Budget-minded brides find bargains at Together We Cope sale
By Donna Vickroy dvickroy@southtownstar.com January 26, 2012 8:52PM
Francie Dozier, 23, of Downers Grove, buys a wedding gown for $70 at Together We Cope in Tinley Park Wednesday, January 25, 2012. | Brett Roseman~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 28, 2012 8:15AM
To the strains of “Build Me Up Buttercup,” Francie Dozier made a beeline to the racks of deeply discounted bridal gowns on display in the Nu2 U resale shop run by Together We Cope in Tinley Park.
Within 15 minutes, the bride-to-be had four possibilities.
“This is perfect,” she said, holding up a satin dress featuring cap sleeves, beading and flowers.
Dozier, an MIT graduate who is interning at Argonne National Laboratory, is getting married Aug. 4 in Tennessee.
“To a very conservative groom,” she said. “I’ve looked everywhere for a modest dress.”
The fact that she found one for $70 at the local family help center Wednesday night surprised her.
“I haven’t even tried one on at other places for less than $1,000,” she said.
More than 100 gowns and another 100 bridesmaids dresses, as well as veils, slips and other accessories, were donated to the Tinley Park resale store over the past few months. Many of the items came from Eva’s Bridals. After a fire destroyed that Oak Lawn shop a year ago, other local bridal shops donated gowns to Eva’s. After Eva’s reopened in Oak Lawn, management called Together We Cope and asked if they would like a donation of surplus wedding attire.
“They’ve passed on the extras to us,” said Kathryn Straniero, executive director for Together We Cope. “And now we’re able to pass on the savings to brides.”
Gina Rydz, Families First case manager, had the idea to feature the gowns, priced between $50 and $75, during a special two-hour evening event that included various local vendors and a disc jockey. Gift cards from local businesses also were raffled off.
“This is a way for brides to save hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars,” Rydz said.
Sixty women had registered for the event. When doors opened at 6 p.m., about 30 flooded the store, with more coming throughout the evening.
Dorothy Lacey came with her granddaughter, Lana Hanson, who is getting married in September.
Rageda Collins, of Hazel Crest, came with her friend, Nicole Hall, of Tinley Park. The women are getting married a week apart in July.
“I’m hoping to find something I like and save at least 50 percent,” Hall said.
Melissa Vaccaro, whose wedding date is Sept. 2, drove in from Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood. “This is a great opportunity to save money. Weddings are so expensive.”
Monica Maugery, of Tinley Park, tried on a couple of dresses before announcing, “I think a found a winner.”
The lightly beaded ivory gown with a floral line down the front was exactly what the 29-year-old bride-to-be was looking for her 2013 wedding.
“I’m probably saving myself $600 or more,” she said.
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