Brides around the world are trashing their outfits
A BAREFOOT bride in a gorgeous white wedding gown walks into the foamy ocean at sunset. Within seconds, the waves have done their work, and the expensive dress is now nothing more than a dripping, shapeless mess. It sounds like a scene from a movie, but it is the latest real-life bridal fashion trend sweeping the world called Trash the Dress. Couples everywhere are queuing up to pose for wedding photos in unconventional situations, and TTD is booming.
One of the most popular places to pose for the wedding photos, especially in Thailand, is the beach, but couples can choose from any number of locations to trash their outfits, such as deserted railway stations, an abandoned building, a forest, or an urban junk yard. The trend, which is also known as Drown the Gown, started in 2001 when American photographer John Michael Cooper set out to take some quirky wedding pictures.
The fad quickly took off in Europe and Australia, but only recently has it become a ‘must’ for modern brides in Asia.
Phuket-based photographer Gina Smith says more and more of her clients are choosing to stretch out the wedding day celebrations with a fun TTD session. “It is a great way for the couple to relive the excitement of their wedding day without any stress, and to create some unique and beautiful photos for the wedding day album,” she said. “People no longer want the focus on formal portraits with the wedding party lined up and staring at the camera. “The modern-day bride wants candid, documentary-style images that capture the un-staged moments of the day.
“TTD is an extension of this new style of imagery.” Gina said most wedding dresses were worn once, then put away and forgotten. “A bride will spend an awful lot of money on a dress which will only be worn on one day, and then pack it away at the back of her wardrobe where it will gather dust and be forgotten,” she said. “Her wedding dress will often be the most expensive dress a woman will buy in her lifetime, and she will only ever wear it once.”
Gina said modern-day brides realised their daughters were no longer likely to want to wear their mum’s wedding dress when it was their turn to walk down the aisle, in 20 or 30 years time. “Many years ago, wedding dresses were recycled and turned into children’s christening gowns, but that tradition is now long gone,” she said. “Your daughter might not want to wear your old wedding dress, but she will love looking at the photos and hearing the story about how you trashed the dress.”
Gina says there was growing interest in TTD throughout Asia, especially is Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. “Western brides usually have one dress while brides from Asian countries often have four or five different gowns so they are quite willing to trash one or two of them,” she said. “Asian brides also often have a number photo shoots in wedding attire during the year leading up to the actual wedding, so it is no surprise that an extra photo shoot appeals to them.” Gina said Trashing the Dress was not only for brides. The men were keen to get in on the act as well, she said.
“Usually, a TTD photo shoot is the bride’s idea, but the guy, although sometimes reluctant at first, often has the most fun. Grooms who might be overcome by nerves on the wedding day are full of suggestions for unusual photos,” she said. She said crowds of curious onlookers always gathered to watch the shoots when they were carried out in public places. But the trash the dress sessions aren’t limited to brides and wedding parties. “Bridesmaids and students in prom dresses have also done TTD sessions,” she said.
“Even women who were married several years ago are bringing their gowns to Phuket to play bride for a day, and trashing the dress is becoming a trendy alternative to renewing wedding vows.” She said Phuket was an obvious destination with its gorgeous white sandy stretches of coastline. “Phuket also has waterfalls, manmade fountains and swimming pools which are perfect for trashing the dress,” she said. Gina usually spends an hour photographing couples around their resort before taking them to the beach for portraits on the sand.
“Then it’s a full-on, fully dressed plunge into the ocean,” she said. “Many couples say their trashing the dress day is just as enjoyable as their wedding day, and much more fun. “Trashing the dress is all about having fun and creating spontaneous and artistic photos that have a bit of edge.” Gina said the dress usually survived the day if the bride wanted to resell it or keep it as a memento of her big day.
“As long as it is soaked in fresh water after the photo shoot and dry cleaned soon after, there isn’t usually any lasting damage,” she said. “Dry cleaning is very cheap in Thailand.” Gina specializes in family, engagement, wedding, TTD and honeymoon portraits.
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