100 brides chosen to receive free wedding gowns

From Miami Herald

The owner of a bridal shop in Plantation donated dresses to 100 brides who recently lost their jobs.

Out-of-work brides showered with free gowns

A number of
would-be brides received free wedding gowns at Patricia South's 'The
Bride's Choice' shop in Plantation. Their main qualification for this
gift: Recent unemployment.

The Miami Herald

Out-of-work brides showered with free gownsA
number of would-be brides received free wedding gowns at Patricia
South's 'The Bride's Choice' shop in Plantation. Their main
qualification for this gift: Recent unemployment.

• Out-of-work brides showered with free gowns

• Photos

  
  

BY LAURA FIGUEROA lfigueroa@MiamiHerald.com

Her ``happily ever after'' won't have to wait.

Rose Brill, 26, wept as she held a white satin gown with beaded bodice close to her body.

``I'm one step closer to happiness,'' she said, wiping tears from her cheeks.

After losing her job as a financial analyst, the Cornell University
graduate shelved plans for a formal wedding. Filling out job
applications took precedence over flipping through wedding planning
magazines.

``I couldn't even think about a reception,'' Brill said. ``I just
wanted to have a ceremony, just us finally being together.''

Her
hopes of going forward with a wedding ceremony next year were restored
this week when Brill was one of 100 brides from throughout Florida who
won a free wedding dress from Patricia South's The Bride's Choice, a
boutique in Plantation.

Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, women
of all backgrounds and dress sizes who could prove they had received a
pink slip in the past year were allowed to pick their gown from a room
lined with white and beige wedding dresses in silk, satin and lace.

``Even if it's just you and your husband, every couple deserves that
magical moment when the husband sees his bride in her wedding dress for
the first time,'' said store owner Patricia South.

South was
inspired to give away the dresses after a recent inventory. She found
dozens of designer samples, and even some custom-made dresses that were
never collected.

It's not the first time she's donated dresses.
Last Veterans Day, the store gave away free bridal gowns to eight women
engaged to soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She scoffs at the notion that in these hard economic times a couple should hold off on their wedding plans.

``It's a magical moment, and every bride, whether she's having her
wedding at a cathedral or her back yard, deserves to have those
memories,'' South said.

Ever since the giveaway was announced,
the shop has been inundated with calls and e-mails from brides as far
away as Indiana and Kentucky looking to submit an application.
Ultimately the offer was only open to Florida brides. From Tallahassee
to Homestead, elated women poured into the shop Wednesday and Thursday.

Jasmine Marsden, 24, drove four hours from Daytona Beach. It was a trip
worth making after she picked a white silk dress valued at $1,100 for
her August 2010 wedding.

``When you lose your job, even if
it's circumstances outside of your control, you can't help but feel
like a loser,'' said Marsden, who lost her job at a pet store just one
week after getting engaged.

Yaremi Morejon, of Homestead,
decided to use her brother's backyard for the site of her wedding. Her
brother -- a recent graduate of a culinary school -- will also cater
the affair.

``Everyone in the family is trying to help out,''
Morejon said. ``It will make the day more meaningful knowing everyone
came together to make this happen.''

Jessenia Collazo, 22, of
Deerfield Beach was supposed to get married in September. But after
losing her job, she decided to postpone her big day until March -- that
way she won't lose the deposit she put down on her banquet hall.

She's also scrapped plans for flower centerpieces and limousines.

But she won't sacrifice getting married.

Said Collazo: ``Love finds a way of getting you through the tough times.''