The Brides' Project

Guest Blogger: Soulla Lindo on donating her dress.

August 29th, 2010 | Author: Helen

Shortly after my wedding, I found myself trying to figure out what to do with my dress. I decided that instead of locking it away in a dark closet, I wanted to donate it so that someone else could get to enjoy it and feel as beautiful in it as I did on my wedding day. I did my research and that’s when I stumbled upon The Brides’ Project.

I read on their Web site that they have two very important goals – to provide every bride with the things she needs for a beautiful wedding within her budget, and to support cancer charities by donating all their profits. I was sold.

I called to inquire and realized this was exactly where I wanted to donate my dress. Unfortunately, life got pretty hectic (we moved, I started a new job, I got pregnant and then had a baby) so my good deed was put on the backburner. Until today.

I finally got down to the Toronto location (at Broadview and Victor) and dropped off my dress. (Note: they also have a location in Ann Arbor, Michigan.)

I wasn’t entirely sure how I would feel dropping it off. Part of me thought I might regret it, or feel a little apprehensive. But I didn’t. I felt relief. And more importantly I felt gratification. Truth be told, my dress hadn’t made its way out of the garment bag since my wedding.

So while my wedding day was a beautiful day full of love, happiness, family, friends and amazing memories, for me it was never about being a princess for the day, it wasn’t about the beautiful dress, or being the centre of attention. For me, my wedding day was solely about uniting my family. It was the day I married my soulmate, and the day I officially became a stepmom. That meant more to me than any dress ever could. So parting with the dress was easy for me. And hey, if I ever want to reminisce I can just pull out the hundreds of pictures I have of me in the dress. Isn’t that why we spend thousands of dollars on a photographer?

I sincerely hope that someone else can have the same experience in it as I did, but more importantly, I hope a cancer charity can benefit from the funds they’ll receive from the sale of my dress.

And that is how I decided to do more. Even if it’s only one dress at a time.

Response from The Brides’ Project: Thank you so much Soulla! As we mentioned when you popped in, this dress is SO fabulous that we actually have 2 of them! One is Soulla’s in size 6, and the other in size 10 or 12.