Bridal Ball holds sold-out event
WINDSOR ON., March 28, 2014 – Brides and grooms gathered at Bridal Ball 2014, a sold-out event, to help raise funds for Run For Rocky, a local charity assisting gay straight alliances in high schools and post secondary schools. (PHOTO by Jolene Perron)
by Jolene Perron
Gowns, dresses and tiaras have been the focus of an event aimed to assist local charities each year.
The second annual Bridal Ball was a sold out event March 28, with proceeds to benefit Run for Rocky. Run for Rocky is a local charity assisting gay, straight alliances in high schools and post-secondary schools.
Jennifer Pomerleau and Sarah Taylor teamed up for the first Bridal Ball last year, gathering all of their contacts as wedding vendors to make the event possible. After raising $5,000 for Windsor Essex County Cancer Centre through a project called Art and Survival, the team decided to continue the event.
“We just want to bring awareness to the project as well as raise some money to help them get to their goals,” Pomerleau said. “Next year in 2015 we will be celebrating the Sunshine Foundation. Every year we will keep going, and every year we change the charity.”
Taylor said the entire event was created to mirror a wedding, minus the ceremony. A group of brides, grooms, bridesmaids and mothers of the brides all came together in an intimate setting with dinner and entertainment. The goal is to keep it simple, but to continue to make it a sell-out event each year.
The event started with Taylor, who said she had this dream for about eight years before she finally decided last year to just get up and do it. This year’s event supports Run for Rocky, which is a new charity that, Taylor said needed some more awareness, and this way their way of making that happen.
“I kind of just wanted to do something where our brides could wear their wedding gowns again,” Taylor said. “We could put on an event where we could raise some money for some local charities that need a little extra help.”
Melanie Deveau co-hosted the event, which according to her was an honour – Not only does it benefit Run for Rocky, but the run benefits Windsor Pride Community where Deveau sits as a member on the board of directors. She said the event was “double-fun” for her.
“I think it’s fantastic, it’s so gorgeous and I think everybody just feels so special and, well, frilly,” Deveau said. “I’m a jeans and T-shirt girl and barefoot most of the time, so to wear four inch heels … I think I’m tattoo Barbie, that’s what I’m calling myself tonight, I love it.”
The event went out with a bang, with many different sponsors and attendees making it an overall successful night out for all involved.
The third annual Bridal Ball has been booked for March 27, 2015. Both Taylor and Pomerleau hope to continue making the event successful and assisting many different local charities.
