A single wedding dress has created a remarkable bond among 13 brides, illustrating the power of kindness and community. This story began a decade ago when Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, offered her wedding dress to a stranger, Nataly Dawn, during a hike. What started as a spontaneous gesture has since blossomed into a supportive sisterhood that has transformed the wedding experiences of multiple women.
The initial connection took place in 2013 when Blakely and Dawn met while hiking. Dawn had just become engaged and was excited about her upcoming wedding. Blakely, feeling a surge of generosity, suggested that Dawn could wear her wedding dress. Initially taken aback, Dawn expressed her intention to shop with her mother for her own dress. A year later, however, fate intervened. After having her dress altered, Dawn discovered that it had been ruined just days before her wedding. Desperate, she reached out to Blakely to see if the offer still stood.
Blakely promptly arranged for the dress to be overnighted to Dawn, who found that it fit perfectly. The moment she stepped into the dress was unforgettable. “They’re buttoning up the back and … you look up afterwards, there’s this moment of how like,” Dawn recalled, emphasizing the emotional connection forged by the dress.
Creating a Legacy of Generosity
The dress, now affectionately referred to as the “sisterhood of the traveling wedding dress,” has been worn by 13 brides over the past ten years. Blakely shared that the journey truly began when she decided to post about the dress on her Instagram, inviting others to partake in this unique experience.
LeJeanne Thomas joined this incredible network in 2020 after the bridal boutique where she purchased her dress closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the dress has been cleaned, repaired, and carefully passed along without any alterations, preserving its original form.
The bond among the brides extends beyond the dress itself. Ten years after their initial connection, Blakely and Dawn reunited, with Thomas also present. “I just love that we all have this connection,” Blakely said. “I love that we are like … a part of a story that makes people feel good.”
Blakely hopes that this story inspires other brides to consider how they can give back. “I feel like philanthropy or giving back or making a difference in people’s lives can happen in really small ways,” she added.
The impact of this dress has reached far beyond the individual brides. It highlights a culture of generosity and connection, encouraging people to support one another in meaningful ways. As the story continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder that simple acts of kindness can create lasting bonds and inspire others to keep the cycle of giving alive.
