Full Breakdown
Chicago Bride Reunites Lost Wedding Dress After 17-Year Mix-Up
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
The Dress Swap Uncovered
Lexie Ippolito, 28, opened a storage box in August 2026 expecting to try on her mother’s 2009 wedding gown. The dress actually belonged to Heidi Webber McClellan, a California bride who died in October 2009 after a rejected bone-marrow transplant. Ippolito arranged to return the dress to McClellan’s mother, Sue Webber-Brown, providing closure 17 years after the tragedy.
02
Background and Context
In March 2010 Lexie’s mother sent the family’s dress to a David’s Bridal-affiliated preservation service in Houston. The garment was later handled by Memories Gown Preservation, then sold to Wedding Gown Preservation Co. in Endicott, New York. An error placed the two dresses—120 ticket IDs apart—in the same box, a mistake that went unnoticed until Lexie examined the garment for her rehearsal dinner.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
03
Timeline
- May 19, 2007 – Heidi Webber McClellan’s wedding in California.
- 2009 – Heidi dies following a failed bone-marrow transplant.
- March 2010 – Lexie’s mother sends the Ippolito dress for preservation.
- August 2026 – Lexie discovers the misplaced dress while preparing for her 2027 wedding.
- Late 2026 – The McClellan dress is slated to arrive in California.
04
Data and Statistics
- The gowns were 120 ticket ID numbers apart in the system.
- The mix-up persisted for more than 16 years.
05
Official Statements & Responses
Lexie said the discovery was “heart-breaking” and that she felt compelled to locate the dress’s rightful owner. Sue Webber-Brown described the reunion as “overwhelming.” Colby Schapiro, owner of Wedding Gown Preservation Co., called the incident a “freak thing” and noted the company lacks records from 2010.
06
Verbatim Quotes
- “She was in tears. She was saying she hopes that now they can use this dress for her granddaughter someday,” — Lexie
- “Not only did I lose my daughter, but I lost my daughter’s dress,” — Sue Webber-Brown
07
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The preservation company could not locate any 2010 records to confirm how the tags were misplaced, and David’s Bridal declined to comment.
08
What’s Next
Lexie hopes to locate her mother’s original dress before her Holy Name Cathedral ceremony in 2027. The McClellan dress is expected to reach California later this week, allowing Sue Webber-Brown to keep it for her granddaughter. Both families are using social media to urge other brides who used David’s Bridal preservation services in early 2010 to verify the contents of their own boxes.