Here comes the bride. ... Let's make it 50 of them.
That's how many free wedding gowns, valued collectively at more than $150,000 and courtesy of San Antonio's Impression Bridal shop, will be given away to military brides Tuesday when the North Side salon opens at 11 a.m.
The event is co-sponsored by the six-year-old Massachusetts-based nonprofit Brides Across America, founded to give free designer wedding gowns to qualified military brides. To date, more than 40 salons nationwide have given away 7,000 gowns (it began with 60), from designers Vera Wang, Jim Hjelm, Maggie Sottero, Alfred Angelo and many more.
?This is such a perfect fit to partner with a military city like San Antonio,? said the group's founder, Heidi Janson, of the Alamo City's first time in the giveaway.
Impression Bridal's staff is gearing up for a big crowd when the gowns will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis, says the shop's spokeswoman and stylist, Tiffany Deimund.
But there are guidelines:
? You must be engaged or had a civil ceremony and are planning a wedding within 18 months.
? You or your fianc? were deployed within the past five years to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Bahrain, Libya, Kuwait and Japan and have not had a formal wedding or you or your fianc? will be deployed there.
? All military brides must bring a driver's license or military identification for verification.
? On Tuesday, the bride must bring qualifying proof that includes a copy of deployment papers for the bride or her fianc? that states the time of deployment and location.
Expect a crowd when the gown browsing begins.
Deimund encourages brides to come early and secure their place in line.
The donated gowns (which will be shipped to San Antonio from the salon's Houston-based corporate offices on Monday) are valued between $500 and $4,000 and range from size 2 to 30 and include current trends from ball gowns to the ?fit and flare,? a silhouette that is fitted through the hips and flares out, much like a trumpet gown.
?All 50 gowns could be gone within the hour? of the shop's opening, she said. (The shop will close at 8 p.m.) ?At other events like this, the locations have anticipated large crowds and so are we. Brides will leave with their gowns on that day.?
However, alterations will not be free.
?I think this is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community and I know that our company feels that way,? said Deimund, who along with the store's manager, Barbara Churchill, also will help style the brides for their big day. ?I think the wedding industry is somewhat recession-proof because people are still getting married, but mostly this is a wonderful way for a military couple not to worry about the expense of a dress and celebrate their new life together.?
For more information, contact the salon at (210) 468-1818 or visit www.bridesacrossamerica.com.
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