FORT WAYNE, IN: On September 16, 2007, five local brides came together to Trash The Dress. This photo / video event has been organized by local studio a deveraux film with the help of Henri’s Photo, Bloom Fine Flowers and 5 Elements Spa and Salon.

Trash The Dress: Summit City Style is the local incarnation of the latest trend sweeping the globe. According to David Chandler-Gick, owner of a deveraux film, Trash The Dress “despite the name, is not about destroying a wedding gown. It’s about having fun, creating art, doing something unexpected without the usual concern for the meticulous protection of the dress.”

“Anyone who has seen the website trashthedress.com knows that some amazing art can come out of a ‘trash session’ and now, with the help of Henri’s, Bloom and 5 Elements, Fort Wayne gets to join the evolution.”

Lynette Osborn, JoNell Barnard and Jennifer Cardin of 5 Elements Spa and Salon were thrilled to participate, providing hair and makeup services for the event. According to 5 Elements owner Susie Beer, “These girls work very hard and it is always nice to just let loose, especially for something really fun and out of the norm like this.”

What would make a bride want to participate in a Trash The Dress?
The answers are as different as the bride’s themselves. “I think Trash the Dress is a wonderful work of art.” says Tiffany Batt, a deveraux bride from this summer, and one of the participants of this event.

“I am just as excited about these pictures as I am about the ones that were taken on my actual wedding day! To me the pictures crystallize my own feelings after all the planning, worrying, and stressing about the wedding was over.”

“As a photographer myself,” says Megan Strouse, a Henri’s Photo bride, “this type of photography interests me, and I wanted to try this type of shoot, and this makes it possible for me to try some unique types of photos.”

Are they crazy?
Not at all. Some people “get it” some don’t. According to a deveraux bride Jill Fausnaugh, “Planning for a wedding can get stressful when you focus too much on perfection. Trash the Dress photos simply capture the moment without worrying about being a perfectly put together bride. It is a time to let loose a bit and just have fun while creating artistic and meaningful photos.”

Tiffany adds: “I get to have some fun, relax, get messy, and get some great pictures out of the whole thing. Besides, when am I ever going to need a wedding dress again?”

This event utilized a variety of locations around the city throughout the day. According to Jim Gabbard of Henri’s Photo, “…we may not have a beach and surf, but Fort Wayne is not without it’s merits.”

Both a deveraux film and Henri's Photo now offer individual Trash The Dress Sessions for their clientelle.

view the Trash The Dress: Summit City Style Gallery here