Ambassador Special Edition 2014

Ambassador SPECIAL EDITION 2014

GOODWILL

WEDDINGGALA 2014

contents

Wedding Gala 2013

Ashley’s Bride GuideBella BridesmaidBridal & Formal ShoppeStreet Tuxedo

The Bride RoomThe Omni Nashville HotelThe Spoiled Lady

25 Brides 3A Friendship That Blossomed52014 Gala Sneak Peek7

AmbassadorSpecial Edition | Wedding Gala 2014

special thanks

Jeannie’s PhotosJennifer Fite Photographywww.jenniferfitephotography.com

Adrianna’s Photos Michael Holland Photographymichaelsholland.wix.com/photos

Ashley’s PhotosDerek Leewww.DWLP.com

Kacey’s PhotosColleen Adcock PhotographyColleenadcock.photostockplus.com

photography

Wedding Gala 2013

Ambassador Special Edition 2014 1

President and CEO Matthew Bourlakas

Publisher Karl HoustonSenior Director of Marketing & Community Relations

Editor and Writer Jamie BerryPR & Communications Manager

Art Director EJ Kerr Manager of Creative Services

Ambassador is a quarterly magazine published by Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc., 1015 Herman Street, Nashville, TN 37208.

For the nearest retail store, donation center, or Career Solutions center, please call 800.545.9231 or visit www.giveit2goodwill.org.

Ambassador provides readers with stories of the events, activities and people who support the mission of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. We are pleased to provide you this information and hope you will share our publication with others. Please note that the opinions expressed in Ambassador do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official position of management or employees of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.

The Goodwill Mission We sell donated goods to provide employment and training opportunities for people who have disabilities and others who have trouble finding and keeping jobs.

Our business is changing lives.

Wedding Gala 2013Goodwill’s Running of the Brides

When Goodwill’s Rivergate store closed its doors at 8 p.m. Friday, March 15, 2013, three brides and their entourages were already camped outside the store for the fourth annual Wedding Gala. By 11 p.m., nearly 60 people were already in line.

Not only had brides come early, but some had traveled from as far as Texas for a chance to save big on their dream dress. Designer gowns worth as much as $9,000, were all priced from $49 to $399. “Nearly all of the dresses are donated by area bridal boutiques,” said Natisha Moultry, community relations manager for Goodwill. “So these gowns they are buying at a Goodwill price are brand new.”

While brides waited outside, Goodwill employees worked inside to transform the Goodwill store into a bridal boutique.That included the delivery of more than 600 wedding gowns, hundreds of bridesmaid dresses, dozens of flower girl dresses and dresses for the mother of the bride and groom.

When the doors finally opened the next morning at 6 a.m., more than 300 people sprinted into the store and grabbed as many gowns as they could hold.

Because dressing rooms fill up quickly, brides came prepared. Many wore bodysuits or tank tops and tights so they could try on gowns in the middle of the aisle. They also brought friends and family members to help them.

In just two days, 630 dresses were sold. That’s 100 more than 2012. A large assortment of jewelry, veils and dress shoes were also purchased. Moultry said, “This amazing event allows us to help brides look beautiful on their big day, without breaking their budget.”

Designer gowns worth as much as $9,000, were all priced from $49 to $399.

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Our business is changing lives.Ambassador Special Edition 2014 3

MirlenaMirlena was the fifth bride to arrive at last year’s Gala. She and her fiancé, Nathan, camped out for nearly 10 hours. When the doors opened, Nathan left and a friend joined Mirlena in her search for the perfect gown. Mirlena found three dresses she loved, but she decided on an ivory gown for $155. Mirlena also purchased a matching veil for only $10. The couple married on April 27, 2013. They are expecting their first child in August. Congratulations!

AdriannaAdrianna attended the Goodwill Wedding Gala two years ago and was the 13th bride in line. She and two friends camped out for over six hours, and it was well worth the wait. Adrianna fell in love with a strapless gown by Casablanca Bridal for $230. Adrianna and her husband, Charles, said “I do” on March 9, 2013, at a church in Huntingdon. Adrianna said her gown was perfect for her big day.

OliviaOlivia and her fiancé, Tyler, were footing the bill for their own wedding, so Olivia was determined to find her gown at the Goodwill Wedding Gala. She and her friend, Stacey, arrived two hours before the doors opened. The wait paid off. Olivia fell in love with a strapless ball gown for $130. The couple married on September 28, 2013, at Cedar Wedding Lodge in Mt. Juliet.

AshleyAshley went to the Goodwill Wedding Gala looking for something to wear for her engagement photos. She found a wedding dress for only $80 and a birdcage veil for $10. Ashley and Randy’s engagement photos were taken on April 1, 2013, at the Belle Meade Plantation. The couple married on November 8, 2013, at Houston Station in Nashville.

Kacey On June 22, 2013, Kacey married her best friend’s older brother and her life-long crush, Jay. The couple said “I do” in front of hundreds of their family members and friends at Edgemont Baptist Church in Shelbyville. Kacey said the earrings and headpiece she had purchased at Goodwill for only $15 each made her feel beautiful on her big day.

