Symone Gilbert’s dream of wearing her mother’s handmade “heirloom” wedding dress on her own big day is hanging by a thread after the beloved garment was mistakenly donated. The desperate bride-to-be is now appealing to the public for assistance in tracking down the irreplaceable gown, which was accidentally sent to a Savers thrift store in Warwick.
“It’s kinda like a family heirloom at this point,” Cranston told 10 WJAR. “I’m willing to spend money to get back a dress that was accidentally donated. I know it might sound a little crazy to some people, but it means that much.”
Two weeks ago, at the Gilbert family home in Providence, Gilbert was assisting her mother with cleaning out her basement. They sorted the belongings into various piles, intending to donate some of them.
“My mom had been going through piles, keep, donate, trash, and I just think there was a lot going on,” she said.
The wedding dress, unfortunately, was being kept in the basement and was mistakenly included with items designated for donation.
The heirloom gown was a custom piece, hand-sewn by Gilbert’s great-grandmother, and was notably worn by her mother for her wedding in 1992.
Gilbert shared photographs with 10 WJAR, which showed her mother on her wedding day in a long-sleeved, silky gown. The dress featured a deep V neckline, a dropped waist, and an A-line skirt with puffed shoulders. She completed the look with a voluminous veil and carried a bouquet of white and pink flowers.
The family noticed the dress was gone three days after the unfortunate incident where it had been accidentally donated to the Savers thrift store.
“You get so mad at yourself because why didn’t I notice before that it was missing?” she told WJAR. Despite their efforts, the store informed them the item had already been sold.
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Gilbert, who is engaged, is hoping for the dress’ return so she can incorporate a piece of the material into her wedding next December.
“It would honestly be this full circle moment,” she said. “It would let me have three generations of my family connected because my great grandmother made the dress, my mom wore it, and my wedding day is on my maternal grandmother’s birthday and she passed away.”
Gilbert has expressed her willingness to purchase the dress back from the individual who acquired it.
“I know it might sound a little crazy to some people, but it means that much,” Gilbert told WJAR.
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