Girls from Sarah Bonnell School have been choosing the dress of their dreams thanks to David’s Bridal.
The store, based in Westfield Stratford City, set up a pop-up shop in the school hall to allow 150 Year 11 girls to have a free outfit for their school prom.
The Deanery Road school beat off others in the borough to be selected for the offer.
Lucy Richards, merchandising director at David’s Bridal, said: “We’ve done this before in the US but it’s the first time we’ve done something in the UK.
“It’s about doing something to give back to the local community.
“We’ve got experts helping the girls choose a dress, because while proms have only been around for five or six years really here, they’ve been big in America for thirty years.”
The store shipped 250 dresses in a range of styles and sizes over from America, meaning there was hopefully something for everyone.
For those who did not find a dress, there was the option to pick up shoes and accessories instead so every girl came away with something.
Lauren Ambersley-Brown, 16, was pleased with the outfit she found.
She said: “I was looking for this colour and it was the first dress I tried on.
“It feels really nice and comfortable.”
Some girls had a tougher decision to make.
Sana Amla, 15, said: “I saw two and I tried on both but this one I really liked.
“It was amazing we came and got these.” In keeping with the American tradition, the girls were invited to ring a bell when they had chosen their dress - something that is done to signify finding the dream dress at important stages of life.
Headteacher Sarah Jacobs said: “It’s a really great reward for after their GCSEs, because they’ve all worked really hard.
“They’ve spent five years together and it’s important that this prom night is an opportunity available to all.
“We asked them to write 100 words on why they deserved a dress and luckily we were able to give all of the girls a dress that wanted one.”
Read more:
Mayor welcomes US bridal firm to Stratford Westfield City
GCSEs: Record year for results at Stratford’s Sarah Bonnell School
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