Bridal shop is the hot spot during Utah wedding season

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Apr 1, 2005 | by Dave Anderton Deseret Morning News

The wedding dress is perhaps the most visible symbol of the wedding ceremony.

In fact, the wedding dress is probably the first thought most soon-to-be brides consider, according to Lori Evans, co-owner of Bountiful-based Bridal Image, a specialty wedding gown boutique.

"They come to us before they even get a ring," Evans said. "Sometimes before he has even officially asked, they're in here getting a dress."

And January through August is wedding season, especially in Utah, and especially for businesses like Bridal Image.

"You get a lot of the December engagements that are getting married at spring break," Evans said. "And then the Valentine's Day engagements that are getting married between May and June. And August is a really a big month. It kind of follows the semesters at school. They plan around that break at school."

Bridal Image also is owned by Evans' mother, Mildred Miller, and Barbara Parr, a cousin to Evans. Four other family members work at the newly remodeled store.

"We had done some different things with weddings, from cakes to flowers to catering, but we had never done dresses, and we just decided that it would be a fun thing to do," Evans said. "Most of the time I can get my dresses in a week to two weeks, but there are those instances where it will take a couple of months, and so the brides do need to think about it early."

Bridal Image also specializes in dresses for bridesmaids and flower girls, tuxedo rentals, invitations and accessories for the bride and her attendants.

Twice a year, Evans travels to Las Vegas to purchase the newest designs, which include the Maggie Sottero brand.

"She's the most sought-after designer in the United States right now," Evans said. "We're an authorized dealer for her gowns. They're very popular. She has everything from modest gowns, to strapless gowns to little slip dresses for the beach. Everything that you need."

Since opening nine years ago, sales have increased every year, Evans said. Most of Bridal Image's gowns sell for $298 to $1,500. Clearance gowns start at $199.

Gowns are not custom made, but they are custom fitted. And Bridal Image will custom make all veils and oversee alterations in-house. Jewelry and head pieces are coordinated with the dresses.

"In our industry everybody is our competitor, because girls will drive hundreds of miles to get a wedding dress," Evans said. "We have a lot of people that come in from out of state that fly in from all over the country looking for wedding gowns."

While some brides can be stressed out, Evans said, running a bridal gown business has been a good experience.

"We've had many families that have had three or four daughters that have come to us over the years," Evans said, "and we've gotten to know them well, and it's been kind of fun to make friends and create those kinds of relationships with your customers."

E-mail: danderton@desnews.com