Where do I begin? My heart is overflowing with love and gratitude for everyone who contributed to making the second annual “Your Dress, Their Dream” a show-stopping success.
On Sunday, September 17th, Into the Garden at The Shops in Clearfork became Sequin Central as friends, family, and devoted SoFortWorthIt fans poured into the store carrying armfuls of big, sparkly, shiny special occasion dresses. The atmosphere was electric with hope and joy as women from across DFW shared their most beautiful things so that young people they didn’t know could feel beautiful, too.
And we couldn’t have achieved this without your support. Our community has always been incredibly generous, but Sunday was genuinely remarkable. I am immensely proud of everyone who played a role in turning this dress drive into a spectacular success with over 450 dress donations and a countless number of shoes, jewelry, handbags and makeup.
Before we delve into the event’s success, allow me to tell y’all about the two remarkable charities we collaborated with:
“We’re All About The Dress” is an organization that provides gowns for military, police, and EMT brides, along with prom dresses for high schoolers facing financial hardship. The group also sells its dresses to the general public for a suggested donation, making it a win-win for all involved.
“University Christian Church – Prom Dreams” operates a boutique located near the TCU campus that provides high schoolers with everything they need for their dream special occasion outfits, free of charge. This includes the dress of their choice plus shoes and accessories. What makes “Prom Dreams” truly exceptional is that it’s open to everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances.
It’s hard to believe it all started last year when my seemingly simple closet clean-out morphed into a spontaneous dress drive. I had no idea that so many people would turn out – and that so many more people would be reaching out, asking to donate again this year. The rest, as they say, is history.
The second annual “Your Dress Their Dream” was meticulously planned, with five months of preparation to ensure that it surpassed the previous year’s success. We aimed to reach a broader audience across the DFW area, and we did just that.
Our efforts to make this event a grand success included a robust social media campaign, personalized Evite invitations, a public Facebook event, articles and advertisements in local magazines, and even a feature on WFAA’s Good Morning Texas. To our delight, it all paid off.
I’ve always subscribed to the belief that “if you build it, they will come,” and indeed, we built it. Guests were welcomed with Champagne and wine upon arrival, and everyone enjoyed the musical vibes spun by a DJ from Rock the Planet.
This remarkable event was made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of local businesses:
A heartfelt thank you to the Levy family and Into the Garden for graciously allowing us to take over their space on a Sunday afternoon.
We extend our gratitude to Forty Five Ten for the exquisite flowers and their donation of stunning gowns, which were also showcased on Good Morning Texas. If you haven’t stopped by their store in downtown Dallas, you MUST put it on your list the next time you head East. Ask for Dianna to help you. You will love her.
A big shout-out to B&B Butchers Restaurant and Butcher Shop for providing the delicious bites and beverages that added to the festivities. After all, what’s a party without some nibbles and libations?
Our appreciation goes to event planner extraordinaire Jan Simus for generously donating all the event rentals.
Another big thank you to the Kirwan family for the generous Chick-fil-A lemonade we served to all the young ladies who stopped by to donate dresses with their moms.
Party Warehouse deserves special recognition for transforming the space with fantastic balloon displays. This store is my go-to for all party and balloon needs when I entertain. Tell Mimi and AJ “HI” when you stop by the store.
Our heartfelt thanks to Willow Creek Signs for donating their time and talents to our cause, purely based on a referral. Also, the owner’s daughter, Kaylee, is my girl for all fab social media graphics. A big thanks to her for making everything visually beautiful.
We’re deeply grateful to Fort Worth Magazine for their feature on our dress drive, which helped spread the word. And a special shout-out to Spray for coming up with the darling dress logo.
And finally, a very special thanks to The Reo Agency for their tireless efforts in getting this event in front of as many media outlets as possible and securing our spot on Good Morning Texas. Watch the segment here.
Last but certainly not least, we extend our gratitude to ALL OF YOU who contributed dresses, shoes, jewelry, and makeup to make a profound difference in the lives of women who will truly appreciate it.
After such an extraordinary experience, there’s no doubt that we will be making “Your Dress Their Dream” an annual event. Stay connected to hear about the next one!
