Getting to Know me, My Experience as a Bridal Consultant, and a Little Bit More About me.
- reneehyde
- Jun 18, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 7, 2020
Working in a bridal boutique was never in my plans. It's not that I didn't want to, I just never thought about it. I had been to the bridal boutique, Lizelle's, in my hometown once, to try on my dress for my older sisters wedding. After that, I totally forgot it even existed. Throughout middle school and high school the only other jobs I had were babysitting and working at a snack bar over the summer. I remember knowing I had to get a real job eventually, but not wanting to be stuck somewhere I hated. I didn't want my first real job to be at a pizza place, so when the next babysitting gig came up, I didn't hesitate to take it for some extra cash. Then my senior year of high school rolled around, I was still jobless. I was stressed because college was right around the corner and I had no idea what where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. I have always just gone with the flow. I probably shouldn't admit this, but sometimes I just let things come to me because I have always believed that everything happens for a reason and what's meant to be will be. And the fact that I got this job just proves to me that's true! My neighbor, who happened to work at the bridal boutique, told my mom that there was a new owner and asked if I would be interested in working there. Turns out the owner was also a life-long friend of my moms! At the time I didn't think anything of it, I just needed a job. I had no idea that it was at this very bridal boutique that I would find my passion. In the beginning, I was just steaming dresses, organizing the floor, helping the bridesmaids. Then I started measuring girls and answering the phone. It gave me anxiety! I remember trying to avoid having to measure by acting like I was putting dresses back because I was so nervous. Or if I did have to measure, I would be shaking. I was always so worried that the customers wouldn't trust me or take me seriously because I was young. Then the real fear set in when my boss said, "you have to start doing brides." So, I did. and my first bride ever, bought!
Thinking about college was just not something I wanted to do. I wanted to go, but I didn't want to feel the anxiety from having to pick what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, when I was just 17. I was just kind of lost. When I look back, I think I lost myself a little bit in High School. I was too busy trying to fit in with everyone else, I didn't allow myself to grow into my own person. I always said I wanted to go to Penn State, but I didn't think I would get into main campus (school wasn't my strong suit), I remember looking at Millersville and not being impressed. Kutztown's campus I liked and Arizona State was one of my top choices but for both of those schools I would have gone in undecided and didn't want the stress of picking a major to come right after I would finally be relieved from the stress of picking a school. Then, I remember my mom saying to me, "You're creative. You like fashion, why don't you look at schools for that?". At the same time, I was taking a fashion design class at my high school and had already taken two sewing classes previous to that. My fashion design teacher mentioned Philadelphia University. I asked my friend in the class if they would commute with me, and the rest is history.
I worked at Lizelle's through out my whole college career. Being a Bridal Consultant sounds like a dream job. Helping excited women pick out their dream dress for one the most special days of their lives, dressing them up in beautiful gowns with veils and belts and jewelry. And it can be but, occasionally you get the bridezilla, you get the bridal party that says no to every dress the bride is so close to saying yes to, you get the people who you bend over backwards for but are never satisfied. But then you get the girls that you automatically connect with, that remind me why I love doing what I do. The conversations flow, they're comfortable, you don't feel like you're reaching for conversation topics, you feel like part of the party. There have been times that I have honestly been close to tears along side the bridal party, seeing the bride in THE dress because we just clicked! I can remember specific brides that I felt like I knew for years, even though we only spent an hour of time together. That's what makes my job special. I love getting to spend my time making other people happy. Not even just the bride, the bridal party, too. The brides mom, sisters, soon to be in laws, best friends. My goal is always to make the experience enjoyable for everyone, so even if they don't purchase a dress with us, they're able to look back on the times they went dress shopping and only have good memories from their experience with me and at Lizelle's. Buying a bridal gown is a big decision, it's the dress they walk towards their future in. But it's supposed to be fun, exciting, and emotional in the best way. It's an experience they'll never forget. The best, most rewarding feeling in the world is helping a bride find a dress that she feels beautiful and glows with confidence in.
Like I previously said, working at Lizelle's lead me to find my passion for bridal. A little part-time high school job lead to me actually feeling like I knew what I wanted to do with my life. My time at Philadelphia University was stressful to say the least, but it was one of the best decisions I could've ever made for myself. College allowed me to truly find myself. In high school, I was always in sweatpants. I liked buying cute clothes, but never wore them, or if I wanted to, I was scared of being judged for trying to hard or having a different style than everyone else. At Philadelphia University, I felt the complete opposite of that. Everyone dressed to their own unique styles and we all embraced individuality. It's one of the many reasons I know I made the right decision going there. I truly am who I am today because of the people and the environment I was surrounded by for those 4 years and the acceptance and allowance that was provided. Through out the whole time I was there, no matter how many hands on projects I had due, or how late I was up, I just remember always thinking to myself and sometimes even saying it to my peers, how lucky we were to be able to be going to school and using our creativity to show who we are as designers, as people. To be able to express ourselves, how we're feeling, our diverse aesthetics, through our art and our garments that we create.
My childhood best friend reminded me that we used to sketch little outfits and dresses when we were younger and my time at Philadelphia University allowed me to actually bring my sketches to life. My absolute favorite collection I created so far, "Among The Roses", I made the main page of this website because it's truly my heart and soul, my pride and joy!!! Bridal is where my heart lies, it's where I feel at home, it's what I know I'm meant to do. I look at bridal collections and I just know that that's what I'm supposed to be designing, my heart lights up. I just feel a connection to bridal that I didn't feel when I was designing any other collections for school. I still love looking on vogue, and WGSN, seeing the latest runway shows, and trends. I'm in awe by what other designers visions are, and so inspired always. I love fashion, I have since I was little. It's just crazy to me how the roads we take in life eventually lead us to where we're supposed to be. This is just the start for me, but I see a lot of ivory and lace in my future!
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