In June of 2018, Sam Inon's friend, Ariel, suggested they go look at wedding dresses for fun. Sam thought it could be a good idea to visit a bridal shop locally before she made her way to an appointment in Maryland. The mission of Church Street Bridal and the YWCA excited her, so she said "sure."
But when she entered Church Street Bridal, she was amazed and slightly overwhelmed by the number of dresses.
Her friend brought several dresses for Sam to look through. Between two large dresses, she saw a mermaid style dress with lace overlay and skinny straps. She was pretty sure that she wanted a dress with long sleeves but wanted to try and keep an open mind. As she tried on different styles of dresses (including dresses with sleeves) everything felt “eh”. Until she slipped into the mermaid style dress.
This didn't feel like just any dress. This felt like a wedding dress.
She placed the dress on hold but returned shortly after with another friend, Kacie. Her friend pulled other dresses for her to try on, but nothing compared to the dress she put on hold. So, she said 'yes' to her dress!
Sam and Jez married on December 8, 2018, at Old Pate Chapel. When asked how her husband, Jez, felt about the dress, Sam quoted him directly. "Dangggggggg!"
Her favorite memory of her dress was during the "dollar dance". She and her husband danced with wedding guests while they pinned dollar bills onto his suit and her dress.
While Sam remembers her bridal shopping experience fondly, it is the cause of the YWCA that "meant the whole world to me and warms my heart." Sam talked about how wedding planning and bridal shopping can be self-centered but shopping at the YWCA allows brides to give back.
Sam wants domestic violence victims to know that they are not alone and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Church Street Bridal is so proud to be a small part of Sam and Jez's wedding day and wish them a lifetime of joy and light!
To read more bridal testimonials, click here.
Photography Credit: Chrissy Howell Photography
