, though, these gorgeous garments have a new purpose: comforting grieving families who have lost their infant children.

The charity transforms donated wedding dresses into beautiful burial gowns for babies who have passed away; a small comfort for mourning parents during the darkest time in their lives. A single dress provides enough fabric for multiple handmade bereavement gowns, which are then carefully packaged and sent to hospital NICU wards and funeral homes. Over 700 volunteer seamstresses carefully craft these high-quality gowns, which are always provided at no cost to grieving families. While intricately sewing tiny garments is no easy task, needle-savvy workers nationwide are happy to do it.

"A wedding gown donated by a bride from the happiest day of her life, sewn by a volunteer into a one-of-a-kind custom gown for a baby that has died or will die . . . importance, honor, respect, caring, and love are embodied in this gift that is freely given to anyone that needs it," NICU Helping Hands President Lisa R. Grubbs shared of the special work. "Grief is not a moment or an event — it is a process, and a long, difficult one. . . . Providing this garment, along with caring and support, gives validation to the parent and also sets a more positive foundation for this journey."

The organization gathered over 8,000 donated gowns last year, allowing countless hurting families to find peace in at least one aspect of their child's passing. While wedding gowns are a vital aspect of the Angel Gown Program's mission, there is plenty of need for financial support — the bereavement garments have to be stored, packaged, and shipped to those who need them. To lend your support to this special cause, visit the NICU Helping Hands website to learn more. With the help of brides, seamstresses, and donors, we hope that more families might find hope in the midst of bleak situations.