Teenage girls will confirm that when it comes to prom and Sweet 16 parties, the dress is every bit as important as the event. But formal dresses more often than not are very expensive and don’t fit within the budgets of many young ladies.

Marlborough Junior Woman's Club (MJWC) is working to remedy this problem. With the support of local businesses and volunteers, Marlborough Junior Woman's Club held its annual Metrowest Princess Boutique on Saturday, March 12 at Assabet Valley Regional High School.

“We wished to make sure that as volunteers we help young women and their families who might be experiencing some struggles in life feel capable, confident and beautiful – fully able to enjoy and engage in activities that can play a role in shaping their future,” said Katherine Hennessy with MJWC.

At this year’s Princess Boutique, 208 girls registered, 158 attended and 147 girls left with dresses. But the widely successful event would not have been possible without the nearly 80 volunteers who assisted during the day.

“Every girl was paired with a personal shopper that assisted with finding the perfect dress and then helped the young woman find accessories to round out the outfit,” noted Hennessy. Seamstresses and a make-up consultant were also present to help the young ladies with the finishing touches.

Businesses and individuals donated a mixture of new and gently used dresses for the event. Members of MJWC spent the night before the Princess Boutique inspecting each dress to ensure all dresses met quality expectations.

If you would like to become involved with Marlborough Junior Woman's Club, check out their website for more information. The date for next year’s Princess Boutique is currently in the works and should be announced soon, according to Hennessy. Contact the club for more information on how to become involved in next year’s event.

Businesses that contributed to the Metrowest Princess Boutique included: Champion Cleaners (donated the plastic cover bags); 
Macy’s (donated the hand bags to carry their items in); Starbucks (supplied morning coffee);
 MIT Copy Tech (event posters) 
Lia Sophia (Rep Laura Tonelli); 
S & F Concrete (storage facility); NE Seamstress Association (Kathy and Rebecca);
 Mary Kay (Rep Denise Ryan).