Military brides to receive free designer gowns

In celebration of Independence Day, A L'Amour Bridal Salon, 236 Northwest Hwy. in Barrington, is joining Brides Across America and giving away free designer wedding gowns to military brides-to-be on Tuesday, July 13.

Bridal salons across the country are saluting military who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or whose fiances are on active duty in these areas with this special celebration.

Founder Heidi Janson and its partners have given away more than 3,000 wedding gowns nationwide since 2007. Bridal salon owners are very generous in their giving, and it is important as an industry to pull together and make a difference. With tough economic times, military brides are appreciative to have this opportunity to be able to afford their dream wedding.

Brides Across America, a Massachusetts-based charitable organization, focuses on providing free wedding gowns to those military brides that have not been able to have their dream wedding. Brides Across America is connecting with bridal salons across the nation to help spread the military spirit. Partnering together with wedding gown designers including Impression Bridal, Vera Wang, Kenneth Pool, Watters and more are donating sample wedding gowns to the organization.

To qualify, brides must be engaged, be on active duty in the military, or have a fiance on active duty in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

All military brides must show ID, copy of deployment papers, orders or other qualifying proof. Brides do not have to reside in the area where the giveaway is taking place. Each event has limited amounts of gowns and the event is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For information, call A L'Amour Bridal at (847) 381-5858.

For participating stores and states, visit www.bridesacrossamerica.com.