> At a Glance
> – Tammy Gaddis discovered her 1992 preserved wedding gown is not inside her keepsake box
> – The mix-up happened at a now-closed Tulsa preservation shop
> – She hopes to reclaim her dress so her daughter can repurpose it this summer
> – Why it matters: Anyone with a gold Keystone box should check they have the right gown
Tammy Gaddis planned a sweet hand-me-down moment for her daughter’s upcoming wedding. Instead, she uncovered a decades-old mystery that’s left her on a quest to find her own missing gown.
A Box Opened After 31 Years
Gaddis had her 1992 wedding dress professionally sealed and stored in Oklahoma, expecting it to stay pristine. When she and her daughter cracked the gold Keystone preservation container last month, excitement turned to disbelief.
> “When we opened the box, I immediately knew that it was not my dress,”
> Gaddis told News on 6.
The gown inside shared some beading on the bodice but featured an attached train, whereas her original had a detachable one. That single detail confirmed the swap.
The Search for Answers
Because the preservation business closed years ago, Gaddis has turned to the public for help. She believes another bride may unknowingly have her gown.
> “I am really hopeful that somebody may have my dress – and this may be their dress,”
> she said.
She urges anyone with a gold Keystone box to open the inner cellophane window and compare the gown to their memories or photos, since multiple layers of sealing can hide a mix-up.
Key Takeaways
- Gaddis stored her gown in 1992; the error surfaced 31 years later
- Her daughter hoped to wear a repurposed piece from the original dress this summer
- The mix-up likely happened during the original preservation process
- Owners of similar preservation boxes should verify their gowns now
Finding her original dress would reunite a family heirloom and salvage a tradition Gaddis hoped to share on her daughter’s big day.
