Elisa Hansen, a bridal consultant with Loveland Wedding Center, 680 E. Eisenhower Blvd., helps 22-year-old Anna Kicera of Milliken try on a dress as part of the store's free give-away over the weekend. The store gifted more than 40 dresses to soon-to-be-brides by Sunday afternoon and plans to give out a total of 150 through Thanksgiving.
Watching her daughter try on wedding gowns Sunday afternoon was everything Longmont's Deena Kicera had imagined."It's something you've waited for your whole life," the beaming mother said, as her 22-year-old daughter, Anna Kicera, disappeared behind brown curtains to try on dress No. 2.
The difference between her experience and that of others was that she and Anna would walk out of the store without paying a penny. Over the weekend, the Loveland Wedding Center, 680 E. Eisenhower Blvd., gave away some 40 wedding dresses to brides-to-be. The store opened at 1 p.m. Sunday, but women from as far away as Wray lined up as early as 8:30 a.m. There was no cost. Ladies simply took a number and waited until their opportunity came to peruse hundreds of new, used and consigned gowns that owner Dianne Carpenter has collected over time. And the giveaway continues. Up until Thanksgiving, future brides can call the store at 744-5589 to get in a line capped at 150 to find the dress of their bridal dreams.Carpenter said women spilled "lots of happy tears" when they stood in gowns they thought they'd never be able to afford, let alone wear down the aisle.
When asked what motivated her generous offer, the wedding guru said, "We're very blessed, and we want to help other people." She also took inspiration from a wedding store outside Colorado that hosted a similar event.No matter the reason, customers were elated."I thought it was fabulous," said Deena Kicera, who made sure to give Carpenter a hug before she left.
With a wedding gown in hand resembling the one her grandmother wore decades ago, Anna and her family will put money saved toward other wedding details."It was nice to see that happening," Anna said of the event she learned about via a Facebook post. "It helps with budgets."
