congratulations, Shannon!
Shannon got married earlier this year and she has already decided to donate her gorgeous Ella Rosa dress! Lucky us! And, maybe LUCKY YOU if you come into the shop at the right time and snap it up before someone else does. It’s a size 14 and the designer’s photo is below. Make an appointment today — that fabulous train deserves another trip down the aisle!
Ella Rosa gown
A Compelling New Series On A Major Women’s Network Is Reuniting Estranged Loved Ones…
Have you and a family member been torn apart by a long-standing rift?
Have you gone years without speaking?
Are you a bride-to-be who wants to take the first step toward reconciling with an estranged family member before your big day?
Would you like to ask this person to be there to support you on your wedding day?
*OR*
Have you been diagnosed with an illness (like cancer) and want to ask an estranged loved one to support you in your fight?
Breakthrough Entertainment is currently casting a brand new series for a Major International Women’s Network. “Mending Fences” is a compelling one-hour documentary-style series that will be dedicated to helping estranged loved ones repair their broken relationships. We’re reaching out to brides-to-be who want to put the past behind them and reconcile with an estranged loved one before the big day. We’re also reaching out to folks who are battling an illness and feel that it’s time to reach out to an estranged loved one. On this series, family members will work with Janet Morrison, a well-respected and dedicated Family Mediator, who will be there to lend support, encourage honest conversation and ultimately, give family members the chance to reconcile and start again.
If you live anywhere within a two-hour flight of Toronto and want to learn more about this exciting opportunity, we want to hear from you! Please include a description of yourself, the family member with whom you’re feuding and the issues plaguing your relationship, along with a recent photo (don’t forget your contact information!). This is a five-day (non-consecutive) filming commitment and participants must be willing to travel and share their stories on television. Each participant will receive a $3500 financial honorarium as a “thank you” for their time and commitment.
We look forward to hearing from YOU!
Danielle Gervais
Casting Director, Breakthrough Entertainment
Ph. 646.678.4999
Breakthroughtvcasting.danielle@gmail.com
www.breakthroughentertainment.com/
Thanks so all our friends, family and BRIDES!!! we put together a team for Relay 2011 and raised a total of $26,015 for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life this year. This puts our total donations for 2011 at over $46,000 only half way through the year. Our goal is $60,000, but we sincerely hope to be overachievers.
And… holy smokes! We more than doubled what we raised for Relay for Life in 2010, and we are, for the second year in a row, the #1 fundraising team for the Toronto Central event.
Our thanks go to the brides who have bought or donated a dress here ( or even just provided us a donation in thanks for a great experience), our volunteers who run the shop to assist those brides, our other participants who raised extra funds and took part; and our friends and family who sponsored us in the event. Your contributions are all very important and made this possible.
Here’s a preliminary picture of our crew at the event… we hope to post more because we have a couple who are missing from this picture!
It’s Relay time again! That’s right, we’re not just about pretty wedding dresses, we’re here to fundraise and commit ourselves to the cause — and that’s kicking cancer to the curb! We do it by volunteering our time and skills, selling wedding dresses, and participating in fundraising events. Our big June event is the annual Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, and this year we’re taking part on Friday, June 17 in Sunnybrook Park. (See here for previous Relay For Life posts.)
Relay For Life – Toronto Sunnybrook Park page
Our team page is here: The Brides’ Project Relay For Life Team
Why we Relay
The Brides’ Project has been involved with Relay for Life for the last 4 years, and each year, our contribution grows.
We strongly believe in, and support the efforts of the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life because every step we take in Relay raises money to help the Canadian Cancer Society save lives. The Society has provided millions in funding for cancer research, and combined with efforts from the Odette Cancer Center at Sunnybrook, we know they will make a huge difference.
Every year we are encouraged and inspired by the fact that our dollars make a difference. We hear more stories of success and survival, and we hope that in our lifetimes, cancer will be beaten.
Join us in the fight against cancer by supporting our team now. It’s easy – just click on the blue “Support” button to make a donation to the event.
Learn more about why the Canadian Cancer Society is our best partner in the fight against cancer at www.cancer.ca
Last year we earned the TOP SPOT as a team, raising more than $11,000! See some our photos here. We were also part of the media campaign for Relay For Life 2010.
In 2009 we were also a very visible team — all night long! Check out some of our photos from Relay For Life 2009 here.
You can help fire up our stalwart team by sponsoring us, or an individual on our team: The Brides’ Project Relay For Life Team (Donations over $20 get an tax deductible receipt.)
If you’re in Toronto, considering joining a team or meeting us at the park and walking with us. Come by and say hello! In our big white dresses, we won’t be hard to find 
This weekend we were very fortunate with dress donations, including a Vera Wang and this stunning San Patrick dress. Emma and I are so in love with this piece that we’ve hidden it in a closet, and can only be bribed with chocolate to let someone try it on! Thanks so much Erica for parting with it, and giving another bride the opportunity to delight in this dress! (Photo credit il gruppo digitale in Tulum, Mexico)
Ladies, we have a gorgeous Size 8 Sottero Badgley in the house. Would you take a look at that train! Today’s featured gown is white and hemmed to fit 5’5″, courtesy of a very generous donor. Make an appointment to try it on!
Julia Church here! Your friendly neighbourhood makeup artist!
Have you decided to do your own makeup on your wedding day, but are a little bit nervous about getting professional looking results? I will be hosting a DIY makeup workshop at The Brides’ Project house on Wednesday June 1st at 7pm and Saturday June 4th at 11am. During the workshop I’ll be addressing some frequently asked questions like:
What colour and type of foundation is best for a wedding?
What shades can I use on my eyes to look beautiful but still natural?
