RIPON — A Newark bride-to-be and her bridesmaids in search of a wedding gown at a bargain price of $50 camped outside Marissa’s Closet at midnight Friday hoping to be first in line when volunteers opened the doors 10 hours later.

The group’s decision to travel to Ripon Saturday morning was at the urging of the bride’s cousin Yolanda Morrison.  It was only fitting that they made the trek to the small community since the wedding is going to be in the Morrison family’s back yard on Wilma Avenue across from city hall.  The yard faces the green turf of Ripon Christian Schools.

It was the last Saturday hundreds of new wedding gowns were first offered for a fraction of the original prices as seen on tags still on the dresses as high as $3,500. 

Newark bride-to-be Tara Sanchez along with her mother Susan Hughes and mother-in-law-to-be Karen Scarper were joined by bridesmaids Karen Scarper, Leah Church and Stephanie Scarper.

All the women wore matching pink tiaras in their hair as they sat on the sidewalk waiting to be the first to enter the building. Once they entered Marissa’s Closet located in the former Ripon Drug Store, they quickly found the perfect gown.  The groom, Anthony Scarper, is an Alameda County firefighter.

The turnout of brides Saturday saw far fewer looking through the racks of gowns than were in the store on the last weekend.  With only 20 dresses going out the front door in plastic bags, Melinda Shaw said it was a good thing for her volunteers who had to box up the remaining dresses after they closed at 4 p.m.

Staff members were touched by a couple that came at the last minute from Modesto with a youngster who was going to be the flower girl.  The woman was the only bride in the store but her excitement in finding a gown was electric in nature and filtered down to the little girl who was gleefully showing off her dress to volunteers.

One of the volunteers sitting by the front door was all smiles as she watched the bride and the little flower girl being so appreciative.  “Now that’s what this is all about,” she said.

Shaw said she and her staff had to clear the store of the wedding gowns before Monday and restock the racks with prom dresses that will be offered at no cost to high school girls who might otherwise not be able to attend their winter formal or graduation prom.

Marissa’s Closet welcomes donations of nearly new prom dresses that young women will not be wearing again and have put away in their own closets, Shaw said