The Brides' Project

Archive for the ‘Donations’ Category

We had the delight of meeting Lorraine on the weekend, who brought us her stunning Sofia Tolli “Anne” dress.  Thanks so much to the beautiful bride for her kindness and generosity in donating this spectacular piece!  She also sent in these great pics taken by family and friends so that we could share this arrival with you!  Congratulations Lorraine – we’re quite sure your dress will find a new home VERY quickly!

It is International Women’s Day today, and we’d like to celebrate all the wonderful women who make this shop hum throughout the year and to whom we owe much gratitude for its continued success in fundraising for cancer charities:

• Helen and all the volunteers
• the women who donate to us in the form of dresses, accessories, participation in charity events, and their time
• the women who buy from a social enterprise like ours to make a difference in the community
• the women who support us in other ways, such as spreading the word of what we do through social networks

Our house of dresses at Victor and Broadview raised over $40,000 for our beneficiaries in 2010, and this year we are well on our way to reaching our fundraising goal of $60,000 in 2011. Thank you, ladies, for making it happen!

And, while we are thanking people, we’d like to thank our recent bride, Asha (above), for generously donating her gorgeous wedding gown, too. Congratulations and thank you, Asha!

With our thanks to all the salons, designers and brides who have donated dresses, and the lovely new brides-to-be who have found those treasures here, we have again exceeded our fundraising goal for the first quarter.

This year we added Gilda’s Club to our list of beneficiaries.  You can learn more about Gilda’s Club on our Beneficiaries page.

Here is what they say about our contribution:

Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto is grateful for the support we have received from the The Brides’ Project. Thanks to their support we are able to open our doors to even more families touched by cancer – offering support and networking groups, lectures, workshops and social activities. By supporting us, The Brides’ Project is on the leading edge in solving a critical gap in care for people living with cancer.  Thank you Brides’ Project for supporting our commitment to provide the best practices of social and emotional support to all people living with cancer, along with their families and friends.

And, for the 6th year in a row, we continue to support Camp Quality to help children and their families.  The Executive Director came buy to pick up a cheque for $15,000, which our fearless leader gladly handed over!   This donation will allow 30 children affected by cancer to enjoy the camp experience this summer.

As we always say, dresses arrive pretty much daily – some come in during business hours, others are dropped off so that I have lovely gifts waiting for me on the porch, and let’s not forget that we keep our Canada Postman very very busy!  He seems to be under the misguided impression that we offer brides in addition to bridal wear… but that’s okay as long as the dresses keep coming  Below are a couple of the ones that have arrived, and just a sampling of the generosity of our donors.  Thank you!  Your dress not only helps us raise tons of bucks for cancer charities, but also makes another bride’s dreams come true.   Both are great ways to make your wedding day memorable in the long term.

Congratulations and THANK YOU to the many brides who have brought us dresses, and here are a few examples:

Natale came to visit us on Feb 5th with an absolutely exquisite San Patrick “Edimburgo”.  Va va voooooom!  She sent some fabulous pics in, thanks to the Storybook Gallery, and I picked my favourite of her and Andrew walking back down the aisle.  Gotta love these smiles

Natale brought her friend Joanna, who brought an equally sexy but classic gown.  Photo credits to Stefan… here’s a preliminary view for you!  Thanks Natale and Joanna for your amazing gowns which will disappear in record time!

Now if you want a dress that is so versatile that you can hop on a motorcycle and zoom away with your hubby, that’s exactly what Kathrin brought us last weekend (although she does look a little reluctant…) Photo credit to Jesse Kinos-Goodin.

Amanda dropped by and managed to part with her delicious La Sposa “Frigata”.   This dress won’t last long…

Teresa recently donated her very very beautiful dress, and send us some pictures to enjoy.  She looks stunning and so happy, and so could you in this charming and classic dress!

(Photo credits to Brian Tao at Luxography)

The partial corset on this dress makes it easy to fit, and it already has a bustle built in!  Here’s the front:

We LOVE the mums who come here, and finally have some incredible Marisa Baratelli silk suits/outfits for them!

