An idea from a local businesswoman turned into the surprise of a lifetime for a newly engaged North Shore couple this past weekend. Jeanne Hennessey, owner of Lorraine Roy Designer Collections and Bridal Boutique in downtown Danvers, wanted to do something to show appreciation to a local serviceman or woman.

“How can a dress shop help support the troops?” Hennessey wondered. But after a quick call to Operation Troop Support, headquarterd in Danvers, whose mission is to support deployed men and women in uniform and their families, the answer was clear.

Dick Moody, president of Operation Troop Support, told Hennessey about Marine Corporal Christopher Johnson of Beverly who has just returned from the Middle East for a two week leave. Johnson had proposed to his girlfriend of three and a half years, Hadley Von Bruns of Salem, shortly after arriving home. The two would be joining nearly 400 other volunteers at the Holten Richmond Middle School in Danvers to wrap gifts for service men and women currently stationed around the world, which Operation Troop Support would mail so they received something from home for the holidays.

Armed with this information, Hennessey went to work. She decided to create an evening to remember for the newly engaged couple.

“I thought that I would provide Hadley with a new designer dress and see if I could get another business to do something for Chris and maybe send them to dinner,” said Hennessey. “I started to make a few phone calls and in a very short amount of time I had nearly a dozen businesses involved. Everyone I spoke with said they would be proud to be a part of it.”

After an hour of wrapping packages on Saturday morning, Moody asked everyone for their attention under the guise of announcing some raffle prize winners. After acknowledging the two active-duty marines in the room, Johnson, and Andy Davis of Middleton, with Operation Troop Support commemorative coins, Hennessey’s plan came to life.

Moody asked Johnson and Von Bruns to come forward and introduced Hennessey to unveil the surprise. One-by-one, the businesses involved were announced and the gift-giving was underway. Starting with flowers from Curran’s for Von Bruns as well as the couple’s mothers, they then received a tray of pastry from Cakes For Occasions, lunch from The Daily Harvest, and a gift certificate for Von Bruns to have her hair styled at Giogi salon.

Hennessey brought out a beautiful navy blue dress with a ruffles collar, but told Von Bruns that this was just a sample and she was free to choose a dress to fit her style from Lorraine Roy.

Next up was Giblee’s who invited Johnson to come to their store to select a dress shirt and pants to wear that evening, while also offering a free tuxedo rental for the big day, which will take place in September of 2009, shortly after Johnson completes his tour of duty.

The indulgence continued, as Maison Esthetique announced the couple would be coming to the spa for a couple’s massage before going to Pellana Steakhouse in Peabody for a romantic dinner for two that evening.

The day would be complete when Kristen Perry, the General Manager of the Sheraton Ferncroft announced that she had reserved the hotel’s presidential suite in their names for the evening.

The event drew television crews from all of the major Boston television stations who interviewed the surprised pair before they set off in a chauffeured driven Cadillac donated by Webb Transportation.

“I’m so overwhelmed right now, said Von Bruns, 22. “It’s so amazing everyone’s willing to do this.”

Johnson, 23, meanwhile didn’t stop grinning, adding that “I’m just glad to be back for now.”

Hennessey had one more surprise for Von Bruns who’s first stop on her itinerary was to pick out the dress she would wear to dinner that evening and have it fitted. “After Hadley selected her cocktail dress, I asked her to come into the bridal room to take a look at our gowns,” said Hennessey. “She fell in love with one right away and tried it on. It was perfect and she knew it, so I was very happy to give her a wedding dress too.”

“I’m in shock,” said Von Bruns. “This is too much.”

“How often do you get to do this?” Hennessey asked with a smile. “This is nothing compared to the sacrifices our military families make for us.”