Non-Profit Donates Gowns to Military, First Responder Brides-To-Be
BOSTON (CBS) - For a bride-to-be, there is no moment as special as picking the perfect wedding gown. A local woman started a nation-wide giveaway event every July to relieve the financial stress on military couples planning for their special day.
This has become a beloved annual event for military brides, and now first responders are eligible, including brides who serve in the police force, as firefighters, and EMTs.
From the gown, to the veil, and accessories.
This bridal fitting is the ultimate mission of operation wedding gown.
Heidi Janson, Founder and CEO of Brides Across America, said, "this is a dream come true for these military girls and first responders."
Janson owns Tulle Bridal in Andover and came up with the idea of Brides Across America after hearing a deployed soldier's story in 2008 and married the idea of love of country with love at the altar.
"This is what we do, we provide these moments of a lifetime so they have those memories," Janson said.
Her non-profit has donated weddings and gowns to military couples and now first responders ever since.
"Seeing the smiles and the team and the happy memories of bringing these couples together and taking that stress off for one day of giving back to them for what they do to us - serve us every day," Janson said.
Brides Across America has donated 15,000 wedding gowns from bridal salons across the country and gifted 20 weddings since 2008.
Military brides must bring proper identification along with deployment papers to be presented the day of the event. First responders must bring a valid work ID the day of the event.
First responders eligible for this event include brides currently in the police force, firefighters, certified first responders and EMTs.
For more information, visit www.bridesacrossamerica.com.
