NewsLos Angeles TimesNovember 5, 2026Los Angeles County
A Chicago bride returns a wedding dress lost for 17 years to a Northern California mother
Photo: Los Angeles Times
Seventeen years after a preservation company lost a wedding gown belonging to her late daughter, Sue Webber-Brown received the dress back thanks to a Chicago bride-to-be who found it in her family's preservation box. Lexie Ippolito discovered the mix-up after opening a box she believed held her mother's dress, tracked down the owner using embroidered names on the gown, and mailed it to Northern California.
Read the full story at Los Angeles TimesWhy It Matters
A family recovered a sentimental heirloom lost by a commercial preservation service nearly two decades ago through the efforts of a stranger on social media.
Key Facts
- Sue Webber-Brown's late daughter Heidi Webber McClellan wore the A-line white wedding gown at her wedding on May 19, 2007.
- McClellan passed away on October 25, 2009, at age 28 after a bone marrow transplant rejection.
- Webber-Brown purchased a wedding dress preservation kit from a David's Bridal in Chico shortly after her daughter's death to clean the stained gown.
- After sending the dress off for cleaning, Webber-Brown was eventually told by the company that the dress was lost and nowhere to be found.
- In August, Chicago resident Lexie Ippolito opened her family's wedding dress box to prepare for her 2027 wedding and discovered the dress inside was not her mother's.
- Memories Gown Preservation, the Houston-based company that handled the original preservation, was acquired in December by Wedding Gown Preservation Co., which reported that old files were missing.
- Ippolito noticed light blue embroidery inside the mystery dress reading 'Heidi and Jake May 19, 2007'.
- Using an online obituary and social media, Ippolito located Webber-Brown in Oroville, California, and shipped the dress back to her.
- The dress was delivered to Webber-Brown on a Friday, just days after the anniversary of her daughter's death.
Who's Mentioned
OrganizationMemories Gown Preservation“Houston-based preservation business that has since closed.”OrganizationWedding Gown Preservation Co.“Company that acquired Memories Gown Preservation.”PersonSue Webber-Brown“Mother of the late Heidi Webber McClellan, whose wedding dress was lost and reco”OrganizationDavid's Bridal“Bridal store where the preservation kit was purchased and where the mix-up origi”locationChico“California city where the preservation kit was purchased.”locationOroville“California city where Sue Webber-Brown lives and received the returned dress.”PersonHeidi Webber McClellan“Late daughter of Sue Webber-Brown whose wedding dress was recovered 17 years lat”locationChicago“City where Lexie Ippolito found the dress.”locationHouston“City where Memories Gown Preservation was based.”PersonLexie Ippolito“Chicago bride-to-be who found the wrong dress in her family box and tracked down”