Veil unveiling

Community turns out for bridal show

MOSES LAKE — Area ladies didn't let crummy weather deter them from finding their dream dress.

The 2007 Greater Moses Lake Bridal Show took place Saturday at Big Bend Community College's ATEC Building, with exhibitors representing all sides of matrimony.

The ninth annual event marked the first time non-profit organization Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation held a Brides Against Breast Cancer program. Proceeds from the sale of donated new wedding gowns went to support breast cancer patients, in Moses Lake. Five hundred gowns were available for purchase.

Making Memories Antique Gown Division Director Brenda Chovanak said she has family in Moses Lake, which is the reason she elected to hold the show in town.

"I think it went really well," Chovanak said Saturday afternoon. "We'll see at the end of the day. It wasn't very many hours for people to shop for the gowns, but from what I can see, they've come out in order to shop and support the cause."

Chovanak travels all over the country with the program, but she said it's interesting to see how many volunteers turn out to help each time.

"Moses Lake, we didn't know how many volunteers were going to come, but it's really neat to think somebody would come and spend all day just to do that," she said. "The donations here in Moses Lake have been very generous also."

"I think it was awesome; we had a great turnout," Columbia Basin Herald Advertising Director Samantha Houston said. "I think they sold a lot of dresses for a good cause. We had a lot of support from the community."

The Columbia Basin Herald sponsored the event.

Leslie Kimble and friend Stephanie Hubbard were in attendance at the show in preparation for Kimble's Aug. 4 wedding.

"It's given me a few ideas, like flowers and stuff, vacation, the tuxedo place, just last minute things I haven't done yet," Kimble said.

Hubbard was eyeing the different locations available to hold a wedding.

"There's lots of stuff to choose from," she said.

Kimble liked the Making Memories dress program.

"How people donate them and then the money goes to breast cancer," she said. "Even if it's something that maybe wouldn't be your dream wedding dress, to just put forth money for a cause."