We love the bridal boutiques that we work with here at Moonlight Bridal. Even more, we love getting the chance to learn more about the specifics that make each shop unique and how they make the dress journey special for each bride.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Shana Lepsis, owner of The Blushing Bride Boutique in Frisco, TX. Visit their store December 9-30, 2016 for their Moonlight Bridal trunk show and you’ll get the opportunity to meet with one of their amazing bridal consultants who’ll help you find the dress of your dreams.

Q. How did you get your start as a business? What is the backstory for the boutique?

5 years ago I wanted to start my own business and was very inspired by a small town shop in Jackson, Tennessee called "The Boutique". It was an old home with a wrap around front porch that had been converted into an adorable retail shop. All of the women from the town shopped there, the clothing was very unique, and they had wonderful Trunk Shows for jewelry and clothing designers which made it special and fun.

Her shop had the best atmosphere, very warm and welcoming, and I thought that it would be so amazing to bring this concept to historical downtown Frisco, off Main Street.  

I had to be open "by appointment" since my husband was in Grad school at the time, and we have 3 children I needed to have flexible hours for their needs. Bridal made perfect sense, as the appointments would demand my time, and since the only employee in the very beginning was just myself (owner, Shana Lepsis).  

After further researching my area of Frisco, I found there was a definite need for an intimate shopping experience for Brides, and then from there, The Blushing Bride boutique came to life!

Q. What trends are you currently seeing in bridal fashion? Are there any personal favorites?

Yes! Great trends we are seeing this season are boho styling with different types of lace from appliques to crochet lace still reigns supreme mixed with bell sleeves and slim sheath silhouettes. Mix and match bridal separates are also in demand. With many of our brides choosing bridal separates and buying multiple skirts and re-wearing the top for another special occasion. Finally a wedding gown is more than a one time wear purchase!

Q. Can you walk us through a step-by-step process of the typical wedding dress shopping experience at your store?

Our brides usually find us through a specific designer they are searching for, or just a simple google search... then they call the shop and schedule a 90 minute appointment with one of our bridal consultants.

The brides are greeted at the front door, and welcomed in. We start with asking if they have tried on gowns yet, and if so, if they have narrowed down what they are looking for. If they have photos or pinned on pinterest we ask to see their inspiration to get an idea.  

We walk them through our entire inventory of gowns that fit their idea/inspiration, and we pull 6-8 gowns of interest to try on first. We often will pull a "surprise" or "wild card" gown that is not in their category, but one we think that they should try for fun.

If they bring guests to their appointments, we seat their guests in their private viewing room, offer them beverages, and make sure they are comfortable.

We then take the bride to her private dressing room where she will be alone with her consultant to try on gowns. Once she is ready, we start trying on gowns, and the process of "editing" begins. If she really likes the gown in the dressing room, we go into the viewing room to show her family/friends.

We listen intently to each brides opinion, her likes and dislikes, and help her to narrow down her top 3 gowns from our shop. We keep track of the gowns she likes after trying on, and if there is a gown she does not like it is removed from her dressing room. Towards the end of her appointment she can revisit her top 2 favorites, we take photos in the natural lighted "family room" in the front of the boutique so that she can remember her favorites.

During that time if she does not make a decision while in the shop we write down on a postcard her top 3 favorite gowns with pricing, and send her off with her photos and hope to see her again!

Q. Is there any key “wedding dress shopping secret” that’s often overlooked by brides? If so, what?

BE WEARY of stores that use HIGH PRESSURE SALES TACTICS.

We do not use strong selling strategies or use a strict delivery date as a method to entice a bride into making her decision on the spot. We would never tell a bride that a dress is going to be discontinued in order to provoke a sale. We've heard of other stores using these methods to pressure brides into buying from them. The latest was a shop was offering to give 10% off the gown if the bride made a decision there in the shop, and then asking the bride to write a 5 star review on yelp for this specific bridal shop.  

I think that it is important for brides to be AWARE and remain weary of stores that use high pressure sales tactics & to step away from these types of stores. They ultimately do not have the bride’s best interest at heart, and are only motivated to make the sale.

We stand by the belief that a bride will never be talked into purchasing their bridal gown. Once they find the "one" they have a special emotional attachment that they feel towards this specific dress.

Q. What’s your favorite part of being a wedding dress boutique?

We love being able to speak affirming and life giving words into the lives of our brides. We enjoy being apart of this amazing and special time in their lives. We believe every bride is special and deserves to have an amazing experience in our boutique.  We can't wait to see that special expression and smile that comes across their faces when they find "the one". We love having the opportunity to connect with other women on such a special level, and we look forward to seeing them through their entire process from finding the gown, to accessorizing, to overseeing their alterations, and making sure all of their wishes and desires are taken care of perfectly.  

Q. What advice would you offer someone who’s considering looking at a dress in your shop?

Come with an open mind. 75% of most brides end up with a different gown than what they originally envisioned! Trust your bridal consultant, she is a professional, has seen every dress on every body type. Don't be nervous, we are here to support and lift you up, show you how beautiful you are, and ensure you have a really fun time while you are here with us!

Q. What sets The Blushing Bride apart from the other wedding dress boutiques?

Mostly how we truly connect with our brides. We have the best, most loving and nurturing consultants here at The Blushing Bride boutique who take care of the brides, and make them feel welcome and comfortable.

We do our best to bring our brides the most unique bridal styles at the most affordable pricing, and then we follow through with ensuring our brides are taken care of at the end of their process with alterations in the shop. From start to finish, we never leave their side, and if they don't have friends or family with them for their appointments or alterations, they truly feel like they've had an advocate helping them throughout the process.  

Q. What can visitors expect at a trunk show? Will there be any special trunk show promotions?

We always give 10% discount during Trunk Show bridal gown purchases. Visitors can expect to see the designer's current collection often before retail stores have received their Market orders.

Q. What do you enjoy most about working with Moonlight?

We love everyone who works for this wonderful company. We appreciate the desire to make every bride’s custom requests a possibility, not a problem. We appreciate the flexibility in customization's, as well as super fast deliveries when needed! We know Moonlight Bridal takes our requests to heart, and strive behind the scenes to help us be successful as well! We love the strong TEAM mentality!

We are so proud to work with boutiques like The Blushing Bride, and can’t wait to showcase some of our newest trends at their trunk show in December! Stop in and see their helpful staff at 6991 W Main St., Frisco, TX 75034 December 9-30 to explore the Moonlight Bridal collection.