At Happily Ever After, helping brides bring their wedding day visions into fruition is their passion. Store owners Dionne O’Neil and Terri Zacha bring a vast range of bridal fashions to their quaint Line Avenue boutique. Dionne is from the west coast and Terri is from the south, so they offer a very diverse collection of bridal gowns, separates, accessories and styles. “We have something for every type of bride, whether she is chic and modern, classic and timeless, vintage and rustic, a free spirited bohemian bride or a glam goddess, we have gowns to suit every brides needs. Whether your budget is $500 or $5000, and your wedding date is in two weeks or two years, we have dresses to accommodate you.” says Dionne.
Along with offering nine bridal lines, including all Allure Bridals, Wtoo/Willowby, all Essense lines and Hayley Paige, the boutique offers the largest bridal separates collection in town, allowing brides to completely customize their wedding gown. They offer a unique customizable collection of accessories to complete the ensemble. “Finding the right bridal accessories, can make all the difference, highlighting hidden details in her gown!” says Dionne. “A bride can transform her look by adding the right bridal sash, veil and jewelry. Right now we are obsessing over gold, rose gold and opal jewelry.” Their lines allow brides to even pick the shapes/colors of stones, and metals, to create their own personalized accessories. “Brides love the fact that they can see an earring, and change it from silver to rose gold, and from oval to pear or round, giving them a look all their own.” says Dionne.
“Our goal is to make every bride feel special and to provide our brides and their families with the best bridal experience possible. We understand that this is an important time for a bride and her family, and we strive to give every bride an experience worthy of her special day. Part of that, means brides are working one on one with a dedicated bridal consultant for the length of their appointment.” Explains Terri.
Terri continues “As a full service salon, we assist each bride in the fitting room. Bridal gowns can be heavy or quite delicate, and may require a little finessing. During this time, the consultant and the bride establish an element of trust which gives the consultant a sense of who this bride is as a woman, and what she envisions for her wedding day. In todays society, many woman have some insecurities regarding their physical appearance, and working closely with our brides in a private setting allows us to better understand and address her concerns, and find the right gown to help her feel her most beautiful.”
Some advice to have the best bridal experience: Set an appointment. Happily Ever After is an intimate boutique with limited fitting rooms, and on busy days, we may not have space available, especially on weekends and during bridal season. The boutique gladly takes walk-ins where possible, but that isn’t always an option. To avoid disappointment or wasted trips, please call ahead.
Keep an open mind, and trust your consultant. Many times a bride will have a firm idea of what she wants. That’s great…. just be open to trying new things. Sometimes the consultant knows just the right gown, so be flexible, and always try the wild card! “About 80 percent of brides end up loving something they never even considered” says Dionne and don’t be turned off by a gown with little hang appeal, gowns are designed for bodies, not hangers, and the right body can bring a dress to life.”
Choose your guests carefully! The wrong guests, or too many guests, can completely change the energy of your appointment. Choose people who understand your vision, style and respect your decision. Remember, it’s YOUR day, and your dress, so stay true to yourself. Note: Everybody loves children, but a disruptive child can interfere with your ability to concentrate and enjoy yourself. So, if you include a child as a guest, please make sure they are well supervised.
Know your budget. It is important for us to be respectful of our bride’s budgets. Falling in love with a gown that is unattainable can be devastating for a bride. Being candid with your consultant prevents her from pulling gowns out of your budget. Also, if you are ordering, allow plenty of time. Gowns can take up to six months to come in, and alterations can be lengthy. If you are doing bridals, allow yourself enough time for a stress free bridal experience.
