'Operation Wedding Gown' connects brides with free wedding dresses

A free wedding gown? It's not too good to be true for some brides preparing to walk down the aisle.

An Anchorage bridal shop has partnered with a nonprofit to help military brides find the perfect dress.

It's

In Anchorage,

in midtown is participating for a limited time, "we have probably close to 100 dresses and sizes from 2 all the way up to 30 that we've pulled to make sure we have something for everybody," Owner, Erika Anderson said.

Anderson has strong ties to the military, she said her father's career in the Air Force allowed the family to put down roots in Alaska.

Anderson said being a part of Operation Wedding Gown is a chance for her to show support to those currently serving. "I'm so thankful that we have people, both the wives and the children that support their husbands, and fathers," she said, "it's really important for me to support them in a way that I can,"

On Veteran's Day, Shelby Creech was inside the Bridal shop with Anderson searching for the perfect gown.

"I was just really really hoping I would find a dress that would fit me," Creech said.

Eventually Creech found her wedding gown. "I was worried about the amount of money I was going to have to spend on a dress."

Creech's dress would have cost close to $3,000, but the operation wedding gown program covers the cost of the dress.

"It was just a blessing in disguise. My husband is deployed, he's in Afghanistan right now and this was just amazing," Creech said about the program.

There is a $40 registration fee to participate in the program and appointments are recommended.

Anderson's Bride said in the past three years it has given away more than 40 dresses as part of the program.