This interview was conducted with Lexi, an Adorned In Grace Bridal Shop volunteer, in the summer of 2021. Summer intern Genevieve Wolf asked the questions.
How long have you been volunteering? And what brought you to the bridal shop?
Lexi: So I actually started volunteering at a Dress for Freedom event when I was a senior in high school in one would that have been 2015. I worked with Linda Tribbett (she was a family friend) and got connected with her and helped out at the event in Arizona, and loved it! And then I went to school out of state, so I didn’t really remain connected with Compassion or Adorned in Grace at all. But then I got married in the summer of 2019, and actually found my wedding dress at Adorned in Grace, so I kind of had a personal connection there as well. I started volunteering not long after that – I think it might have been fall or late summer of 2019 -, and have been volunteering at the bridal shop ever since.
Lexi got her dress at AIG before going on to volunteer there.
Awesome. So what kept you coming back to it?
Lexi: Good question. I think for me, it’s fun being able just to have a tangible impact – people’s money going towards a really good cause. And having participated in a Dress for Freedom event in the past, I’ve seen that firsthand. And then also just being able to connect with brides and be part of their big day is always really fun.
Can you dive a little bit deeper into why the mission is important to you?
Lexi: I actually went on a missions trip to Thailand, when I was between my junior and senior years of high school. I visited the Light District in Bangkok, and I remember there just seeing a lot of human trafficking firsthand… it really jarred me. After that trip, that really stuck in my head and stayed on my heart. And when I learned, you know, all of the statistics about how prominent human trafficking is in Portland especially, it brought it obviously, way closer to home. Yeah. And so I think what really stood out to me is Adorned in Grace’s investment in survivors. And being able to also help people who come into the bridal shop realize, you know, that human trafficking happens in our backyard every day, which I think it’s something a lot of people don’t realize.
“What really stood out to me is Adorned in Grace’s investment in survivors… human trafficking happens in our backyard every day, which I think it’s something a lot of people don’t realize.”
Related: Finding Family At The Adorned In Grace Bridal Shop
Do you have any favorite stories or interactions with customers that you want to share?
Lexi: Yeah. I mean, I could share my own dress story if you want. So I actually never tried on wedding dresses before, and I wasn’t really sure what I would encounter. But when I went into the Raleigh hills shop, everyone was super friendly and made me feel at ease. All the sizes and different styles they offered impressed me too. I remember my dress was actually the very first dress that I tried it on; I found a $99 rack and it fit me like a glove. It didn’t have to be altered at all. It was kind of a magical moment; I was so excited. I did try other dresses, of course, just for fun. But I thought it was really special I found that dress there. And it was really helpful for me as someone who was planning a wedding on a budget to be able to find an affordable gown because some gowns can get up to, you know, 1000s of dollars. So yeah, that was really awesome for me, and it was a great experience.
Can you share any more stories about customers you’ve helped?
Lexi: Actually, I can remember one distinct story actually about a donation we got: I was working in the shop and got a package delivered with a donation. So I opened it up, and there was a note along with a wedding dress, and I think a veil. On this note, she just poured out her life story. She had ended up calling off her own wedding because of abuse she had experienced, so she is a survivor herself. I distinctly remember in that note she talked about how she felt like giving the dress to Adorned in Grace would create a redemptive purpose for it. That was really impactful. The other volunteers and I were just crying when we opened up this package and read this note. It was just a beautiful thing to see how something that caused this woman so much pain could be repurposed into something that actually is helping survivors. Yeah, that’s one thing I can really remember pretty vividly.
Wow. Thanks for sharing that. Yeah, that’s awesome. Can I ask how faith has played a part in your experience?
Lexi: I am a Christian, and I would say, I mean, it definitely influences everything I do. It’s part of the reason I started volunteering at Adorned in Grace to begin with; I wanted to feel like I’m doing something purposeful with my free time try to make a difference, make the world a better place. I can’t think of an instance necessarily where I explicitly shared my faith with a customer, but I think our example and our mission speaks volumes to what we’re all about and Who we represent.
