Town
Square Las Vegas and 20th Century Fox host "Always a Bridesmaid, Never a
Bride" Dress Drive
By
Jacqueline Monahan
Jacqueline
Monahan is an English tutor for the GEAR UP program at
UNLV. She is also a consultant for Columbia College
Chicago in Adjunct Faculty Affairs.
jaxn8r@msn.com
If you were around Town Square on the evening of
Tuesday, January 8th, you may have gotten the feeling
that you were transported back to prom night; either
that, or a very eclectic wedding. Hosted by Town Square
Las Vegas, and 20th Century Fox, the “Always a
Bridesmaid, Never a Bride dress drive took place outside
of Rave Motion Pictures and continued at Louis’s Fish
Camp. Attendees walked a red carpet which ran between
the two venues.
Dress donations began from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in front of
Rave Motion Pictures, where gowns were collected to
benefit the Las Vegas Prom Closet, a not-for-profit
organization that distributes gently used prom attire to
disadvantaged young women and provides financial
assistance for tuxedo rentals, hair and make-up design,
and dinner/entertainment options. These items are
provided at no charge to the recipients.
A donation station was set up with several dress racks,
already filled with gowns of every color, shape, size,
and length. The dress drive continued its run through
January 14 with a drop off location at Michael Stars, a
Town Square Las Vegas retail shop. Dress donors received
a free Michael Stars tee.
Mannequins displayed four of the dresses worn by
Katherine Heigl in the new motion picture 27 Dresses.
Opening on January 18th, the film features Heigl as a
perpetual bridesmaid (guess how many times) who suffers
a meltdown when younger sister (Malin Akerman) pursues
and romantically captures her boss – the man she herself
has always been secretly in love with. Guests attended
an advance screening of the film later in the evening.
At the SpyonVegas.com sponsored champagne reception held
at Cajun-themed Louis’s Fish Camp, the first 27 ladies
to arrive wearing a bridesmaid dress took home exclusive
"27 Dresses" prize packs and were entered to win a $250
shopping spree at Town Square Las Vegas. Gift bags for
these brave ladies included hand cream, skin care
products, a pink 27 Dresses long sleeve zippered top,
dress-shaped paper clips and memo pads, and a separate
pink yoga mat (inside its own special carrier).
Bridesmaid and prom gowns, in shades of red, black, pink
and copper, intermingled with Louis’s Fish Camp patrons
in jeans and casual attire. Adorned with crystals and
appliqués, fabrics ranged from cotton to tulle to
taffeta and silk. There were tiny minis and floor-length
formals. My own ghastly ensemble was a deep copper
taffeta with a black beaded bodice (I can hear the
shriek rising in your throat).
Aside from champagne, featured drinks included bottles
of Peroni Beer and a delightful yet diabolical creation
called a Prom Dress (pineapple juice, cranberry juice,
vodka, Triple Sec and brandy). Tasting like juice, but
extremely potent, a Prom Dress can definitely sneak up
on you. Your intrepid yet humble correspondent went
forth into that good night in 3 ½ inch heels after
drinking one pretty pink Prom Dress in addition to one
flute of moderately sweet champagne. Normally I’m a
teetotaler, but remember what I was wearing. You’d throw
back a few, too.
Passed hors d'oeuvres included Lobster Hushpuppies with
Lemon Tartar Sauce, Fried Oyster/Bacon Bites with
Horseradish Sauce, Smoked Andouille Sausage on Toast
Rounds, Pickled Shrimp Cocktail, and tiny Fingerling
Potato Cups filled with sour cream and caviar. I
secretly coveted the house specialty, Flash Fried
Alligator (tastes like chicken) but settled for several
jumbo green olives from the bar; maybe next time, when
I’m dressed more suitably for the bayou.
Tables and booths held complimentary boxes of (sponsor)
Peroni bottle tags, used to differentiate beer bottles
at parties so you don’t share anyone else’s germs, as
well as tins of Peroni mints, in case you do.
The $250 Town Square shopping spree winner was announced
at 7:15 p.m. You had to be present to win, and raffle
tickets were only held by women in formalwear. Standing
only a few feet away from me in a long red satin gown
and cascading dark hair, winner Meagan Sharrer claimed
her gift card, good anywhere in Town Square retail
shops.
Meagan Sharrer
After a final red carpet walk to the 8:00 p.m. advance
screening of 27 Dresses at Rave Motion Pictures, event
attendees were seated in three VIP rows cordoned off for
the occasion. The mood was jovial to the point of a
smuggled champagne bottle being passed around, your
humble correspondent declining a swig due to an excess
application of lip gloss. Hey, a bad hair day, a hideous
ensemble, and a previously acquired buzz convinced me
that I needed to hang onto my shiny lips and avoid
looking any more questionable than I already did.