Do I have to wear a lot of makeup?I am a professional makeup artist and have been doing bridal makeup for over seven years, so there is no question that I haven’t answered! Space for the workshops is very limited, so please contact me as soon as possible if you want to attend. My e-mail is Julia@juliacmakeup.com
I can’t wait to hear from you!
JuliaNOTE: These seminars are now FULL. Please contact Julia if you’re interested in her setting up another seminar.
Julia’s website: http://www.juliacmakeup.com/
Just a heads up that long weekends all summer are very very slow here, so we’ll be closed on the Sunday but open on the Saturday. That means that we’ll be open for regular business hours on Saturday May 21st, but closed on Sunday May 22nd.
Happy Victoria Day! We hope it’s a good weather day for everyone going out of town and/or opening cottages!
Yahoo! Thanks to the generosity of Kim Ironmonger at Valencienne, we have received some stunning new silk dresses that are luxurious! Her designs illustrate the true meaning of ‘couture’, and matched with terrific fabrics, each and every one is a masterpiece.
Also, for a really interesting read and some designer sketches of Kate Middleton inspired dresses, check out her blog. I’m SO in love with Kim’s own Kate inspired dress!
Below is my favourite from the dresses we received… it’s cute, fun and flirty! Come on in to see the others!
Kelly recently donated her wedding dress to The Brides’ Project. It’s in the shop now — make an appointment to try it on!
Thanks for your generosity, Kelly, congratulations to you and your hubby!
This size 6 ivory Justin Alex gown is bursting with romance to make your groom sigh and topped with lots of sweetness to make your mama cry. Lace and beadwork in the bodice and skirt grace both the front and back of the dress.
And, speaking of mama, Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas out there! We wouldn’t be here without you!
We just got a lovely email from Amanda, who tied the knot with her handsome hubby Riki in October. As Amanda says, “I just want to say thank you for having the dress of my dreams!! I shopped there April 2010 and it was truly an amazing experience! We got married October 16th,2010 and had many compliments on the dress.”
Here is a fabulous shot of the happy couple, courtesy of Elise Ansley Photography and Amanda Arch Photography.
This lovely frock was donated by a generous lady who was also kind enough to have it drycleaned as well! The bodice has very flattering ruching at the front and gorgeous button detailing at the back. The pickups in the skirt and no beads/designs to contend with make it a breeze for hemming (just take up/down as necessary). This one won’t last long at the shop, make an appointment to try it on!
Helen and Vanessa
Well, we try to describe it as best we can on our “For Brides … What to Expect” page, but it’s even better to get the perspective from a client. Especially a client with a camera!
Lizz came armed and ready with the bride… her sister Monica. We’re happy to report that neither were sent to the boiler room, and we had a terrific time helping Monica say “YES!” to her beautiful Brides’ Project dress.
Read more here!
We are ever so grateful to our generous donors who provide us with dresses to make another bride happy on her wedding day. Our beneficiaries also thank our donors, who help in our fundraising efforts to beat cancer.
Congratulations Carolyn and David on your summer 2010 wedding! We wish you a lifetime of happiness
Photo credit: Vicky Brahos
Click on photos to view larger. Don’t forget to make an appointment to try on dresses!
Thanks to recent publicity, we have new arrivals at the shop! Photos will be posted over the coming days, stay tuned for more…
For now, feast your eyes on this sizzling Sophia Tolli in Size 6. It’s diamond white with a corset back and vine-style beadwork that continue into the train. The lines in the bodice are fluid and graceful.
Thank you to the generous donor who gave us this gorgeous frock! Make an appointment to try it on before it leaves the shop. Our donated gowns tend to sell very quickly!
From the Volunteer Canada website:
Canadians have a rich history of volunteering and community involvement. With 12.5 million of them dedicating their time across Canada, volunteers are creating positive change on many fronts – community health care, sports and recreation, heritage and arts, environmental protection & advocacy, disaster relief, international development, and volunteer firefighting – the list is endless. The work of volunteers is essential to maintaining resilient communities at home and around the world.
National Volunteer Week (NVW) pays tribute to the millions of Canadian volunteers who graciously donate their time and energy. This year’s 68th annual NVW takes place the week of April 10 to 16. It is Canada’s largest celebration of volunteers, volunteerism, and civic participation.
National Volunteer Week was first proclaimed in 1943 as an initiative to draw the public’s attention to the vital contribution of women to the war effort on the home front. In the late 1960s, the focus was revived and broadened to include all community volunteers.
The Brides’ Project is run by volunteers who want to make a difference in the community — not just the local community, but the wedding industry as a whole, drawing people’s attention to social consciousness and away from the message of conspicuous expenditure. We will help you find a dress you will both love and can afford. Sometimes that match takes time and patience, but when it does happen knowing that the dress profit is donated to cancer charities, you can bet it makes everyone feel good — not just the volunteer but the buyer, too.
Volunteering is a win-win situation. It’s not about working without pay, it is about being rewarded in other ways that have nothing to do with money. As part of National Volunteer Week, Volunteer Canada has produced videos about volunteerism in English and French. Take a few minutes and discover what volunteering can do for you.
If you’ve been thinking about volunteering some of your time this year to a cause that’s near and dear to you, check out Volunteer Canada’s “I Want To Volunteer” section to find a volunteer centre in your community.
Recently we worked with Melissa Nowakowski who is the Creative Director of Et Lofte Events (wedding planning). We let her borrow a couple of really unique dresses to use for the shoot, and she was generous enough to let us show you the pictures. All photo credit to Et Lofte Events.
The first dress was redesigned by a faculty member at Ryerson, and is completely elegant. The second is a fun ‘n’ fluffy piece. BOTH are still in the shop!
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