Click here to view pictures of the brides-to-be.
Donna Morrison may have been all dressed in camo, but she was dreaming of being a bride all dressed in white lace.
She was among the dozens of people who stood in line early Tuesday morning outside Impressions Bridal, 602 NW Loop 410, with hopes of finding their perfect and free wedding gown.
"I'm just grateful for anything," Morrison said. "If I find any dress, that would really be amazing."
Non-profit Brides Across America set up shop to give away 50 gowns to deserving
military couples. Brides, along with fiances, friends, moms and dads got in line as early as 4:30 a.m.
When Barbara Churchill with Impressions Bridal drove up to her shop she was amazed at the turnout.
"But it makes sense. We're a military town," she said.
For six years, Brides Across America has given away designer gowns to brides who are active duty or whose fiance is active duty and has recently or will soon be deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or other overseas stations.
Crystal Van Pelt's fiance returned from Iraq in October.
"It was hard," she said. "It was hard, but luckly, there's Skype, so we talked every day."
She found a dress as did dozens of other beaming brides.
As for Morrison, she's already had a marriage ceremony, but not the dream wedding with the dream dress. Her husband is deployed in Afghanistan and her unit will be deployed next year.
After searching the racks, she took only one dress to the dressing room and emerged
all dressed in lace: a fitted, strapless gown.
"Yes to the dress!" she laughed.
Fitting a veil on her head she said she had goosebumps.
"I'm so happy," she said. "I'm so grateful for them giving these dresses to us and making our dreams a possibility."
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