Making dreams come true is a fabulous occupation! Many people are not able to truly say that they love their work, but I most certainly do! Gaylynn, my mom, and I took some time to reflect on how our simple ideas and meager beginnings have turned into a fantastic business experience.

I found my passion for wedding attire while planning my own wedding. Pouring over bridal magazines and searching the internet for the latest bridal designs was fascinating. The romance of shopping for the wedding dress quickly dissipated for us while being shuffled into disorganized stores and filthy sample dresses, all while an uneducated consultant looked on. A nagging thought of “I could do this much better” became my motivation to learn the industry inside and out.

After working at a couture shop in Colorado, where I learned about the bridal industry's fantasies, complexities, and faults, I approached GayLynn. She was ready to end her twenty two year career as a stay-at-home Super Mom and take on new challenges. So in early 2000, The Bridal Collection was born.

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At twenty-two years old, I held a Master's degree in counseling and had acquired knowledge in the wedding industry from coordinating weddings, photographing weddings, and working as a sales consultant and ordering manager of a bridal salon. GayLynn took her experience of coordinating countless volunteer organizations and managing a busy household to head up the organizational efforts. Who knew these experiences would blend so beautifully into The Bridal Collection philosophy.

The dress is a reflection of the beauty that lies within each woman. The Bridal Collection treats each woman with respect and caring. Our job is to bring out that inner beauty and make each bride's dreams come true. Our salon has many ‘regulars' who stop by to chat or tell salon guests all about their special day. The Bridal Collection has even dealt with war brides getting married in a hurry and brides tragically ill with cancer. Each individual bride has left confident that they will shine on their special day. That is the ultimate success of our philosophy and the longevity of The Bridal Collection.

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After just three short years, we outgrew our small beginnings. In order to accommodate our ever growing number of brides-to-be, we built a brand new 6,000 square foot salon. Our salon now features a more extensive selection of bridal apparel to meet our bride's needs, as well as a men's formal wear department to coordinate every aspect of the wedding party attire.

Even though we expanded, it was imperative to us that we maintain our philosophy and integrity within our boutique atmosphere. With the increase in our size, the entire extended family assists in many aspects of The Bridal Collection. GayLynn's husband, Chris (my Dad) has retired from his job of 30 years in construction management to assist in financial planning (and just about anywhere else we need help). Brian, my husband, is our technology advisor. My sister Mary and her husband TJ work as our fabulous models. My brother Chris spends time doing touch-up painting and furniture lifting. My future sister-in-law Amber now works as a bridal consultant while planning her own wedding. Even the next generation, my daughter Kathryn, at just three years of age, is our official “bead collector.” Every Saturday, she scours the store for hidden beads and jewels and puts them in her bead bag for our seamstresses.

Having a family who works hard together is such a blessing! It also enables us to make family a priority. Balancing faith, family, and work is a concern that weighs heavily on many women's hearts today. Fortunately, having a family run business allows us to achieve that balance and the peace that comes with it.

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Constantly staying innovative and fresh has allowed the salon to reach success beyond our wildest dreams. As we look into the future of The Bridal Collection our wish is to give each bride that walks through our doors the “Disney World” experience in wedding dress shopping. Every bride should be treated like a princess. We believe that this time in a woman's life should be full of joy, excitement and wonder.

It is our promise to provide exquisite bridal attire with superior customer service in an elegant atmosphere. We look forward to meeting you. Please visit us at our new salon and let us assist you in fulfilling all of your wedding fashion dreams!

Best wishes,
Lynn