FashBlog.com

One of the hottest trends in the fashion world today is linked to the world of photography, and involves commemorating that once in a lifetime wedding or prom of every girls dreams, by exactly what the title implies, trashing the dress! Yes, you read that right. And in truth, the first time I heard about it, all I could think of was what a shameful waste of some very beautiful dresses. Once I saw the fun that the girls had though, and the reasoning behind many of these sessions, I could hardly wait to try the idea out firsthand.

A little background first. Every little girl, or nearly every little girl I should say, dreams of not only who her prince charming might someday be, but also what dress she will wear and what it will look like as she walks down the aisle. I am sure that as a young girl, taking that dress and putting it through some wear and tear was not anywhere in her thoughts and dreams. As for a favorite prom dress, in todays economy, many of these are recycled, or passed down to family members or friends. Once in a while though, the girls would rather not pass it along for various reasons, even though there is no intention of wearing it again. In addition, as for that dream wedding dress, some girls take that vow of marriage ever so serious, and do not wish to keep the dress to be passed along to someone else. If no future need exists, then why keep it hanging in a closet, taking up space? Moreover, even if they do want to hang onto it for whatever reason, that does not necessarily negate the total idea of a Trash the Dress session, it just alters it a bit.

So what exactly is a Trash the Dress session? A great way to take that wedding or favorite prom dress and create even more lasting memories than those created the first time the dress was worn. Boyfriends or husbands can be involved in the Trash the Dress sessions, but are not one hundred percent needed.

Water is often a part of these sessions, but I have also seen paint, good old fashioned dirt (think down on the farm), or whatever activity the bride or prom girl might otherwise enjoy that ends up with their clothes not as clean and pristine as someone would normally associate with such fashionable wear.

Water, whether in a pool, stream, or lake, is one of my favorite. The shoot starts out with the subject having her photo taken in what most people would consider typical fashion. Some simple poses, with the water as a background feature, but then, the Trash the Dress action kicks in. Instead of just having the water as a backdrop, they step into the water, splash a bit, even eventually go in for a full soaking, all the while the camera is snapping, capturing the fun and abandonment that takes place when the once pristine and honored dress becomes just another accessory for some fun filled photos.

When I asked one recent bride why she would want to take part in such a photo opportunity, her answer was as simple as one could imagine. She responded that this was going to be her one and only marriage, and she decided that this was the best way for her to show her husband that he was ultimately, what mattered. Not the pomp and circumstance of their wedding day, not the flashy wedding dress, although she added that it was a beautiful moment at the beginning of their union to be treasured and remembered forever. This though was to be her gift to him now for putting up with what had become a somewhat drawn out affair. The photos showed she had had her day, and that it was over, and said, here I am honey, fun, and eager to spend the rest of her life seeking out adventure with him by her side. He joined her for the end of the shoot, and she said she treasures one particular photo of the two of them that day, standing ankle deep in the water, dripping wet from head to toe, just as much as one of the two of them exchanging their vows.