After serving their country and communities, these Camden County brides-to-be got their pick of wedding dresses — for free! This magnificent gift came courtesy of former New Jersey bridal shop Alfred Angelo, who had donated hundreds of garments so that veterans, first responders, and their families could find the gown of their dreams. Although the “Salute the Dress” event had to be put on hold due to the pandemic, it made a comeback just in time for Valentine’s Day! Hopeful brides flocked to Camden County Boathouse to select the perfect wedding dress at absolutely no cost.
“I was nervous and excited,” Amala Sanders told Good Morning America. “I didn’t know what to expect and I thought it was just gonna be one of those ‘hurry up and grab-and-run’ things, and so when I got there, it was a really amazing experience.’
She added, “I had a wonderful person that helped me throughout the whole process and she did a really amazing job.”
Amala had served in the Army for 27 years as a motor sergeant before getting married. Her free wedding dress allowed her to feel extra special prior to her big day!
“It’s amazing and they made me feel absolutely gorgeous. So thumbs up all the way and I salute them,” the veteran said of the Salute the Dress event.
Veteran brides feel beautiful in their free wedding dresses.
Camden County Commissioner Melinda Kane was more than happy to see so many veterans and first responders getting the royal treatment as they picked out their free wedding dresses.
“Many women serve in the military. It’s not just a man that puts on the uniform and goes to defend our country,” she said, adding, “We wanted to just say thank you, and we wanted to help them for their special day.”
According to ABC, Melinda also called Salute the Dress “the least we could do to show our gratitude for those that give back to our country and our community.”
What a beautiful way to show our veterans and first responders how much they mean to us! We hope all of these brides feel incredible in their free wedding dresses.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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