MIRLENA ADRIANNA

OLIVIA ASHLEY

KACEY

THEY CAME, THEY SHOPPED,

THEY SAVED

Ambassador Special Edition 2014 4giveit2goodwill.org/weddinggala

Jeannie wasn’t looking for love. She had a good job, and her two children were her world. But it was through her children that she met the love of her life. “My daughter and Justin’s daughter had been best friends for years,” said Jeannie.

Jeannie and Justin’s relationship started out just as their daughters’ did: a friendship. In fact, they didn’t go on their first date until years after they first met. “We went out for coffee, and I immediately knew it was right,” she said. “We were both active in church and our kids got along great. It was one blessing after another.”

The couple became engaged three months before last year’s Goodwill Wedding Gala. When Jeannie heard about the event, she decided to make it a special day with her mom, her daughter and Justin’s daughter. They arrived at the Gala about 30 minutes before the doors opened. Once inside, it didn’t take long for Jeannie to find her dream dress. It was the first dress she tried on, and everyone loved it.

They loved the price as well. The strapless gown by Private Collection was only $100. “I didn’t want to spend a lot of money, so I was very happy with the dress and the price,” she said. “It’s also nice knowing that my purchase helps people in the community.”

Once Jeannie had the dress, they decided to set a date for the wedding. “We actually called our pastor that day, and we ended up getting married two weeks later.”

With their children beside them, Jeannie and Justin exchanged vows on March 30, 2013. The ceremony was held on the steps of Rose Mont, a historic plantation house in Gallatin. “Our pastor gave us a beautiful and encouraging message,” said Jeannie. “It was perfect.”

As for the Wedding Gala, Jeannie says it, too, was a special day. “We made lifelong memories that day as a family,” she said. “I would recommend it to anyone who wants to find a great dress for a great price.”

a friendshipblossomed into lovethat

Ambassador Special Edition 2014 5 Our business is changing lives.

“We went out for coffee, and I immediately knew it was right.”

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blossomed into love

Ambassador Special Edition 2014 giveit2goodwill.org/weddinggala


GOODWILL

WEDDING GALA


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SNEAK PEEKWEDDING GALA LOOK BOOK2014 WEDDING GALA SNEAK PEEK AT THIS YEAR’S INVENTORYWhere can you find a wedding gown that retails for $6,000 for under $400? The Goodwill Wedding Gala! By January 2014, area bridal boutiques had donated more than 700 wedding gowns in every size from zero to 30.

To give brides a sneak peek at this year’s inventory, several Goodwill employees were transformed into models for a day. The designer gowns, accessories and veils featured here will be for sale at the Wedding Gala on March 15, 2014.

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These designer dresses, worth thousands, will all be priced under $400. Just in case a bride falls in love with a dress that’s a little too big or too small, alterations experts will be at the Gala to provide an expert opinion on making the dress a perfect fit.

For brides wanting to complete their look, the Gala also features a wide assortment of veils, shoes, jewelry and other accessories, all priced under $30.

Members of the bridal party can also find a great deal at the Wedding Gala. There will be flower girl dresses, dresses for the mother of the bride and groom, and hundreds of bridesmaid dresses. “All of these dresses are priced under $30 and can be used for a variety of events including a bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, an engagement party or a photo shoot,” said Natisha Moultry, community relations manager for Goodwill. “We even have high school and college students who will purchase these dresses for an upcoming formal event like prom.”

If you’re ready to say “I do,” plan on attending the Goodwill Wedding Gala from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 15. The Goodwill Rivergate store in Madison will be transformed into a bridal boutique. Refreshments will be provided, and brides can sign up for several giveaways including hotel stays, a day at the spa and a variety of gift cards from local businesses.

Want to see even more gowns that will be for sale at this year’s event? Check out our Wedding Gala Look Book at:

giveit2goodwill.org/weddinggala.


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The designer gowns, accessories and veils featured here will be for sale at the Wedding Gala on March 15, 2014.

Watters BridalsAugusta JonesDemetriosAlfred AngeloMaggie SotteroCasablanca BridalEden BridalsMori LeeAllure BridalsMary’s Bridals Forever Yours

DESIGNER GOWNS BY:

WEDDING GALA ADVICE FROM OUR BRIDES:

Arrive early

Bring chairs, blankets and snacks

Bring plenty of people with you

Know your dress size

Know what style and color gown you want

Wear something tight fitting like a body suit or fitted tank top and leggings

Wear comfortable shoes


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SATURDAYMARCH 15, 2014

6:00 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M.

Rivergate Goodwill Store 2101 Gallatin Road Madison, Tennessee

Designer wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, mother-of-the-bride dresses, veils, shoes and jewelry will be sold at deeply

discounted prices to benefit Goodwill’s mission.

www.giveit2goodwill.org or (615) 346-1601 for more info

Wedding Gala

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Ambassador Special Edition 2014