Welcome, Kolby! Tell us how to
came to be the owner of Flutter. It's sort of a great
story, if you ask me. I was working in the rental car industry in Portland
when my now husband got a fantastic job offer back to the Midwest. We had only
been dating for about five months and he asked me to move with him. That same
day he got the job offer, I was promoted at work. Because of that, when we
decided to move, I wasn't able to be transferred at my position
without being demoted. Jake told me he wanted me to move with him and to find
my dream job now that he found his. I started working for a great bridal
salon, then craved more and went to manage a different bridal store. Once I got
the taste of bridal fashion in my blood, I felt like the next step would be to
open my own. With so many already great bridal stores in the area, I began my
research, and found that Flutter was for sale. It was well known, has a great
reputation, and I had the desire to take it to the next level.
Congratulations are in order: You
recently got married yourself! What was the most challenging aspect of planning
your wedding? Thank you so much!
Because I was in the industry, I had a lot of great resources to work with
(photographer, dress, makeup). But what I found the most challenging was
probably buying a business two months before the wedding and trying to include
and accommodate my entire family while making it a day that both Jake and I had
dreamed of. I have three sets of parents, so trying to have them each have a
special moment that they wanted as well was difficult, but we had such a
successful and great day, that it all worked out!
What type of bride and bridesmaid
is Flutter perfect for? Someone who is looking
for a personalized and unique experience with their friends. Someone who is
looking for fashion forward dresses to make a statement, whether bold
or subtle. A bride who wants the big city fashion without having to travel
to New York or LA. A bride who wants their bridesmaids to actually wear their
dresses again! We pay close attention to detail, give ideas and let you
relax on our couch while shopping for your bridal gown or bridesmaid
dresses.
What's a typical day like for you? A typical day usually
involves following up with brides and designers, checking out the newest
and latest fashion trends, networking with other amazing professionals and
working closely with brides to help find them their dream wedding dress or
bridesmaid dress. Once I am home, I'm usually on the computer going over our
appointment schedules, checking emails and searching the Internet for
inspiration! As a business owner I am always working to provide the best ideas
and service possible.
Realistically, how soon should a
bride start shopping for her gown and bridesmaids dresses? It's never too early
to start shopping! With Pinterest in the game, it's a great tool for
getting ideas on styles! Then once she finds them, researching which stores
might carry the designer she likes. Each designer has different lead times for
the shipping of their dresses. Also, weekends can get booked up months in
advance as well for appointments. Typically, a year or even year and a half
until the wedding would be a great time to start.
Which designers does Flutter
carry, and which are you most excited about right now? For bridesmaids, we
carry Amsale, Jenny Yoo, Alvina Valenta, Ivy & Aster, Coren Moore, Alfred
Sung, Dessy, After Six, Lela Rose and Siri. For bridal, we carry
Jenny Yoo, Ivy & Aster, Leanne Marshall and Aria.
I am most excited to
announce our new bridal lines coming soon to Flutter, Heidi Elnora
(exclusively) and Theia White Collection! Talk about detailed backs, simple,
classic, and fashion forward designs!
Speaking as a newly married woman
and wedding professional, what's your top advice to brides-to-be? The best advice I can
ever give is to tell you to remember that things can and will go wrong at the
wedding. No matter how much you plan and stress about, just remember to
breathe, feel the love and realize that it will be the best day ever!
