Want a bridal gown for $50? Hit Barrington Bridal Faire Saturday
A desperate phone call came into a Barrington resale shop recently from a bride-to-be wanting to check on the status of the annual bridal fair.
Otherwise, she said, she might have to postpone her wedding.
What made her so frantic? This bridal fair features more than 300 designer and sample bridal gowns in all sizes, and all sell for a flat price of $50.
Project Hope, a ministry of the St. Anne Catholic Community in Barrington, sponsors the one-day sale every year. This year's Bridal Faire takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Admission is free.
All proceeds benefit local families, who turn to the parish agency in times of crisis, needing help with everything from food and clothing to rent and utilities.
"Especially in this economy, we want people to know about this opportunity," says volunteer Kate Hauk of Barrington. "Getting that special dress - and looking like a million bucks - is still within reach."
Officials with the online statistics/research site The Wedding Report say wedding costs fell by 24 percent in 2008, with couples trying to shave expenditures where they could.
They expect that trend to continue this year, with couples even postponing their ceremony and reception until the economy recovers.
Project Hope volunteers say they aim to give area brides a chance to still have the wedding of their dreams.
Since they started the fair four years ago, Project Hope volunteers have developed relationships with area bridal salons and boutiques, who donate their surplus dresses. They also receive mother of the bride gowns, prom dresses, and increasingly, menswear, including suits and tuxedos.
In addition, they will have a selection of veils, purses, jewelry, shoes and other wedding accessories displayed, as well as local vendors and an on-site seamstress for fittings and alterations.
"We try to make it one-stop shop," Hauk adds. "Conceivably, you could buy your whole wedding ensemble here."
For the event, they turn their Project Hope resale shop into a bridal salon, complete with mirrors, makeshift dressing rooms, flowers, refreshments, extra staff members and even a sitting area for weary family members.
"Even though our dresses are a bargain, we strive to make the shopping experience indulgent and an enjoyable memory for the bride," says Colleen Dunkel, event co-chairperson.
Last year, more than 100 people were lined up when the doors opened at 8 a.m., making it reminiscent of the annual "Running with the Brides" hosted by Filene's Basement, only on a smaller scale.
Some savvy brides wear leotards - the better to change in the aisles, they figure. Last year, the first bride in line waited two hours for the doors to open, Hauk says, and then wound up purchasing two dresses.
Not all of the gowns sell during the bridal fair, however, so volunteers say not to worry. They will remain at the Project Hope resale shop for another month, priced the same, before officials donate them to area charities.
Some of the gowns are set aside for Annie's Attic, their annual garage sale in July.
"One way or another," Hauk adds, "every dress finds a home."