Brides-to-be no longer have to travel to Melbourne to find their perfect wedding gown with a new store to open in Warrnambool on Friday.
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Ivory Bride will stock Karen Willis Holmes' three collections Luxe, Wild Hearts and Curve, as well as Melbourne label Oui and American brand Ti Adora.
Owner Kayla Retallack said it was always a dream to open a bridal shop and she hoped the Liebig Street store would save south-west residents from having to travel for the exclusive labels she stocked. "I've always had a love of bridal and lace and all those pretty things," Miss Retallack said.
"It's a luxury bridal store. The price point does reflect the quality and the labels that we're stocking. There will be champagne. It's an experience and a feeling. I want people to really remember it and for it to be a fun experience."
Ivory Bride will also stock debutante gowns, some formal wear and headwear for brides and debutantes which Miss Retallack handmakes.
She has already had a strong response from customers with upcoming Saturday appointments almost booked out. "We've had lots of people wanting to come in," she said. "There's only one place available this Saturday and the next week it's full."
The store stocks dress samples for brides to try on in size 10 and 12 and in size 18 in the Curve collection.
"The closest store for Karen Willis Holmes is in Melbourne so it's about three and-a-half hours away. As far as I know you would have to travel to Melbourne to buy Oui from other retailers."
She recommended dresses be ordered well in advance with the average turnaround for gowns taking about six months. "I think it's better to have the dress sorted early on and once you have it stop looking," she said. "It's good to start looking early so you can look around if that's what you feel like you want to do and once you have one, make the decision and stick to it." The store is open from Tuesday to Friday and on Saturdays by appointment.
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