Everything is free. Brides who are unable to buy such luxuries as gowns, veils, shoes, and accessories for themselves and their bridal party can shop there and borrow whatever they need to make the bride feel like the highly-prized, precious daughter of the King of Kings she is and her wedding beautiful. Housed in the home of a deaconess from one of the local churches, the shop has racks with wedding gowns and an array of other dresses for the mother-of-the bride, bridesmaids, junior bridesmaids, flower girls, all the way down to the bride’s infant sister. The shoppers will find veils, shoes, purses, and artificial flowers, even wedding cake knives, as well as suits for the groom, father-of-the bride, groomsmen, and ring bearers.
This shop is elite. Not everyone can frequent it. The bride’s Wedding Committee, which in Kenya, is traditionally formed of the bride’s family and friends to raise money for the wedding, must demonstrate the need, but once approved, the doors are opened to the entire bridal party to borrow whatever they want with our blessing.
The concept of giving a bride a wedding dress started decades ago when a young woman of Caroline’s acquaintance was engaged to a pastor, but she had no money for a wedding dress. So Caroline made her one as a gift. Over the following years, Caroline made dozens of wedding dresses to give to brides who would not otherwise have one.