Yeah, I guess a follow-up would be: has working at the bridal shop influenced your spiritual life?
Lexi: I would definitely say yes. I think, um, it’s really easy (as someone who works full time) to want to be selfish with my free time and kind of covet that time for myself. But volunteering at Adorned in Grace has taught me to be more generous with my time, and that’s an area the Lord has been teaching me in. Because it’s hard; you know, sometimes you’re like, “Okay, I don’t want to volunteer on a Saturday.” And then I see volunteers who are there every Saturday morning, and I’m just inspired by their generosity and their hearts. So I think it can be good to practice inconveniencing yourself regularly and giving up that free time, even when you want it for yourself.
Yeah. What would you say to someone who’s thinking about volunteering?
Lexi: So I’ve actually tried to recruit some people from work to come with me, and I did have one come and join me for a shift. But I always like to say that it’s just really fun. Because, you know, who doesn’t want to help an excited bride find the perfect dress and celebrate with them and their friends and family? And so that’s the first thing I always say is, you’ll have a great time – it’s always fun. And the other volunteers are so fun to hang out with if you don’t have a ton of customers coming in. The other thing I would say is this: you are making a difference, and the shop needs volunteers to help keep it running and open in order for that mission to continue. So it’s a fun way to not only enjoy your time volunteering but also to make an impact.
Okay, this is kind of a broad question, but what does church unity mean to you?
Lexi: Good question. I think it means churches coming together to work toward a common goal or a common cause. And I would even say that the bridal shop is actually a perfect example of that because not all of our volunteers necessarily go to church regularly, but those of us who do represent different church communities, and we’re coming together to volunteer and support Adorned in Grace’s mission. Here we have multiple people with different backgrounds and even core values or religious ideas, and we’re all coming together and donating our time – maybe sometimes an old dress or money – towards one cause.
Has your involvement with the bridal shop made you more aware of suffering in the community? And if so, has this awareness affected the way you think about others or yourself?
Lexi: I would definitely say yes, just because it brings everything closer to home. From the woman who made that donation and sharing how sexual abuse has affected her, to getting to interact with customers and each person’s unique purpose for coming in. It’s always interesting to interact with people from the community, and sometimes survivors themselves. It definitely impacts how you see the world and the people around you. And it just kind of reinforces that thought that you never know what people are going through what their situation is, or what their needs might be.
You’ve been so generous with your time volunteering; where does your motivation for serving others come from?
Lexi: I would say a big part of it is my faith, and wanting to spread love and live generously like I think Jesus lived. I just want to make the world a better place.
Is there anything you could share about working with the other volunteers and Naphtali?
Lexi: Yeah, so Naphtali is just such a caring person and always just, like, in the best mood. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in a bad mood. And she just always lights up the room wherever she goes. Every time I see her, she always seems so excited to see what I’m doing and wants to know what’s going on outside of Adorned in Grace. We’re not just, you know, people who help keep the shop running. We’re people. And I can tell she really cares. So I love working with her. And I would also say I’m inspired by a lot of the regular volunteers who donate their time.
Is there anything else that you’d like to share?
Lexi: Yeah, I guess I would also I would just give a plug for donations. Not just for wedding dresses, but for all of the different things we accept: shoes or veils or bridesmaid dresses or mother-of-the-bride dresses. We always are looking for donations. Especially if you can’t volunteer your time, then just donate. That’s a great way to make an impact. The other main thing I would like to encourage people in is to just try to be as informed as they can about human trafficking and how it affects where you live and what the warning signs are for spotting potential victims. It happens, unfortunately, way more often than I think a lot of people realize.
Thank you so much. This was really great and informative, and I enjoyed talking to you.
Lexi: Thanks for reaching out. I’m glad I could help!
