When Allie Goecke-Butler got married to Alan Goecke-Butler on September 2, 2023, she stunned in a lace wedding gown. Little did she know, she’d later cut it into a shorter. During the reception, the energetic dance floor made Allie feel hot, leading her to transform her gown into a mini dress by cutting off the lower half. These lower-half pieces were what her mother used to make a denim jacket for her that she could wear forever and always remember her special day.
“It was really hot and humid, and I was dancing a ton,” Allie recounted to People on January 26, 2024. “I joked about cutting off the bottom half of my dress, and my bridesmaid, Kaelynn, tried to cool me down with a fan. We laughed about it and then thought, ‘Why not?'”
“Scissors didn’t work well, so one of the groomsmen, Tanner, used a pocket knife, which was more effective,” she added. “Our photographers captured the whole process beautifully!”
Allie confessed, “I was nervous about my mom’s reaction, but she thought it was awesome when she saw it.”
Four months after her wedding, Allie found herself at a craft show, assisting her mom, Becky Butler, in selling jackets for her small business, Ginger Pop Designs. During the event, a woman expressed interest in a jacket with lace, sparking an innovative idea for the mother-daughter duo.
“My mom joked about using the leftover lace from my wedding dress,” shares Allie. “We both realized what a great idea that was almost immediately.”
Becky, the creative mom who founded the business following a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease and brain tumor, immediately purchased a simple jean jacket online and got to work.
“She finished my jacket in about two days,” Allie shares, noting how her mom has the jackets available for sale on Etsy. “She also shared a video of the jacket on Reels, which has garnered around 12 million views, which is incredibly exciting for her!”
@loveal_co I could have spent a lot of $$$ to have it boxed and preserved but chose to spend the money on something would actually wear again!! Thank you Gingerpop Designs!!
♬ Murder On The Dancefloor – Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Allie also uploaded a video of the jacket on TikTok, which has gone viral with 3.3 million views. “I could have spent a lot of money to have it boxed and preserved, but I opted to invest in something I would wear again!! Thank you, Ginger Pop Designs!!” she captioned the video. In the video, Becky is seen cutting lace and stitching it onto a denim jacket, followed by Allie showcasing the final product.
The newlywed explains that she posted to showcase her mom’s work but also to highlight the innovative aspect of repurposing a wedding dress.
“Most wedding dresses cost an arm and a leg, and you only wear them once,” Allie explained. “I just wanted to show that they can be upcycled in a cool way that’s not the typical way of just cutting it short and dying it. I am also such a creator of comfort, so I knew I was never going to wear my dress as a dress again. The jacket is something I can wear again and again while also being comfortable.”
She adds, “I also realized it was a fantastic idea because the person who showcases and boasts about it the most is my husband, Alan. Whenever I wear it out to dinner or any event, he enthusiastically shares with anyone who will listen about my jacket and how it incorporates my wedding dress.”
Photo Credit: Instagram / Gingerpopdesigns
