An Angus woman has called on brides to help families get through one of the hardest times they can face.
Helen Farquharson from Kirriemuir got married in 2015 and put her wedding dress away in the cupboard like many brides.
But the 45-year-old decided her dress should have more meaning after hearing how dresses could be remade into funeral gowns for babies who do not survive birth.
National charities take dresses and remake them for use across the UK, but long waiting lists sometimes apply, which may put off prospective donations.
And the mother-of-one, who works at Angus Care and Repair in Forfar, wanted to make sure the dresses went to local families who have experienced loss.
Helen said: “It was made with love, it was worn with love, and I know that’s how these mums will feel.”
Helen, who has one adult son, asked an acquaintance to have dresses made, and got in touch with Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity.
The charity got in touch with NHS Tayside and asked whether the dresses would be accepted, and they will be delivered to Ninewells this week.
“I got married 18 months ago and have just had my wedding dress made into burial gowns to be donated to the Tulip Suite at Ninewells Hospital,” she said.
“I have done this through contact with the Sands charity.
“I contacted them to confirm that if I were to organise to have this done, then Ninewells would accept them with no problems.
“I’m hoping other brides or just anyone who has a dress in their cupboard will look into doing this.
“It was important to me to know where these gowns will go.”
The Tulip Suite (Tayside Unit for Loss in Pregnancy) opened in 2010 as a dedicated bereavement suite where mums can labour, give birth and spend time after birth with their baby.
Sands supports those affected by the death of a baby, improving the bereavement care received by parents and families, and promotes research to reduce the number of babies dying.
NHS Tayside Midwifery team manager Phyllis Winters said: “We would like to thank Helen for her kind donation. It is very thoughtful of her to take the time to help make what is a very upsetting period for bereaved families just a little better.”