Woman Wears a Special Gown for Her Wedding So Her Blind Husband Could “Feel Her Dress”

Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 25, 2022. It has since been updated.

Kelly Anne Ferraro met Anthony for the first time in 2017 through mutual friends at the Jersey Shore. At that time, she did not know that was the beginning of the rest of their lives together.

When they met, Kelly realized that Anthony was partially blind. But over a period she learned everything else about Anthony's personality and life. He was a wrestler, practiced judo, and had even trained for the Paralympics!

Anthony could see some light outside, but indoors, nothing was visible. "Anthony didn't have a cane or anything and no one was guiding him around," Kelly told CBS News. "So I was like, 'Why isn't anyone helping you?'"

Kelly then went on to help him the rest of the day and Anthony was left surprised. "I was like, 'This girl's amazing.'" Soon after, they went for their first date when Anthony invited her to the premiere of a documentary on how he wrestled against sighted opponents while in high school.

Kelly and Anthony would never forget that date. She wanted to do something special for him, the effort of trying to ‘look’ nice for a date had to mean something here too, so she wanted to wear a dress Anthony could see in his way.

"I remember my sister making fun of me because I was like, 'I'm going to wear a velvet dress so he can feel it.' And she was like, 'That is so corny, he's not going to feel your dress just because he's blind,'" Kelly said. "And I was like, 'No, he might! You don't know.' And it ended up being something that was so important to him."

A month later, they were a couple, traveling together for Anthony’s tournaments and Kelly started to accompany him. She would describe everything to him on their adventures together. "My whole life changed when I met Kelly.”

The pair got married at the beginning of October 2021, in Maine, after about four years of dating. But Kelly wanted to do something special for Anthony again. So she recreated the experience of their first date for him - a dress he could experience by his sense of touch. She got a custom wedding dress with many textures.

To help her with the idea, her friend pointed her to a bridal shop in Brooklyn that makes sustainable gowns by recycling fabrics. However, she was very anxious about shopping for her outfit. "I really want something that's a whole experience for Anthony." When Kelly went to the bridal shop with her mom, she found the dress she had dreamt about. It had velvet tassels, embossed flowers, and several fabrics. She also got a jacket where the sleeves had long tassels on them - made out of velvet just like their first date.

"My mind was blown. I started crying,” Anthony said of the first time he met her before the wedding. “And it was just like – I was able to see Kelly. That was the best part, I was able to feel her dress," he added.

The dress wasn’t the only special bit about the wedding. Kelly also ensured the wedding venue was accessible. "To put yourself in other people's shoes, I think it really helps," Anthony said. Love really does come in all shapes and sizes, and there's someone out there for everyone!

References:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kelly-anne-ferraro-bride-special-wedding-dress-blind-groom/

Cover Image Source: CBS New York | Bride Surprises Groom, Who Is Blind, With Special Wedding Dress He Can Feel