Wright also experienced this frustration when she tried to find a Communion gown for one of her daughters in 2020.

“We looked at some flower girl dresses for weddings, but those didn’t seem appropriate,” she said. “My daughter ended up wearing my old first Communion dress.”

Wright said there just wasn’t anywhere to go. Parents want their children to wear something that represents how special this sacrament is. 

“I said to myself, ‘Someone should start a first Communion gown pop-up shop — and maybe that someone should be me,’” Wright said.

Recognizing this as a need in the surrounding Catholic community too, she immediately went to work. Wright created a business plan and started talking to business coaches.

Gowns of Grace was born of her planning, investment and keen business sense in 2023.

“I was focused on God’s grace when I decided to start Gowns of Grace,” she said. “I was thinking about what the children would be wearing when experiencing this special sacrament.”

Wright’s shop also offers attire for boys, plus jewelry, accessories, shoes and first Communion gifts. The gowns are handpicked; some designers are from Los Angeles and others are in Poland.

“I curate all the items. The designers I work with make the dresses, and I decide which gowns will be the best options for families," she said.

How it works

Gowns of Grace allows Catholic parishes and communities to sponsor a pop-up shop for a weekend. Anyone can attend, and there is a $5 fee. Families whose children need to try on gowns generally register for a time slot. 

Wright offers a VIP experience for an additional fee ($25), too, to make the occasion extra special for the children. The VIP treatment includes refreshments, a personal shopping assistant, access to a dressing room, a raffle prize entry, special keepsake gift, a religious craft and free shipping on the gown of choice. She always welcomes walk-ins, but those families may have to wait on a time slot.

Attending the pop-up shop gives guests the opportunity to try on gowns in person as samples, but they are not for sale on-site; ordering is done online. Some items are available for immediate purchase, subject to availability, like jewelry, accessories, shoes, keepsakes, veils and select dresses. Pop-up shops are easy fundraising opportunities for each host church, since a portion of the sales goes back to that parish.

Wright ships all necessary try-on garments and accessories to the host church for display. 

She also offers a personal shopping experience of her inventory on Daniel Island and said people have traveled for three or four hours to shop with her.

For churches who want to help spread the word about Gowns of Grace, but cannot host a pop-up shop, Wright will provide a special QR code that will commit a portion of the proceeds back to the church.

Brick & mortar

As the business expands, Wright hopes to open a physical shop somewhere near Daniel Island. She is also considering expanding to sell baptismal gowns.

Catholic churches all over the U.S. are contacting her to host pop-up shops.

So far in 2025, Gowns of Grace pop-up shops have been held in Ohio, Indiana and Florida. In South Carolina, Corpus Christi Church in Lexington will host a pop-up shop March 21-23. 

“It is rewarding to know that I have fulfilled a need for people,” Wright said. “I have a passion for teaching catechism, and it is so exciting to see the students wearing special garments to commemorate the sacrament.”

Those interested in attending the pop-up shop at Corpus Christi Church from March 21-23 can register on the events section of www.gownsofgrace.com.