Heartwarming Story the Inspiration Behind Downingtown Boutique That Offers Second-Chance Wedding Dresses

Blessing Brides Ministry in Downingtown offers second-chance wedding dresses for deeply discounted prices, writes Rita Giordano for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Colleen Donovan, a hospice nurse, opened the store 18 months ago. She got the idea after giving her friend a wedding dress that she had bought for herself when a second chance at bliss seemed likely but never materialized.

“Sometimes God says, ‘Open your hand, and bless somebody else with something you wanted for yourself,’” said Donovan. “That’s what happened with the dress. I gave it to my girlfriend instead of holding onto it for myself. That’s where Blessing Brides was born.”

After her friend’s wedding, she began acquiring other wedding dresses from consignment shops, stores that were closing, and other sources. At first, she wanted to sell them online, but then a Downingtown storefront became available at a reasonable price.

More dresses started coming in, both from happy brides and those who wished for better endings for other wearers. Now, the store offers everything from vintage to modern to high-end designer – all at affordable prices.

“Every woman deserves to be beautiful,” said Donovan.

Read more about Blessing Brides Ministry in The Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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