ROCK THE FROCK
Trash the dress trend: Reason why brides are ruining their wedding gowns in photoshoots
While it's usually fun, there have been some tragedies involved
FOR decades, blushing brides have been making a serious effort to look incredible on their big day.
However, the trash the dress trend is reversing feminine fashion, opting for a more fearless look.
3
What is the trash the dress trend?
Trash the dress, also known as "rock the frock", is a creative spin on wedding photography that pairs a bride’s elegant attire with wild, unexpected settings.
Imagine a gorgeous wedding gown or prom dress making a splash in places like the beach, lakes, city streets, rooftops, waterfalls, or even muddy fields and abandoned buildings.
It’s all about creating a dramatic contrast, blending beauty with chaos, and transforming the traditional bridal look into something unforgettable.
While some dresses get wet, dirty, or even ripped during the shoot, most are just fine afterward and can be cleaned up with ease.
But for those worried about destroying their expensive attire, it may be better to fork out for a $100 wedding dress instead.
Photographer Kevin Heslin says on his site: “Nowadays, Trash the Dress often means an extra portrait session for the wedding couple that takes place after the wedding day.
“A Trash the Dress session the next day gives couples the chance to slow down and enjoy some moments alone without worrying about where they need to be next.”
As of September 2024, there were almost half a million photos on Instagram using the hashtag #TrashTheDress.
Most read in Lifestyle
Many were on the beach, while others preferred a woodland walk or a mountain vista.
Wedding writer Hillary Hoffower recommends a few scenarios.
Bride-to-be finds the wedding dress of her dreams, but people are quick to point out a glaring problem
Whether it's a gray-blue sea and rocky outcrop or running along the shore, anything involving water tends to be a favorite hotspot.
This includes high tides, diving underwater, or even finding a secluded lagoon for that perfect shot.
Where did trash the dress come from?
Some say the trash the dress trend kicked off in 2001, thanks to Las Vegas wedding photographer John Michael Cooper.
But Hollywood was apparently already ahead of the game.
3
The idea of wrecking a wedding dress for dramatic effect popped up as early as 1998.
Meg Cummings (played by Susan Ward) made waves, (quite literally), when she dashed into the ocean in her wedding gown after her ceremony was interrupted on the soap Sunset Beach.
Sadly, it hasn’t always gone to plan.
On August 26, 2012, tragedy struck during a photoshoot at the Ouareau River in Quebec, Canada.
Maria Pantazopoulos, 30, drowned after her dress became waterlogged and dragged her downstream.
Despite efforts from the photographer and others to save her, they were unable to rescue her and her body was later recovered by a scuba diver.
A similar incident occurred in 2015 when another woman narrowly escaped drowning after jumping into the ocean from a boat.
Her heavy, waterlogged wedding dress pulled her under the surface.
A year later, one bride jumped in a pool with the groom, but almost never made it out.
So remember to be extremely careful trying this trend out.
Why are brides trashing their dresses?
For many brides, it’s a symbolic way to celebrate moving from “bride” to “wife.”
It gives the dress one final, bold moment in the spotlight instead of locking it away forever.
The groom, bridal party, or even a flower girl can also join in the fun.
Whether the vibe is romantic, playful, elegant, or a little bit cheeky, these photo sessions capture a side of the wedding that’s all about fearless fun.
3
Letting agent Angela Hargate was one of these brides who made the most of her dress.
When she married in 2019, she said: “My dress was perfect, I knew it was for me as soon as I put it on and I’d tried on loads.
"I only had 12 weeks to decide, but I went for something completely different to what I thought I would. It was slim and sophisticated.
“After the wedding our photographer suggested the sea photoshoot, so we thought 'why the hell not?' - it meant I got to wear my dress twice.
"At first we thought ‘are you serious?’ but we loved every minute.
“It was even more fun than getting married.”
Angela had been married before, and her previous wedding dress has been hanging in her parents' wardrobe for 13 years.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The thought of her second beautiful frock left lonely at the back of the cupboard for decades was what inspired her to say yes to the unusual trash the dress photoshoot.
There have been some stranger photoshoots, including one bride who decided to douse herself in car oil at a garage for her big day.
Topics