The Guelph Princess Project is making graduation and prom night affordable for hundreds of local girls.
Now in its fourth year, the project takes donated prom and evening dresses and sells them each for $20. Tables of purses, clutches, shoes and jewellery are $3 each.
This year's event goes Friday night from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army Citadel on Gordon Street.
Organizer Laurie Valeriote said that not only does the Princess Project cater to those that can't afford to buy a brand new dress for Grade 8 or high school graduation or prom, it also caters to families that feel it's ridiculous to spend a lot of money on a dress that might only be worn once.
"A lot of people aren't buying into that any more," Valeriote said. "They just don't think it's right to spend that much money on one night."
Reusing the dresses is a great way to pay it forward and let another person enjoy the dress, she said, adding that they charge a nominal fee rather than give the dresses away to help "give the girls a sense of dignity."
This year's event will have over 500 dresses available, ranging from size 0 to size 18. There are eight makeshift dressing rooms for girls to try the dresses on.
Money raised after expenses is donated to the Salvation Army and Beginnings Family Services of Guelph.
In the spirit of the event, people are limited to buying one dress and shoes. The first year there were those that scooped up handfuls of $1 costume jewellery.
Some dresses are new, donated by La Creme of St. Jacobs, a big supporter of the event over the years.
Valeriote started the local event after a friend of hers took the idea from the United States and started one in Leamington. She also got lots of advice from organizers of the Kitchener Princess project.
She said the first year they expected to get 25 donated dresses but wound up with 500. They sell roughly 150 a year.
The Salvation Army offered a great, neutral space to host the event and also stores leftover items in its basement for the following year.
"Friday night is a little crazy, but in a good way. People are lined up and the girls are very excited. Saturday is a little quieter," Valeriote said.
Valeriote said many of those that buy dresses at the event donate them back when donations are accepted closer to the following year's event.
