After BOLI Megan got married, she wondered what to do with her wedding dress. Her decision changed two women’s lives for the better.
Some of us dream of our wedding dress for years, and some scroll through social media looking for inspiration. No matter what kind of bride you are, your wedding dress will undoubtedly hold lots of meaning between all those stitches and beads.
But after your wedding day is over, your wedding dress will also hold lots of space. While many brides want to hang on to their gowns indefinitely, others can’t justify keeping something they’ll likely never wear again.
It was a conundrum that BOLI Megan wanted to figure out even before her big day had arrived – what do you do with your dress after the wedding?
An important decision
Megan got the ‘magical moment’ all brides hope for when dress shopping. “I knew from the moment I looked at myself in the mirror, it was what I wanted to wear on my wedding day,” she said. “I also knew that even though this dress was everything I dreamed about, I felt impractical about hanging on to it beyond the wedding.”
She had an idea in mind, and turned to loved ones for advice. “I decided pretty early on that the best way to honor my dress was to pass it along to the next bride. I shared this with the people in my inner circle, and a few of them encouraged me to think about it longer or consider selling the dress instead. I did look into the option of selling which did not make me feel good. I also considered preserving it, but that also made me feel like I was keeping it for the sake of keeping it. It no longer served a purpose in my life.”
Image courtesy of Captured by Christina Anne Photography
Firm in her decision to donate, Megan began to think about how best to go about the process. “I absolutely love being a part of the Brides of Long Island community, and have felt a strong sense of sisterhood among members,” she commented. “I thought that if I offered my dress up on the BOLI Facebook group, I was more likely to give it to someone who is a part of my local community, which I loved. I put all the information up on the group about my dress plus a bunch of pictures, and got quick interest.”
A happy time marked with mourning
For BOLI Jenn, a trip to the mountains turned into a day she’ll never forget. “My fiancé proposed to me on October 19, 2024 after four years of being together,” she remembered. “We were vacationing in the Poconos and he surprised me with a beautiful ring.”
She first told good news to her beloved 88-year old grandmother. “This lady raised me and was so happy for us,” she said. “The next time I saw her, she told me she wanted to help me buy my gown as her last gift to me. Unfortunately, my happiness was pulled out from under me when I got a call on November 15th to inform me that her Hospice nurse found her deceased. My heart felt like it was ripped out of my chest.”
Image courtesy of Foxlight Studios
After her grandmother passed, Jenn found it hard to focus on wedding planning. “I was scrolling through different wedding pages, trying to get back into the wedding spirit. It was then that I was on BOLI and came across Megan’s post.”
A connection over DM
After seeing Megan’s post, Jenn decided to send her a message. “I explained what I had been through and told her how I was grieving my ma, finances were tight, and I would love to be considered.”
Jenn’s message was the first that Megan received. “She said this was her ‘dream dress’ (same), was kind and gracious throughout our conversation and offered additional information about her wedding and personal circumstances, which she certainly didn’t have to do, but it made me feel so right about passing this dress on to her.”
Image courtesy of Create Studioworks
A beautiful dress, a beautiful new owner
“We messaged in the morning and she came to my house to pick up the dress that afternoon,” Megan explained. “We hugged, introduced ourselves, and talked about wedding planning. Then she took the dress and that was that. I felt no regret – just happiness for how beautifully this all unfolded.”
That happiness was cemented even further when Jenn sent pictures. “She was kind enough to send me photos after she tried it on and said it fit perfectly. She was right! It looks like it was made for her. She is a vision!”
Image courtesy of Heritage House
“Megan helped to restore my happiness and excitement for my wedding,” Jenn said. “We both felt like this was a sign that my ma was still working her magic from heaven to make sure I got my dream gown. An expense I would’ve never been able to afford has now been lifted and I was able to focus on crafting my flowers and decorations for my upcoming elopement.”
Jenn and her fiancé will say “I do” in western Maryland this July, in a treehouse with two wonderful friends by their side. And of course, Megan is looking forward to seeing pictures of their gorgeous event.
Image courtesy of RF Films
“A little bit of kindness went a very long way.”
Both Megan and Jenn have some words of wisdom for future Brides of Long Island. “If you’re not enthusiastic about keeping your dress, this is something to consider,” Megan advised. “Giving it a new life with the next bride made me feel so good. When I considered that I might have any regret, I quickly remembered all the other mementos I still have – my veil, my photos and videos, a signed book from our guests, all of our cards, the portrait from our live wedding painter which hangs proudly in my home, and most importantly, a beautiful life with my husband.”
Jenn is also considering passing the gown along after her big day is done. “I discussed with Megan that I do have a daughter who is engaged, and I’d first like to see if she wants the gown or if she’d want to save it for my granddaughter,” she said. “If not, I’d like to keep paying it forward and put up a similar post like Megan did. The world can be a really harsh place and we never know what other people’s struggles are. A little bit of kindness went a very long way.”
