Staff Sgt. Kirston Smith always dreamed of the perfect wedding and the perfect bridal gown for that perfect day.
As a military bride, however, sometimes deployments, financial hardships and other challenges unique to servicemen and women can make it difficult to have that perfect wedding.
A national charitable organization called Brides Across America helps fulfill the dreams of military brides by giving them free wedding gowns at biannual nationwide gown giveaway events.
Smith, information management, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade, was one of those lucky brides. She had her perfect day on April 3 in Woodbridge, Va., where she wore her perfect wedding gown.
Brides Across America was founded in 2008 by Heidi Janson, who wanted to do more to support our troops and their families. She did so by uniting with bridal salons across the country willing to donate and give away wedding gowns to qualified military brides.
During a White House event in 2012, Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden recognized Brides Across America for their contributions to improving the lives of military families.
Smith met her spouse, Cary Smith, while both were on active duty in 2007 at Fort Gordon, Ga. She was deployed to Afghanistan from 2008 to 2009. Upon her return to the U.S., Smith reunited with Cary and they were engaged in July 2012.
It was shortly after her engagement that a friend told her about Brides Across America and that one of their giveaway events was coming up. Her 2008 deployment qualified her as a participant, so Smith immediately registered for the November 2012 nationwide gown giveaway.
"I had the last appointment on the last day of the promotion in my area," Smith said.
She dashed out of her unit training meeting and "high-tailed" it to the participating bridal salon to make her appointment. Once inside, Smith spotted that perfect gown instantly and knew it was meant to be hers.
"The associate told me to pick out a few more [gowns] as it might not fit properly. I told her, 'I don't need to look at any other dresses, this is it - it will fit.' It did and I got it!" she said.
Smith originally planned to have a formal wedding in April 2013. However, that was postponed due to medical issues. After waiting a year, she was finally able to see her dream come to fruition.
Smith also received her second wish -- a cake from Charm City Cakes in Baltimore.
"I never thought that would happen, since when I saw my ideal cake years ago on 'Ace of Cakes' [cable TV show], and I was living down South," Smith noted. "When I found out I was assigned to Fort Meade, Cary said he would make that happen for me. And he did."
With her perfect wedding day, highlighted by the perfect gown and topped off with the perfect cake, Smith's dream had finally come true.
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