Saying yes to sharing the dress: Edmonton woman sending her wedding gown to Illinois

In 2009, the magic of reality television let Ashley Dehelean, an Illinois teen, watch Edmonton business owner Rychelle Tuck find the gown of her dreams. Or, to be more precise, the gown of both their dreams.

Rychelle Tuck at her wedding 13 years ago. (Rychelle Tuck)

It started back in 2009 when the magic of reality television let Ashley Dehelean, an Illinois teen, watch Edmonton business owner Rychelle Tuck find the gown of her dreams. 

Or, to be more precise, the gown of both their dreams.

“I imprinted on that dress when I saw it,” said Dehelean, recalling the reaction of her 16-year-old self to that episode of Say Yes to the Dress.

The fabric was “feminine but boho” and featured gorgeous leaf petals that clicked with her personality, Dehelean said. 

“I saw the way she had a connection with it as she was putting it on and I was having the same kind of connection with it as I was watching, as a teenager.”

Tuck was featured on the television show ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ in 2009 when she was picking out her dress. (Submitted by Rychelle Tuck)

In 2014, Dehelean was married to her partner Chris in a small ceremony with an even smaller budget that didn’t include much room for a special dress.

But recently, Dehelean discovered that the marriage paperwork was never submitted. 

That has given the couple a perfect opportunity to have the wedding of their dreams — and for Ashley to have the dress of hers. 

The hunt begins

Finding the perfect wedding dress is difficult for any bride, but the search Dehelean was undertaking was a little more complicated than most.

“It was just dead ends everywhere,” she said. “It’s been years and I can barely find clear pictures of this dress online.”

She even tried to get a replica made but was told the fabric used was too difficult to find.

So after hours of searching, Dehelean went back to where it all started. She re-watched the episode of the show and then tracked down Tuck through social media.

Ashley Dehelean and her husband Chris at their small ceremony in 2014. They realized seven years later the paperwork was never submitted, allowing them another shot at their dream wedding. (Submitted by Ashley Dehelean)

“Let me take this last chance, and if she doesn’t respond or if it’s not the right person, it is what it is and it’s a sign for me to move on,” Dehelean said, describing her mindset as she sent Tuck a message.

Within five minutes, she had her answer.

Yes, Tuck said. I’ll share the dress.

“I was recently thinking about getting rid of the dress because it’s just taking up room,” said Tuck, who owns the Red Ribbon boutique in Edmonton’s High Street area.  

“But I feel really happy that I can pass it on to someone else that would enjoy it,” she said. “And now this dress gets another wedding.”

The message Ashley Dehelean senton Instagram to Rychelle Tuck. (Submitted by Rychelle Tuck)

As for Dehelean, she still can’t believe it worked out and is waiting with great anticipation for the dress to arrive for her August wedding in an Illinois forest.

The pair are even the same height, which makes them both think this was meant to be.

“It makes the world a whole lot smaller,” said Tuck. “Hopefully in a positive way.”

Dehelean will wear Tuck’s dress, shown here with her husband Evan, at Dehelean’s August elopement in Illinois. (Submitted by Rychelle Tuck)

Read More

Related posts

Liver disease deaths in England and Wales are up since pandemic began

Asia is opening their doors for travel after Covid19 except for China

This teen wants his mental health ideas to become Canadian law