The Breast Dress Project

Marry Me Productions and Groovy Linen have joined forces to create 'The Breast Dress Project'. The Breast Dress Project was launched in November 2009 in conjunction with Something White for Something Right by two friends committed to making a difference in the lives of women. Not only will the Brest Dress Project raise funds for breast cancer research but it will provide an opportunity for future brides to feel beautiful on their special day too.

Excited to help ? It could not get any easier. Just drop off your gently used wedding dress (it doesn't even have to be cleaned) to Groovy Linen at 19 Grenfell Crescent Unit 11. Please see http://www.groovylinen.com/ for store hours. You will be asked to fill out a small (confidential) questionnaire when you drop off the dress. Easy questions like: the size of the dress, was it altered from the original size, is there any damage, where was it purchased, what was the purchase price etc. We are also hoping that you'll include a photo of yourself in the dress. You can request that your face not be shown. We'll also gladly accept veils and shoes if you have them.

Once our inventory is large enough, we will be hosting soirees so that brides-to-be can come by Groovy Linen and try on the dresses they are interested in. More information will be posted once our first soiree is organized.

Don't worry about not having a dress to wear for Something White for Something Right 2010 if you give away your wedding dress. Women can wear their wedding dress but it's not a requirement, anything white will do. This year we saw women in their original wedding dresses, second hand wedding dresses, borrowed wedding dresses and all white outfits. So don't let the fact that Something White has become and annual event, stop you from helping us find a cure for breast cancer and making another bride's wedding day magical.

Our website is still under construction but eventually more information will be available at http://www.breastdressproject.com/

For the time being if you have questions, feel free to contact Jamie at 613-723-5755, jamie@groovylinen.com, or Stacey at 613-796-3629, stacey@marrymeproductions.ca

Thank you to everyone for helping us making a difference. We will find a cure for breast cancer.

Readers, we need your feedback....

On your wedding day, shouldn't you be the only thing in a big white dress...not your chairs.

Chair covers come in only a few styles meaning if your venue has odd sized chairs, the chairs can be swimming in the chair covers. When you think of your wedding decor, are you looking for more of a clean and modern look ?

Marry Me Productions has met with a representative that can provide lounge furniture for your weddings/events. However, both the company and MMP want to go directly to our blog readers to see if you would have any interest in these chairs.

Let us know in the comment section. We'd love to bring them to Ottawa if there is enough interest.

Something White for Something Right Photos Posted

It's what all our Something White guests have been waiting for! The gorgeous photos by Sam and Mary Photography have been posted. Here is the link:

http://www.samandmaryphotography.com/pickpic/gallery/splash.php?gallery_id=41

They also assembled a few of their favourite Something White pics on their blog:

http://samandmaryphotography.com/blog/

More good news. If you fall in love with any of the pics you see, they are available for purchase from Sam and Mary directly! Sam and Mary will be donating the proceeds from the sale of all photos to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Thanks Sam and Mary; your support of the event has been inspiring !

The photo gallery will expire on December 15 2009.

It's so much fun to re-live the event though these photos. Everyone looked amazing. Stay tuned for more information about Something White for Something Right 2010.

Happy browsing everyone !

Ceremony of Champions

This is a good example of how a ceremony can be written to celebrate any occasion, an accomplishment, or any life-affirming event.

Priscilla (fictitious name) had been through chemo, radiation, a double mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery - and had become cancer free! Her friends and family wanted to celebrate her, her struggles, her life and her victories. They had been there for her, cried, laughed, baked bread, brought food, watched movies, and prayed.

At the same time, all of them had walked through their own fires of hell at some point in their lives, separately and together. In considering such a ceremony, it also caused everyone involved to internally reflect on what they had overcome to achieve their own personal victories in life, and they realized in their hearts that they were all champions, because they had gotten through those challenges and grown from them. They all needed - and deserved - to be appreciated and celebrated! A place was chosen, a date was set. Each person was asked to bring a small symbol of themselves or their accomplishments.

That night, when all were assembled, we opened with a prayer of gratitude for everyone present. One by one, each person in turn came to the “altar” to place their symbol and tell their story. Many tissues were passed among the circle.

We entered into a guided meditation in preparation for the Burning Bowl, to help reveal the next blocks that each person needed to release in order to move on to the next phase of their life. After the meditation, the obstacles were recorded on paper, taken outside, and placed in the fire as a sign of willingness to let go of fears, frustrations, and self criticisms.

The group reassembled, with each person receiving the gift of a candle with a personal message. As each gift was opened, the message was shared, thoughts were shared, hugs were shared. Again, the tissues were passed around the circle.

The ceremony ended with a heartfelt prayer, but the celebration continued with food, drink, and camaraderie!

Life is to live, to experience, and to celebrate.

Something White for Something Right a Huge Success

The fundraiser was sold out, The Ottawa Citizen showed up, some guests had to be turned away at the door because they didn't have tickets.... all signs of a successful event. An event that was three years in the making for Stacey Price.

But the most important part of the evening was that we made a difference; we educated women (and men) on the importance of discovering and fighting breast cancer. This was done though inspirational speeches, handouts for performing a self examination and a moving video tribute of breast cancer survivors and fighters.

We hope to make this an annual event and we hope to make it larger every year so that everyone can be educated about breast cancer; a disease that 22,700 Canadian women will be diagnosed with in 2009 alone.

Thanks to everyone who made this event a huge success !