‘I know a lot of people are struggling to get themselves a nice dress that doesn’t cost the earth, so I’d rather it go to someone who will utilize it.’
Many brides cherish their wedding dresses and want to keep them forever, often passing them down to their children or grandchildren. Wedding dresses are often considered too special to be worn again, and the idea of giving them away is not common, as brides typically do not want to wear a second-hand dress unless it is a family heirloom. However, the reality is that wedding dresses can be very expensive. Fortunately, a woman from Coventry named Gemma Button understands this and believes that a dream wedding is made up of moments, not just the dress. Gemma got married on April 14th, and according to Coventry Live, she would rather give her gown to someone who will actually wear and enjoy it.
Gemma Button has decided to take a practical approach with her wedding dress. She recently gave away her wedding gown for free to other newlyweds who are on a tight budget. Gemma posted her offer on Spotted Coventry City’s Facebook page, and received a flood of messages ranging from well-wishes to genuine interest in wearing the dress. “I didn’t want the dress to just sit in my wardrobe collecting dust. I know a lot of people are struggling right now to find a nice dress that doesn’t cost a fortune, so I’d rather it go to someone who will actually use it,” she said. “It has been overwhelming to see how kind people have been online. It’s been crazy, and I never expected it to go as far as it has.” Gemma, who is a mother of six, married her partner Thomas at Cheylesmore Manor. She purchased her own dress on Facebook for £90 ($112), which had been unworn by a bride whose wedding was canceled.
Gemma described her dress as ivory-colored with a short train, gemstones, a corset back, and little ruffles, which she found beautiful. She was fortunate to get her dress at a good price, and she believes that there are many nice dresses available for those who are on a budget, and there are also kind people who are willing to donate. Gemma also discussed how the cost-of-living crisis affected her wedding plans, but with the help of her family, she was able to have her dream wedding. “There was a point where we thought we might have to cancel the wedding, but my husband’s family paid for the reception and the DJ, and my cousin helped me with the flowers. Everyone came together to make sure that our wedding day happened,” Gemma shared.
On April 24th, Gemma was able to find someone online to give her wedding gown to. She admitted that giving away the dress and deciding who to offer it to was not easy. “I had so many people message me, and some messaged me privately but didn’t get back to me. This one lady collected it yesterday, and she wanted it for her sister’s wedding day. She sent me a photo of her sister trying the dress on, and as far as I’m aware, she loves it and will be wearing it for her big day,” Gemma shared. Gemma’s kind gesture was highly appreciated, and she received praise for it. “@Sandra Martin wrote, ‘That is such a generous offer. And you looked radiant.’ @Kirsty KD commented, ‘This is absolutely precious of you to do. Please make sure it goes to a genuine person.’ @Gemma Lee complimented, ‘What a beautiful gift to someone. This is how the world should be.'”
There have been other heartwarming stories of generous wedding gifts to brides. In South Africa, a woman lent her wedding dress to a complete stranger who wanted it for her own dream wedding. The dress fit Simone Crouch perfectly, and it made her feel beautiful.
Another bride, Gwendolyn Stulgis, wanted to make wedding dress shopping less stressful for future brides. She had spent $3,000 on a stunning champagne-colored gown from Allure Bridals, which had beautiful beading and lace. Stulgis looked amazing on her wedding day, but after the event, she realized the dress would be useless to her or anyone else if it just sat in her closet. Instead, she decided to donate the dress to another bride who could wear it on her special day. “I want someone else to feel the way I did on my wedding day—to look beautiful,” she said. “I want the person to feel like they are worth something. I want them to get the dress of their dreams without worrying about buying one. A wedding dress shouldn’t just be kept in a closet.”