Why We March in Wedding Dresses?
Throughout history, the wedding dress has been a special symbol for a very special and important public occasion—a union between two people preparing to start a new life together. The expectations are for a life of commitment, happiness, honor and respect. A Bride-to-be, along with her family and friends, devotes an enormous amount of time and dedication to selecting the perfect dress that will personify her love for her husband-to-be and her expectation of an everlasting love and nurturing relationship. We recognize that in our societies the wedding dress is a sacred symbol of matrimony and acknowledge all the things it represents to a bride-to-be.
For women who have experienced some form of domestic violence, their wedding dress no longer signifies what it did on the day it was first worn because the abuse destroyed those dreams of shared love, honor, respect and a happy home.
The murder of Gladys Ricart, in her wedding dress, concretized for us the brutal consequences and horror of domestic violence. Often, at the end of the Brides’ march, which winds through the streets of several neighborhoods, the wedding dresses worn by the marchers are dirty and tattered, similar to how a woman feels when there is violence in her life.
Donate your Wedding Dress
If your wedding dress no long represents what it did to you the day you first wore it, you can support the Mission and Goals of the Brides' March by donating it. A fellow marcher will wear the dress as she symbolically takes a stand against domestic violence. Please note that the donation of wedding dresses is tax-deductible, and a donation acknowledgment certificate—for tax purposes—will be provided. To donate your wedding dress, please email: BridesMarch@aol.com
Want to March in a Wedding Dress but don’t have one?
We have a limited number of dresses and they are available on a first-come, first-get-one basis. We cannot reserve or guarantee that a dress in your size will be available on the day of the March. You can let family, friends and colleagues know that you are looking for a wedding dress they may want to donate. You can also visit thrift shops, flea markets, Good Will shops, yard sales and dry cleaners. If the price is not reasonable, explain what the dress is for and ask for a discount or suggest they donate the dress to us in your name and guide them to our website. You can also try posting on social boards on the internet.
If you have other ideas that might be helpful in locating and obtaining wedding dresses please share them with us.