Your wedding dress is probably going to be one of the biggest fashion choices you'll ever make in your life. So, how would you feel if you sold it? One Dublin woman did, and has been regretting the decision ever since.
Naomi Gargan has launched a Twitter campaign in a bid to track down her Celtic inspired wedding dress - 17 years after she sold the creation.
So what was the motivation behind selling the frock?
"I was living in an apartment, and we didn't really have the space for something I never really wore. I'd also spent £950 and thought it might be a way of getting a little bit of extra cash. I didn't really think it through at the time".
Naomi designed the full-length dress herself, and instantly regretted trading it in, especially after she had her own daughter.
“I designed the dress myself. The whole wedding had a kind of Celtic theme and I spent a long time making sure the dress was perfect.
"I went into Cathy de Staffords and told them exactly what I wanted. I had this idea of my perfect dress - the chiffon sleeves, chiffon band, the style of the gold cross and the beads down the back. It's crazy when you think how much work went into it, and then I sold it!"
Naomi sold the dress to second-hand bridal shop Emcore Bridal which was operating in Clondalkin at the time. Unfortunately the shop has since closed down, so she isn't able to track past customers.
Her biggest hope is that someone will be able to help her track down her dress, but the Dublin woman is aware that it could've been bought by anybody:
"... especially with the Celtic theme, there's a real chance an American visiting could have picked it up. But there's also a chance it's in a ball in someone's attic, and they don't realise the sentimental value".
Naomi said she would love to retrieve her wedding attire so she could give it to her daughter, now 14.
"I know she might'nt even want to wear it, but I'd liked to have seen my mother's own wedding dress. I ended up keeping her Communion dress, just so I can give something on to her now when she grows up".
After years of lamenting her decision, Naomi was encouraged by a friend to share a snap of her wedding day on Twitter to see if it could help in her search of tracking down the dress' whereabouts.
She tweeted:
Aware that another lady could have bought the dress, Naomi hopes her search won't cause another bride any discomfort, especially is she hasn't told people she'd bought her dress second-hand:
"I really hope I haven't embarrassed anyone, or made them uncomfortable. I really would never want to do that. Even if another bride bought the dress, I'd love just to meet her and see it again, or to give my daughter a chance to see the dress - that would be enough".
Distinguishing features that might help you recognise Naomi's design are:
- Raw silk, in an off-white colour
- Size 10 - 12
- Gold cross on front of bodice
- Chiffon sleeves
- Chiffon band across stomach
- Buttons down the back of the dress, ending in a chiffon bow
- Train was slightly damaged, but could be clipped on (so may have been removed)
Since selling her dress, Naomi has warned friends and other ladies in her life who've debated the decision not to part with their dress:
"I've regretted this for years. It's only since social media has gotten so big that I've taken the chance to see if I could find it again. I'm always telling anyone that'll listen to hold onto [their wedding dress]. Everyone who knows me, knows I've always wanted it back."
If you think you might be able to help Naomi track down her dress, you can reach her by Twitter
here.
