ANN ARBOR, MI -- Brush off the old wedding gown packed away in the closet – a local boutique is looking for dress donations.
The Brides Project, the revenue arm of a local organization supporting those impacted by cancer, opened its “60 in 60″ campaign in September, with the goal of gathering 60 wedding dresses by the end of October.
Although it operates like a typical bridal boutique, The Brides Project sells donated dresses, with the proceeds going to the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. The Cancer Support Community provides free support groups, educational workshops, nutrition and exercise programs and stress-reduction classes for people with cancer, as well as their friends, family and children.
Being able to buy a dress from a charitable organization was a draw for at least one local bride.
“I’ve had a lot of individuals in my family and even some friends who have either had cancer or have passed from it, and so just being able to buy my dress and also have it do a charitable thing at the same time felt really meaningful,” said Nikki Penecale.
Penecale began volunteering with The Brides Project after coming across the organization in a search for her own wedding dress.
“It’s not very often that I purchase a piece of clothing as expensive as my dress,” Penecale said. “In a way, it also brought me a sense of comfort knowing that my large purchase of this beautiful article of clothing that I will probably wear for one day actually will be much more beneficial than if I had bought it from a typical shop set up. For me personally, that just felt like a must-have once I found out that was even an option.”
The boutique was launched “as a means to create a sustainable revenue stream outside of just individual donations and grants,” said Bonnie Dockham, the executive director of Cancer Support Community. The project generates about 30% of the Cancer Support Community’s funding annually.
“That really relies on the gathering of these gowns,” Dockham said.
The project is currently looking to gather 60 gowns by the end of October. Donated dresses can be pre-worn but must be from 2016 or newer. The project does not accept bridesmaid or mother-of-the-bride dresses.
Donations from both individuals and commercial boutiques are welcome, as are both local and non-local donations.
Penecale plans to donate her own wedding dress back after her October wedding — a common occurrence, according to Dockham.
“We have a lot of dress that have come back to the shop a number of times and resold,” Dockham said, pointing to one Vera Wang gown that was especially popular. “It was sold three times through The Brides Project, which is just amazing.”
Gowns can cost as low as $50, with most ranging between $99 and $300, with even originally expensive gowns are deeply discounted. One gown that typically retails for $8,000 was sold by The Brides Project for around $1,500, Dockham said.
“It’s often a really large expense, and knowing that this money is going towards changing people’s lives that have been touched by cancer is really deeply meaningful and personal to a lot of women,” Dockham said.
For more information about The Brides Project or to learn how to donate a dress, visit The Brides Project online, on social media or by phone at 734-506-8271.
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