21 Feb Goodwill Wedding Gown Weekend Set For March 19-20, 2022
Bargain-Priced Bridal Dresses to be Available at 28 Stores in Middle and West Tennessee
Brides-to-be, especially those on a budget or shopping sustainably, may find the dress of their dreams during Goodwill’s Wedding Gown Weekend.
Bride’s and bridesmaid’s gowns will be priced from $49.99 to $299.99 during the sale, which will be Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20, 2022, while supplies last. Each of the 28 retail stores operated by Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee will be stocked with at least 20 gowns.
“Some reports say the average cost for a wedding dress is now more than $1,600. This sale offers a chance to save more than 80% of that amount and still walk away with a stylish, gorgeous gown,” said Leisa Wamsley, Goodwill’s Vice President of Donated Goods. “That’s a lot of money you can spend on something else — like a honeymoon!”
Sale merchandise includes gently used gowns donated by individuals as well as new-with-tags, excess stock donated by local bridal shops. Brides typically wear their dress for just one day, so purchasing a wedding gown from Goodwill — extending the useful life of a beautiful garment — is an eco-friendly alternative.
A wide range of sizes, styles — including contemporary and vintage, brand names and dress lengths will be available, but selection will vary by location. All gowns will be out on the store floor when doors open at 9 a.m. on March 19 and will remain there until sold.
Shoppers must visit their local Goodwill during the sale to inspect the gowns. No information about gown types, sizes or availability will be provided by phone, and no gowns will be reserved.
Like all purchases from Goodwill, those made during Wedding Gown Weekend will benefit the nonprofit’s mission of changing lives through education, training and employment.
Information about store locations and hours can be found at www.giveit2goodwill.org/locations.
Deja Hagewood of Nashville found this gown for $129 at Goodwill’s Rivergate store in Madison during last year’s Wedding Gown Weekend.
Andria Goodrow of Nashville, who was planning a Halloween wedding in 2021, found this black sequin dress for $49.99 at Goodwill’s Rivergate store in Madison during last year’s Wedding Gown Weekend.
Aubree Taylor, 6, daughter of Lyndsey Taylor, holds a pretty dress with roses her mother purchased for $9.99. Aubree’s family resides in Lafayette, Tenn., and drove all the way to Goodwill’s Rivergate store in Madison for last year’s Wedding Gown Weekend. Aubree was going to be a flower girl at her grandmother’s wedding.
IN HER OWN WORDS: One Bride’s Goodwill Gown Story
Kaylee Streit of Nashville purchased an Allure Romance wedding gown — which originally retailed at $1,500— for $199.99 at a Goodwill gown sale in 2020. She wore it when she married Michael Streit on Oct. 17, 2021. This is her story:
Not yet engaged — but fairly certain it was coming soon — I convinced my brother to return to Nashville a day early from our spring break trip with family March of 2020.
Being an avid Goodwill shopper, I was convinced that if anyone could find their wedding dress at Goodwill it would be me. I picked up my friend Allie early Saturday morning to drive up to Madison to get in line for the sale (at Goodwill’s Rivergate store).
We had gone over my Pinterest board together, developing a plan on how to scour the racks for dress styles and sizes that could make a dress “the one.” Plan in place, we were let into Goodwill to divide and conquer.
After meeting back up with dresses in hand, Allie ran to the homewares department to grab a mirror. We made our own dressing room in the middle of the aisle. I slipped into a dress and couldn’t believe it fit like a glove, with a beautiful trumpet bottom and an open back.
I looked at Allie and questioned, “Is this real life? Did we actually find my dream dress that needs zero alterations”?
People stopped in their tracks with their jaws on the floor, asking “You’re buying that, right?”
I did, and with pride responded to many compliments I received at my wedding that, of course, I found my wedding dress at Goodwill.
I am so grateful for the timing and will forever have a precious memory of finding my dress right before the world shut down. I also count my blessings for being able to get married to the love of my life, Michael, with all of my closest people during a dip in the pandemic.
My wedding dress story will forever be one of my favorites, especially with Goodwill being such a huge part of it.
Zoia Jordan
Posted at 18:38h, 15 MarchI will be there!!