A library lending wedding dresses?
It might sound surprising, but that’s exactly what’s happening in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
Adele Puccio, the director of the Maurice M. Pine Free Public Library, has turned her love for wedding gowns into something truly special.
Brides-to-be from all over are coming to her library to borrow their dream wedding dress—for free.
Yes, free!
With a passion that blossomed in her youth, Adele’s love for wedding dresses started early.
She grew up near Kleinfeld Bridal in New York, a famous bridal shop where her great-aunt worked.
While most kids her age were reading teen magazines, Adele was flipping through bridal magazines, not because she was planning her own wedding, but because she adored the dresses.
Over time, she began collecting vintage wedding dresses from thrift shops and online groups.
At first, she used them for fun or gave them away to local brides who needed them.
But this year, everything changed after a local news article about her collection went viral.
Suddenly, her once-quiet project transformed into a widely celebrated initiative, drawing attention from across the country.
Then, wedding dresses started arriving from all over the country.
Donations came in from California, Florida, and even Tennessee.
And brides from as far away as Puerto Rico and Austria traveled to her library to try on dresses.
One Austrian bride even found a vintage hat to match her dress and took both back home.
Adele now has about 200 wedding dresses in her collection and has already given away over 150.
Some brides return their dresses, often after cleaning them.
Others choose to keep their gowns, and Adele is fine with that.
She knows how special a wedding dress can be.
But it’s not just the dresses that make this project so meaningful.
Every dress comes with a story.
There’s the bride who borrowed a gown worn by Adele at her own wedding in 1985.
Another bride found a beautiful Maggie Sottero dress donated by a grieving mother who wanted her late daughter’s gown to bring happiness to someone else.
One grandmother even brought pierogies as a thank-you after choosing a dress for her granddaughter in Poland.
However, as you can expect, running this project isn’t easy.
Adele spends hours organizing dresses, cleaning vintage ones by hand, and finding space for all the donations.
And her office is now full of lace, satin, and tulle racks.
It’s like a mini bridal shop.
While she loves helping brides, Adele admits it feels like a second job.
On top of running the library, she’s also on the board of a regional library system.
Thankfully, a few volunteers, including someone skilled in sewing, have stepped in to help.
The project has grown so much that brides now need to make appointments to try on dresses.
Adele is also asking for more donations in larger sizes, as most of the gowns she has are on the smaller side.
She’s looking for dresses made in the last 10 years to add more variety to her collection.
And the timing couldn’t be better.
Wedding dresses are expensive—the average cost is around $1,900, according to The Knot.
And borrowing a dress from Adele is a lifesaver for brides on a tight budget.
Brides can even alter the dresses to suit their style and make them their own for their big day.
One bride, Rachel Fetter, walked into the library and left with a pale pink wedding dress she loved.
And she didn’t spend a penny.
Another bride, Estefani Soler, found a vintage 1970s lace gown at the library and wore it to her wedding at the New Milford Public Library, where she worked.
Estefani didn’t even need to alter the dress and only spent $100 to have it cleaned.
She paired it with flowers in her hair and secondhand shoes for a simple, beautiful look.
And, of course, trying on dresses at the library has become a fun event.
Brides walk through the library aisles in their gowns, with librarians and even library visitors cheering them on.
It’s not just about finding a dress; it’s about creating a memory.
Unfortunately, Adele isn’t accepting more donations for now because her space is full, but she’s still helping brides find their perfect gowns.
She loves seeing the joy these dresses bring and knowing she’s helping people during one of the happiest times of their lives.
So, if you’re a bride looking for a gown or want to hear a feel-good story, this little library in New Jersey proves that amazing things can happen when someone follows their passion.
