Military brides get free dresses in Oakbrook Terrace

The first wedding gown Briana Casey tried on was lovely.

The second one made her burst into happy tears.

The moment she looked in the mirror, she knew it was the dress of her dreams — strapless, beaded, with a dramatic full cathedral train.

The 23-year-old woman was one of 10 military brides to receive a free designer wedding gown Tuesday at Bella Bianca Bridal Couture in Oakbrook Terrace. One bride-to-be camped out in front of the store Monday night in order to get first pick.

Casey and her mother, Linda, drove in from Yorkville Tuesday morning.

Retail prices for the dresses to be given away ranged from $1,500 to $7,000, said Natalie Bauer, who owns the store with her sister, Melissa Russell.

Most dresses came from the store's inventory, but some, like the $4,000 gown Casey selected, were donated by designers.

The bridal store staff bustled about the young women during the happy event. Once a dress was chosen, the bride-to-be received a glass of champagne.

One young woman is getting married next month and still didn't have a dress.

“Just talking with each bride and hearing their story, it's rewarding,” Bauer said.

This was the bridal store's first partnership with Brides Across America, which organizes wedding gown giveaways for military brides-to-be.

Nationwide, more than 5,000 dresses have been given away to military brides so far. Giveaways are often pegged to Memorial Day or the Fourth of July.

To qualify, the bride or her fiance must have been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq or Qatar during the past five years, and they must be getting married within the next 18 months.

Casey will marry Army Lt. Kevin Kaczmarek in November 2012. He is serving in Afghanistan.

The young couple met when they were both students at St. Norbert College. He's expected to be home next spring to be reunited with his bride-to-be.

Until then, they talk on Facebook “almost every day,” Casey said.