These pieces are absolutely stunning, and rather than a shapeless dress with sequins, these pieces will allow your Mum to look fabulous.  They’d also be appropriate for someone just wanting something a little different as a bride.  They’re all teeny (size 6-8), but check out the colour and fabric!!  See more under Shopping.

We have a (bridal) size 6/8 pink Joli gown in the house, courtesy of a generous individual donor. It has a corset back, which means alterations are probably not required, with beadwork accents in the design. Click on the thumbnails for a closer look and make an appointment! Our busy season is coming up soon, and dresses like this won’t last long at the shop.

Thanks to a generous donation from the lovely Katie, we now have a Monique L’Huillier gown called “Celestine” available for the next lucky bride.  This gown retails close to $10,000, and is made of a deliciously soft and flowy silk tulle. It was originally a size 2, with the bust altered down to about a zero and the hip fits about a 2-4.  Make an appointment to come and try it on!  (Serious shoppers only please!)

Here’s the runway picture:

And here’s a much better picture… of the gorgeous bride Katie enjoying it (photo credit Storey Wilkins Photography).

As you all know, while some donations are from designers and salons, many dresses (and top sellers!) come from individual brides.  Now these dresses are EXTRA special, and come with the great karma of a wonderful wedding and a happy bride, often with notes attached to wish you well!

During the Movember campaign and today as well, they keep coming in.  We’re incredibly grateful to the brides who give up their cherished gowns so that they can be enjoyed again.  Just today I had a chat with a bride who was sad that the dress she had loved so much was sitting in a storage box and she agreed that the greatest compliment about her gown is someone loving it just as she did!

Without further ado… here are some recent additions… just a taste of what has arrived:

Jubilant Julia in her lovely Pronovias piece: (this is a VERY popular gown… we have others in sizes 0-8 that are very similar).  Photo credits to Mike from mcm photography

The lovely Nicole in her silk dress (about size 16-18): Photo credit to Neil Gislason of Bright Star Photography

The joyous Jacqui: Photo credit Heather Bunt of Xero Digital Photography

She says:

I bought my dress from the Brides Project in April of this year and got married on August 28th, and I’m happy that someone else – both bride and whoever benefits from the proceeds- will get to enjoy it again.  My sister’s boyfriend, who was so helpful on my wedding day that he was essentially an extra bridesmaid, had cancer as a child and volunteers at Camp Quality every summer. It’s nice knowing that just by getting married I’m able to do a small part in helping kids like him or other people suffering from such a terrible disease.

The fabulous Kelly:  photo credit to Mark Ridout ( www.ridoutphotography.com)

Kelly says:

It was so nice to meet you this afternoon when I dropped off my dress, I love the whole idea of The Brides’ Project and was so happy to be able to donate my dress. I felt like a princess and it was the  perfect dress for me. Hopefully there’s another bride out there who will feel the same way!

Kelly… we have no doubt that someone will love this dress as much as you… it’s stunning, and so are you SOLD

And… we’d like to introduce Amy.  Here’s just a snippet of things we discussed and would love to share more of in the future:

My name is Amy and my husband Doug and I dropped off my wedding dress and the dress I wore in my friends wedding on Saturday and had a nice  tour of your space and a great chat with you.  I’m the one who recommended the Conscious Bride.  And I am a relationship coach who wants to work with more people before or as they are preparing to be married.  As we talked about that can be a tough time for couples to truly focus on their relationship with so much going on around them.

Amy’s right… and check out The Conscious Bride.

This dress is designed by Jim of Hoax Couture.  The lace is absolutely incredible, and it’s a lovely, comfortable yet stylish piece!

Well, with our extremely successful Movember campaign now completed, we can get back to girly things… like dresses!!!   I loved our MO-vember intiative and inviting the fellas to take part, but I also missed having space for dresses, and more dresses, and MANY more dresses!

Here’s the scoop.  We receive an average of one dress every day that we put on the racks that is absolutely fantastic. And then we have days like Thursday, when designer Catherine Langlois comes by and gives us 26 dresses with a retail value of over $55,000.

Several of these dresses are still on her website, and we’ll try to take some pics over the next while to show off more of them.  They’re all sizes 8/10, and all silk, ranging in retail from about $2000-$3200.  We decided to just offer them all at $1000/each.  Here are some pics:

Photo credits to Robert Jagodkin (416.652.9587).

