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On a warm summer day in Kalispell, two 12-year old girls were out riding horses when their paths crossed. A slight breeze out of the mountains carried the sweet smell of wild flowers and pine trees.

A conversation ensued and history was in the making.

Fast forward to 2018 and those same two young girls, Sherri Howe and Julie Wade, are all grown up and having conversations about how to pay it forward.

So they asked, have you ever wondered what to do with your wedding dress when the wedding is over? Or, have you ever thought how expensive it is to purchase a new wedding gown?

Amazing Grace Wedding Dress Rentals and its sister foundation, The Emma and Evan Foundation, both nonprofits, proudly run by Sherri Howe, Julie Wade and Meghan Bradshaw – who is Julie’s daughter – make it possible for families to have infant burial gowns and tuxes, as well as memory boxes at no charge to the families.

On Feb. 24th, at The Public House in Missoula, the first annual “An Evening for the Angels” was held. Over 20 women and girls ages 2 to 62 proudly modeled donated wedding dresses like a white, satin Vera Wang, an ivory lace Jessica McClintock, and a $6,000 champagne, satin, Elma Reis ball gown.

The bridal store has 400 gowns from which to choose in sizes 0-32.

Julie excitedly told me, “This event was awesome. I was so happy with the turn out and the silent auction went great”. “We raised three times more than I thought we would for the Angel Gowns”.

Tyler Barham, who provided live music while the models walked down the ivory carpet escorted by four handsome young men, said “this is what it should be about. Giving back and supporting an important cause. I look forward to next year”.

There were many local businesses who volunteered their time and products to make The Evening for Angels Runway Show a huge success

“From ashes comes beauty” is what Sherri Howe says. One donated wedding dress can provide 10 or more infant burial gowns and tuxes. Amazing Grace Wedding Dress Rentals believes you can “offer a sliver of hope and beauty to the ashes of families’ darkest tragedy in losing a child”.

The heavenly blue sky the two young girls met under is now being filled with little angels who wear gowns made from treasured wedding dresses and warm hearts.

Amazing Grace Wedding Gown Rentals is located at 5501 Highway 93 North, suite 3, Florence, MT. To schedule a private appointment for wedding gowns, mother of the bride, formals for all occasions: Contact Meghan at 406-381-9630 or email AmazingGraceDresses@gmail.com

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