I am so excited to finally be able to interview and blog about a bridal salon. It was a pleasure to visit The Ivory Suite Bridal Boutique in South Pasadena for this purpose.
Meet Gina Mason and Nicole Cherry-Yu, owners of The Ivory Suite. This dynamic duo opened their shop a few years ago and have selected wonderful designers and committed themselves to a very high level of personal service for their clients. Their salon welcomes you in with soft lighting, rich brown drapery, and lovely photos taken by Gina's husband, wedding photographer Sean Mason.
The gown lines are personally selected by Gina and Nicole, who thoroughly vet their designers to ensure they can provide top quality gowns and styles which range from classic to modern. There are two generously sized dressing rooms, and the smallness of the shop is actually one of its greatest assets, as it allows Gina and Nicole to provide personal service to each bride. As I talk to Gina and Nicole about The Ivory Suite, I can tell their clients have wonderful experiences here.
Read on to learn more about The Ivory Suite.
How did the idea of a bridal gown shop originate for the two of you?
We have been friends since the sixth grade, growing up in South Pasadena. We opened in January 2008 when we were searching for new business ventures. Both of us love fashion and design, so we thought a gown shop would be perfect for us.
How do you select the designers?
It can be a difficult process because there are many to choose from. We like to work with those designers who are friendly and approachable. This usually means working with smaller designers, who are generally more flexible and less corporate. Often brides want to make changes to gowns, and these designers are the best at meeting their needs. All of the designers we carry do not make the gown until it is ordered, so these are true couture gowns, made specifically for each bride.
What are some tips brides should consider when starting their gown search?
The most important thing is to start early. Our designers want at least six to nine months lead time to start making the gown, so we encourage brides to start dress shopping early.
Also, it is perfectly fine to have a strong opinion about the type and style of dress you want, but also be open to suggestions. Our job is to make you look and feel your best, so we encourage you to let us select a few gowns which may achieve your dress objectives.
Finally, trust how you feel about the gown. Do not depend on your mom, aunt, or friend to tell you how you look and feel. Do what feels best to you. Along those same lines, we discourage too many people with you as you search for your gown. One or two people is just fine, but the larger the party, the more difficult the process can be.
How can a bride cut the cost for her gown?
We do have a few gowns which are less than $2,000, and for brides who are on a tighter budget, we can sell her the sample gown for a discount. One of our designers, Amy Kushel, can make any of her gowns with a less expensive fabric which can lower the cost. For example, French Lace, which is very popular, really bumps up the price. Brides can opt for less lace or no lace to make the gown more affordable.
When a bride purchases a gown from us, it is important to know that we take half of the gown cost up front, and the the other half is paid once the gown is picked up, which occurs several months later. This allows brides to save up and allocate their money over a few months, which is nice.
What are the trends you are noticing for 2010 brides?
We are seeing a lot of textures, with gathered fabrics, flowers and feathers. Ball gowns and heavy beading are generally not as popular as they once were. Many of our clients are are opting for slim skirts. They are looking for gowns which are light-weight and easy to move in.
If you could go on a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Gina: We would go to Australia and see the Australia Open tennis tournament. My husband loves tennis, and I would love to visit Australia.
Nicole: We just had a baby, so it would be fabulous to go somewhere quite and relaxing. We would go to Kauaii, Hawaii.
Who in your lives has been instrumental in starting and growing your business?
Without a doubt, the support of our husbands has been incredible.
Nicole also described how her cousin Tonya, who owned a dress salon in Seattle for several years was very helpful to the both of them.
We could not have done this without my cousin. She flew down for a week before we opened the store, and showed us how to do everything, from selecting the designers, booking appointments, taking measurements, and how to answer important questions. She shared with us the mistakes she made when she first opened, so we could avoid them. We really appreciate the time she took to help us.
Talk to me about the customer service you strive to provide at The Ivory Suite.
We see many women who could not find anything they liked at other gown shops, and became quickly overwhelmed with the choices. Once they came to The Ivory Suite, they had a different experience. We consciously choose not to carry hundred of gowns, and we strive to only book one appointment at a time, so that our shop is not too busy or crowded. That way we can really listen to the bride, pull the gowns she wants, and then work with the designers to make it perfect for her.
What do you most enjoy about working with brides to help them select their dress?
Once they find the dress, it is so exciting to see how happy they are. We feel as though we are part of their big day, and we strive to make the entire dress-shopping experience go as smoothly as possible. We love hearing that our dress shop is their favorite one.
Many thanks to Gina and Nicole for spending time with me and letting me tour your dress shop. Also, thank you to Sean Mason for letting me use your photographs to show off The Ivory Suite and the lovely gowns they carry.
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