Hey folks! It’s everyone’s favourite month of the year when the fellas have a great excuse to growth a mustache (aka MO) and throw the razor away. The Movember Foundation donates funds raised from this program to Prostate Cancer Canada, and it’s a great way to show public support in the fight against cancer. And it’s a hoot seeing the ‘caterpillars’ appear and blossom on occasion to a full handle-bar ‘stache.

Being proud supporters of Movember, we have a challenge for YOU!

Send us a pic of your boyfriend/hubby/significant other’s MO, including the link to their donation page, and we’ll pledge $100 and post those pics online to encourage others to pledge him as well.

And for the ladies… hey… if you want to participate by using a magic marker to sport your MO, we’ll consider that fair game.

(Fine print… 1 donation per person to a $5000 total maximum, entries end November 30th, 2010.)

So get out the cameras, encourage your guy to grow a MO and help put an end to Prostate Cancer!  Click here for the Movember website to join in the Moscapade!!

Entry #1: Kaylene submitted her hubby Gareth’s MO pic and says,

I wanted to say that I’m very proud of my husband for what he has committed to do for Prostate Cancer awareness. He has downloaded an app for his iPhone which allows him to take a picture a day and upload it to his Facebook & Twitter, he is not the hairiest of gentlemen so his Mo has a distinctly Spanish look to it but still very cute.

We’re proud of him too and think his MO is coming along very nicely

Scroll down the page for the mo’ gallery! We’re keeping a running tally of all submissions, and it’s the first 50 mo’s that get sponsored. Spread the word!

On Saturday we had a lovely visit from Carolyn Cornford, who brought with her a gorgeous dress for a new bride to enjoy!  As you can see from the picture below, it’s stunning, and Carolyn had extra length added to the gown.   So if you’re one of those lucky folks who can reach the high cupboard shelves, we have the perfect gown just for you!

Congratulations on your marriage Carolyn, and thank you so much for your generosity and kindness!

If you are getting married in a heatwave, this light-as-a-feather frock is PERFECT. There are no crinolines, no train, and it’s 100 silk so it weighs next to nothing. It’s a size 10 custom-designed gown made in Australia and given to us by a generous donor who knew exactly what she wanted in a wedding dress. I wish I could have had it modelled by a person so you can see the design better, but you can click on the pics to view them larger.

The champagne shade in silk is very fetching for the right complexion (I think this would look amazing on a redhead), and with no train or crinoline you could really show off a pair of your favourite heels. It would also be a great match with vintage jewellery and birdcage veil.

Make an appointment and we’ll help you get started on your wedding ensemble — we have everything you need all in one place!

[Photo credit: Jan Becker of Reportage Event Photography]

Is Alison not the most serene bride? She looks so relaxed and happy, she makes getting married look like the best thing in the world.

It’s Alison’s wedding anniversary in a couple of days, and we are the lucky recipients of her wedding dress! She donated her gown on Saturday, accompanied by her sister Meghan who was diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks after Alison’s wedding. After a year of treatment Meghan is now cancer-free and together they are celebrating and helping us beat cancer by donating Alison’s wedding dress towards our fundraising efforts.

Happy Anniversary, Alison! We are celebrating with you!

We’ve had some gorgeous donations lately, this is just one of them. The sheer overlay in this light ivory strapless Ella Rosa gown has modern, soft lines: delicate horizontal pleating that runs all the way to the corset back, with vertical pleating in the bodice. The beadwork and empire waistline make it easy to accessorize, and it’s simple to bustle this train to make it dance-friendly. (Not all dresses have simple bustles!) Click on any of the thumbnails below to view the dress more closely.

Last but certainly not least: our generous donor had the dress cleaned, so it’s truly prêt-à-porter. This dress won’t last long in the shop, ladies, make an appointment and call off the gown search!

Wow it’s been a busy couple of weeks for receiving lovely letters, visits and dresses from newlyweds!!!  On Sunday alone we added 4 dresses to our inventory that are all fabulous!

