Uncategorized | The Brides' Project

March 16, 2019

The long and the SHORT of it

Many brides shudder when the words “two-dress bride” are brought up in conversation. It’s usually applied to cases where a decision was too hastily made on that first dress and/or the shopping continued. (By the way, just… don’t. You’ll always find another dress if you keep shopping!!!) However, one reasonable exception does exist… when it refers to a more practical option to back up the full-length gown. In fact, we can’t think of any reason NOT to have a second, short dress! By the way, we have a lot. Yes, a lot.

Top reasons to buy a short dress at The Brides’ Project:

They’re inexpensive. Short dresses at The Brides’ Project range in price from $100 to $500, with the average about $200.

Help fight cancer. All profits from the purchase of your short dress are sent directly to cancer charities. While you might not have found your ceremony gown here, let us help with your party dress! Click here to find out about the wonderful organizations we support!

They’re zero-waste. All our dresses are donated… and either saved from hiding in the back of someone’s closet, or destined for some other untimely demise. Many are redesigned from longer gowns and given a newer, fresh look.

Show off your shoes! Not all bridal shoes are plain off-white pumps. We’ve seen some pretty spectacular footwear – whether colourful or sparkly or both. Let them shine.

Bust a groove all night long. There’s a certain elegance to the full length bridal gown that can’t be replaced. And it has its place, and its time. Like all good things, that time comes to an end… and marks the beginning of Twirl, Spin, repeat!

Pop-up Wedding/Destination Wedding/Shower/Bachelorette. You still want to look like a bride, or a bride to be… but not in an uber-formal way. Or you’re having an outdoor or destination wedding. A short dress is the PERFECT solution!!

Make an appointment and come on in to find your perfect short dress.

January 1, 2018January 1, 2018

Donations over $190,000 for 2017!

I’m so excited to report that our donations for 2017 have exceeded $190,000! Our annual goal is $100K, and we always hope to exceed that amount… but I don’t think we ever dreamed of almost doubling it! To date, we have raised over $930,000, and your support has been incredible. Thank you to all the brides, the salon donors, the tireless volunteers and the many others who have made this possible. In conjunction with our beneficiaries, there are a couple of key things we hope to accomplish; as Gilda’s Club puts it, “So that no one faces cancer alone” and to quote the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, “We will conquer cancer in our lifetime!” Visit our Beneficiaries page to learn more about our donations.

August 14, 2017August 14, 2017

The reasons why…

It’s been a long time since we posted on this blog… because we focus our attention on posting news on our Facebook page with day-to-day photos on our Instagram feed. But this post is particularly important because it’s a reminder to our staff and brides alike why we do what we do, and how it affects people in our community. We also wanted it to be a permanent reminder – unlike a note on a feed that gradually fades into obscurity.

Recently we asked on our FB page for your stories – why did you buy or donate a dress from The Brides’ Project?

Heather wrote us a beautiful piece that I would like to share with you:

I knew as soon as I found my dress that I wanted to donate it to the Bride’s Project after the wedding. I have friends who had either found their dress there, or who had donated theirs and I always thought it was such a fantastic organization. I was so happy dropping my dress off knowing that it was going to help in the fight against cancer and also give another plus-size bride the chance to feel like a princess!

At the time of my donation, cancer had not impacted my life directly. However, a few months later my mother was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer and she passed away in August 2016.

I cannot thank the volunteers enough for the work that they do to ensure the Brides’ Project continues to operate. Patients and their families need so much support in their battles against this terrible disease and many of those resources are supported through fundraising efforts such as the Brides’ Project. Knowing that my dress helped in this effort brings me some comfort.

On behalf of our entire crew here at TBP (The Brides’ Project) – we are so grateful to help provide that little bit of comfort and so sorry for your loss. And we wish you a lifetime of love, laughter, health and happiness with your hubby 🙂

Photo credit (both images): Benjamin Wong (www.benjaminwong.ca)

November 26, 2015

$100,000 to Sick Kids Garron Family Cancer Centre!

Last week we visited Sick Kids to officially present our $100K donation. This donation will be made over a 5 year period, and provide invaluable funds for the Garron Family Cancer Centre. In addition, we also have a website page with Sick Kids so that you too can donate and be a part of funding cutting edge treatment and care to fight childhood cancers!

September 21, 2015

Dress donations and summer brides

This is a 2-part post as I belatedly send a huge Thank You to some recent donors who brought us dresses and those who recently celebrated their marriages in a gown they found with us! Some of these dresses have already found homes, and many more have arrived as well.

Congratulations to all our brides, and wishes for health, happiness, love and laughter. We greatly appreciate your photos too… it’s a great way to illustrate how beautiful our brides are 🙂

Lovely Lauren (photos by AGI Studios John Lin) This pair just beams with joy, and Lauren clearly shows that the dress deserves to be loved again!

Julie & Andreas (photos by b ousquetphotography.ca) Julie sent us a beautiful note about her dress – and it had already had a trip down the aisle with its own story to tell. Dresses never look the same on different brides – in fact they are quite unrecognizable! Each bride adds her own touches, and her own happiness to the great karma that is passed along. This is what Julie had to say…

I decided to buy my wedding gown, and donate it back again to the Brides’ Project because I am very close to the fight against cancer. I have worked for the Canadian Cancer Society for 8 years and experience first-hand how cancer can turn people’s lives upside down. I thought supporting this cause on such an important day of my life was only fitting. Now I’m happy to donate the dress back to the Brides’ Project so it can bring joy to a third bride.

September 4, 2015

Terry Fox Run 2015

It’s my favourite time of the year… time for the annual Terry Fox Run! As many of you may know, Terry and the entire Terry Fox Foundation hold a very special place in my heart. A few years after I lost my best friend to the same cancer at only 9 years of age, Terry came on the scene and started his run just a couple of miles from where we grew up in NFLD.

And they both inspired me with their courage.

Join us on Sunday September 20th 2015… we’ll be at the Toronto Central YMCA event. You don’t have to run! You can donate a few dollars, or just come on out to show your support and encouragement. The Brides’ Project happily donated $25,000 to support this organization in funding cancer research.