One of the first things that many brides get excited about after they are engaged is dreaming up their bridal look. In an age where inspiration runs rampant online, the process can feel overwhelming. We had the joy of chatting with Madison, owner of The Frock Bridal House in Bloomington, Indiana, to gain her top tips on staying true to yourself and loving the process.
Laural Mill: We are so excited to be chatting with you today, Madison! The Frock is a really unique presence in Indiana bridal gown and attire stores, and we’re excited for the information that you will be able to share with our readers. Can tell us a bit about yourself and how The Frock came to be?
The Frock: I’m Madison, and I’m the owner of The Frock Bridal house in Bloomington, IN. Owning a bridal store has been my dream job since I was a child, but I never imagined I’d be here helping brides find their perfect dress! Following my graduation from Indiana University, I was gaining great business experience at a corporate job and I got engaged. When I began planning my own wedding, I was so excited to go dress shopping – my mom, grandmother and I were always obsessed with formal gowns, Say Yes to the Dress, and fashion in general. We were all so ready for this moment!
Sadly, the experience wasn’t all that I had imagined. I really wanted a gown that reflected my personal style and felt unique, however the local stores I went to seemed to have a very repetitive, and traditional selection. I also felt so much sales pressure that I almost said yes to the wrong dress (thankfully my mother saved me from that situation!). The appointments were a bit hectic, stressful, and rushed. Eventually after lots of research and shopping around, I found a designer that matched my style and said yes to the dress! But instead of feeling so happy and excited, I just felt relieved.
So, I took my business and apparel merchandising knowledge and experience, and merged that with all of the ways that I saw to improve the overall experience of bridal gown and attire shopping. The result was a fresh take on bridal attire shopping to Indiana. From that, The Frock Bridal House was born.
Laural Mill: You’ve really started something unique, and the experience feedback we get from your brides is exceptional. One of the things they’re always excited about are the unique designers that you work with. Could you tell us about your philosophy and goals when sourcing and bridal brands for The Frock?
The Frock: At The Frock we work with only independent designers. Our designers aren’t large corporate brands who are mass producing gowns in an offshore factory somewhere. They are small businesses of their own who create their original gowns in their own studios where the designer can be very hands on and oversee every gown being made. These designers do a better job than most bigger brands on focusing on sustainability, ethical practices, and inclusivity.
Each year we attend New York Bridal Fashion week in October and view all of the new collections from our current designers and other independent designers that we are considering working with in the future! When choosing brands and specific gowns, we consider the construction, comfort, the uniqueness of the design, and different elements that make the gown more inclusive (such as the size range, color matching options for illusion tulle, etc.).
We choose gowns that are made of quality fabrics and are made in a way that can be worn for your entire wedding day without feeling uncomfortable! We also like to make sure we have a variety of styles, with some that may be considered bold and offbeat. We believe that every bride is unique, and we want them to feel like themselves on their big day! Our sample gowns range from size 10-30 (and can be ordered in size 00-40+) so that brides of every shape and size have a good selection to try on during their appointment!
Laural Mill: We love that everyone can feel at home in your bridal store! We know that you’ve overseen countless bridal appointments at this point. Would you tell us about any do’s or do not’s that you would recommend for brides before they start hunting for their gown or bridal outfitting?
The Frock: I recommend thinking through how you want to feel on your wedding day. How do you want to feel as you walk down the aisle, when you make you grand entrance with your new spouse, or when you are dancing the night away.
Then I recommend doing some light browsing online, but don’t get too carried away! Gowns look and feel so different when you try them on than they do in photos, on models, on mannequins, or on a hanger. So, until you visit boutiques to try on the gowns, you won’t know for sure what styles you will love most! Browsing online is best for getting a feel for current styles and determine if there are any designers you gravitate towards. Don’t feel pressure to find “the one” while browsing on Pinterest.
I’d recommend booking one or two appointments at bridal stores that carry designers you are most drawn to! Trying on too many gowns can get confusing and be exhausting. When you go shopping, it is good to have an idea of the vibe you are going for, but keep an open mind on specific silhouettes, neckline, straps, fabrics, etc. Your stylist will be very familiar with all of the gowns and may have ideas for gowns that you wouldn’t have chosen yourself but end up loving. That is why wedding dress shopping is so exciting and magical!
Laural Mill: From the outside looking in, it can be hard for a bride at the beginning of the planning process to know what to expect out of a bridal attire appointment. Can you let us know what a typical appointment at The Frock feels like for brides and how it may differ from experiences at different types of bridal stores?
The Frock: One of the main differences at The Frock versus many other shops is that we only host one appointment at a time. Our brides get the entire shop to themselves and their group. This way you won’t have strangers staring at you in each dress or feel like you have to fight for your stylist’s attention. You will be the VIP for you entire 2-hour appointment!
Another difference is that we want you to feel comfortable in our space, like you are hanging out at your best friend’s house! We offer complimentary beverages and have created a fun and inviting atmosphere. You and your guests will get to browse our racks and hand select the gowns you’d like to try. Don’t worry though, if you are overwhelmed by the options, your stylist will be able to help you choose gowns that fit your criteria!
We are a no pressure bridal store! Some brides just know when it is the one and are ready to say yes during their first appointment, and that’s great! But we also know some brides like to take some time to consider all of their options and sleep on it, which is also great. We offer follow-up appointments for brides who want to step away and be certain of their decision before fully committing. It is a very important decision after all!
Laural Mill: We would love to close with one of the cornerstones of The Frock! Each of your brides ends up looking so embodied in her own unique personality and style. How would you recommend a bride stay true to herself when choosing bridal outfitting?
The Frock: I think going back to one of our previous comments, a bride should take time to think about how they want to feel on their wedding day. If you are someone who never wears gowns, but you really want to feel like a fairytale princess from a movie and you want to wear a ball gown then go for it!! Or if your signature outfit is a crop top and jeans, and you want to stay true to your everyday style, then choose a two-piece look. No matter what, the decision on what you wear at your wedding is yours and yours only.
One other tip for staying true to yourself, is to consider other pieces of clothing you’ve worn that have made you feel like a million bucks. If there are certain necklines, straps/sleeves, or silhouettes that you’ve really loved on other dresses or garments, that is something good to keep in mind! On the opposite end, if there are elements you know you despise, that is good information to share with your stylist, as well. If you always HATE spaghetti straps, you may want to steer clear of those when dress shopping. However, this isn’t a hard rule, because you may be surprised once you start trying things on – always try to keep an open mind!
A massive thank you to Madison of The Frock for taking the time to share her expertise with us! If you would like to set an appointment to find the bridal attire of your dreams, visit thefrockbridal.com today.
At Laural Mill, we are proud to introduce you to the best vendors in the region who can make your wedding dreams come true. To connect with team, contact us today.