Fair Lawn's library is overflowing — with wedding dresses .
The unique lending program at the Maurice M. Pine Free Public Library, which collects used gowns for use by new brides, has been inundated with donations since NorthJersey.com and The Record profiled the effort last month.
The outpouring has been so great that the library is now asking donors to limit their gifts to wedding dresses size 14 and higher. Library Director Adele Puccio says she now has more than 100 gowns in the building and at her home, where folks have tracked her down to drop off even more bridal fashion.
"It's nuts," she said Tuesday.
“I am overwhelmed with people's generosity and enthusiasm for the program,” Puccio said in an interview. “It's wonderful to see the dresses get a second life, and it feels good knowing that a bride has saved herself the expense of getting a new, often very expensive gown.”
But the stream of dropped-off dresses has grown "too big," leading to the size limitation. Puccio said she has been fielding multiple calls a day from women who want to recycle their wedding wear.
When interviewed by The Record last month , Puccio had given away around 40 dresses since the program started in early 2023. As of Tuesday, she'd given away 60 and taken in even more than that in the past few weeks.
“I think I have close to 100 in the office and about eight at home,” she said. “Yes, people leave them at my house!”
She said people have figured out where she lives since her name is recognizable.
The collection is still thin when it comes to higher sizes. Eight recent donations that were supposed to be over size 14 were “more like a 10-12," Puccio said. The library does have four dresses that would fit a 16 or above, she added.
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How to donate your wedding dress
She once again urged those who want to pick up or drop off a dress to notify the library before coming by. Donors, in fact, need to get Puccio's approval before bringing in a gown. The clothes are currently stored in her office, and the library reserves the right to say no if it runs out of room, she said.
Puccio said she recently received “a lovely donation of 10 beautiful dresses from designer Helen Morley ,” all of which were brand-new.
In a recent Facebook post , library staff members shared another valuable tip with brides-to-be: Make sure not to wear makeup when you come to try on dresses. The Fair Lawn library doesn't want its reborn beauties getting stained.
Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: noda@northjersey.com
Twitter: @snoda11
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 'It's nuts': North Jersey library puts a limit on wedding dress donations as gifts pour in
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