Tessa Tookes came to Ontario to try on her ideal wedding gown after spotting it on Instagram, but had a terrible experience. The 28-year-old model from New York City met her fiancé, Joey Kirchner, on season two of “Bachelor in Paradise Canada” which began in 2023.
She added that when she stood on the platform in her ideal dress, the boutique staff removed two brown-colored breast cups. The dress already included beige or “nude” cups, which were free. However, if she wanted the undergarments to match her skin color, she needed to pay an additional $200.
Tookes compared the experience to her high school dancing performances, when she had to “pancake” her pink ballerina shoes with foundation and dye her “nude” tights using tea bags to match her skin tone.
She told USA Today, “I just received the information in silence and defaulted to feeling uncomfortable.” I wasn’t fully conscious of my blackness until [that time]. It was really lonely, and I felt very othered.
A week later, she replied to a text message from her future mother-in-law about the dress appointment. Then she informed her fiancee.
Tooke’s fiancé Kirchner expressed his support for his soon-to-be bride in a video, urging wedding dress designers to take note. “You should be called out,” he stated, pointing at the camera. “Figure it out.”
The video has attracted over 3 million views and 709,000 comments, including offers from Black wedding dress makers to customize her dress or color the cups for free.
After watching the video, the store in question contacted Tookes and offered to cover the entire cost of the wedding dress, which Tookes believed was generous but “didn’t necessarily get to the heart of the issue.”
In retrospect, Tookes said that she could have spoken up at the time, but she didn’t want to be “bridezilla.” Furthermore, she should not be held responsible: “To have to defend your skin tone just doesn’t feel fair.”
Some followers were surprised that Tookes’ staff felt comfortable enough to impose an upcharge, while others related similar experiences at bridal boutiques.
For the time being, Tookes claimed she has left her wedding dress mess “in the air.” Although she had already put a deposit on the gown after choosing the “nude” cups that she planned to dye herself, she is now thinking about working with one of the numerous Black designers who have contacted out to make a gown for her. “It just feels a lot more aligned with my feelings on the matter and wanting to support and uplift this community of women.”
Tookes provides the following advise to prospective brides of color who may be apprehensive about coping with similar circumstances: “We are all aware of the possibility of not feeling represented in these places due to our skin color and body type. However, consider investing on a wonderful and magical wedding dress buying experience, with the understanding that you may need to advocate for yourself.”