Here’s a sneak peak at a couple of those new arrivals.

First, we have the lovely Allison in her gorgeous Maggie Sottero gown, size 8.  This lace overlay, trumpet style dress is a style we’re asked for frequently, and you can see just how beautiful it looks on a real bride!  Thanks so much Allison, and please pass on our congratulations to your wonderful hubby Lorne as well.  (Photo credit Darren Goldstein).

And… on Sunday I had a lovely visit with Beth.  She actually found her gown here, and is a sweetheart for bringing it back to be enjoyed again now that it has accumulated more great karma from the fabulous day she had with her hubby Kirk.  You can see them below in an exuberant high five.  Well, we scored too, so we’re sending a high five your way!

And, I couldn’t resist this picture of Beth and her Mum Lynne.  I just think she looks awesome with that ear-to-ear “I’m getting married!!!” grin, and she truly does the dress justice.  Thanks so much, and congratulations!!!  (Photo credit to her brother Scot Murray)

This week we received several packages in the mail, had several brides popping in, and were also happy to hear from 3 lovely brides who bought or donated dresses here!

Saskia Vegter found her dress here, had her veil custom made by Helen, and went to see the lovely Pom Penner for alterations to make her dress fit perfectly.  And, to top it off, will be returning the dress & veil with her shoes and purse by the end of October so it can all be enjoyed again!  And for those who love her dress… we also have another one just like it in a different size  Congratulations Saskia, you look simply gorgeous!

Lisa says, “I was married on July 3 2010. I purchased my dress last summer before I moved from Toronto. A friend told me about The Brides Project and I knew it was a good fit for me – I found it wasteful to spend thousands of dollars on a dress you wear once.  I loved every aspect of  shopping at the The Brides Project – it was a relaxed atmosphere where my maid of honor could chose a dress for me ( I think I am missing “the bride gene” ! )  I didn’t try on dresses anywhere else and selected a dress that day. I love what The Brides Project is doing and will continue to tell all my newly engaged friends about it.”  She promises that the gown will be coming back to be enjoyed again!

Congratulations Lisa!  We all think you look like a model, and want to wish you a Chris a lifetime of laughter and love! (Photography by Paolo Magliaro of Stillvision).

And Helen had fun unpacking a box from the mailman with a real treat inside… Averil’s dress from her 2007 wedding.  This great picture was taken by Ashley Tulloch, and the gown is here waiting for  you with a special note from Averil.  Thanks so much for sending your dress! We hope its great karma gets passed on again and again, and that another bride will be just as pleased with this lovely rose satin gown!

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.

OK, maybe not THE Alfred Sung, but AN Alfred Sung… this one was brought to the shop today and fresh on the racks. It’s a size 6, beaded bodice, an overlay that continues into the train, with buttons down the back. (Sorry, I forgot to take photos of the back this time!) Click on the thumbnails to view detail, and — don’t forget this part! — make an appointment to try it on!

With thanks to Monique for bringing this up for the US office, and to the lovely bride Joelle who donated it… we are happy to announce that we have yet another divine Pronovias available for a new home.  This one is called the Oceano, and is a multi-layered lace in a slim A-line style with a delicate V-neck bodice.  It’s already been professionally cleaned and is in absolutely pristine condition, size 10.  Make an appointment to try it on!

Here’s the lovely Joelle with her hubby:

Personally, I think Joelle does this gown true justice… but for the die-hards, here’s the manufacturer’s magazine pic:

One common theme we hear is that brides are looking for something which doesn’t necessarily exist… as is… but sometimes minor changes can make that dream dress happen just for you.

Take for example Annie’s dream… a tea length dress with a splash of black.

Here’s the ‘before’ picture… a gorgeous dress by Maggie Sottero called “Sarama” donated by the lovely Shawna as shown below:

And here is the ‘after’ picture, showing Annie just glowing in her new tea length gown with a shawl made from the train!!

(photography credit to Lissa Veilleux Photography)

You can do this too!  And… stay tuned… upcoming are some DRAMATIC gown re-designs by our fabulous crew from Ryerson’s School of Fashion Design, to be premiered on Sept 10-12 at the National Bridal Show!