Few life events are more important than weddings. Increasingly in 21st-century America these iconic affairs have come to require much advance thought and careful planning. Making Annie’s Bridal and Dress Shoppe a central part of that process can be the key to producing a memory to be treasured for a lifetime.

Debi Gardini and Denise Weiss, who are sisters, launched Annie’s at 1027 Central Ave. on Feb. 3. They store is named after their late mother, Annie Paterson. It opened for business on her birthday.

The elegant decor features antiques. Their mother’s taste is reflecting in the color scheme.

“Mom always loved color and purple was her favorite color,” Weiss explained. “Our mother wore blue velvet when she got married.”

The store specializes in outfitting brides and the other female members of wedding parties. Making proms especially memorable for participants is also very much on the agenda. In truth, however, co-owners Debi Gardini and Denise Weiss can address a wide range of special-event clothing needs.

“We’re a full bridal shop specializing in bridal, bridesmaids, mothers of the bride and groom and also prom dress shopping – homecoming, pageant dresses,” Gardini said. “We have evening gowns too.”

Both gowns for sale off the rack and samples for special orders are in stock. The customer’s options, however, extend far beyond what is on-site.

“If there is something that they don’t see here, our companies send us catalogs,” Gardini said.

In addition to dresses an assortment of other wedding and prom accessories are sold.

“We will have purses. We’ll have veils, jewelry, bridal belts,” Gardini said.

Unique experience

Special occasions are made more perfect when the clothing and accessories are absolutely perfect. Making sure that happens is the mission at Annie’s. The owners both said, however, that what makes the store special is their dedication to ensuring that customers have a truly exceptional shopping experience.

“What sets us apart is customer service and the bridal experience,” Gardini said. “What I mean by the bridal experience is girls want to be pampered. … The brides usually have the concept of their wedding in hand long before they even have the man involved. We want to pamper them, give them good customer service. We want them to be happy with their service.”

The process of selecting bridal attire is often a family undertaking. Gardini said a bridal shop should cater to that reality. She said Annie’s definitely does. The store features an environment that makes selecting a bridal gown and other wedding clothing and accoutrements a delight rather than a chore.

“We have a place in the back where their family can gather,” Gardini said. “A lot of times the moms want to come along, the aunts want to come, the grandmas my want to come. We have room. The whole entourage can come with them. It’s just important to have that whole experience. That seems to be what the girls want.”

Working with families to make the wedding preparations fulfilling rather than stressful is a special joy for her, Gardini said.

“I think it’s a fun atmosphere catering to the bride and her family,” she said.

The downtown location is part of the store’s ambience.

The boom in specialty shops that the city’s historic shopping hub is experiencing was seen by the owners as a major asset.

“Downtown is really growing,” Gardini said. “A lot of the women in the area seem to like to shop downtown.”

Her sister seconded that sentiment.

“The idea of being in the downtown area was so appealing,” Weiss said. “The downtown is just turning into something spectacular, I think. It’s going to thrive again.”

Plan ahead

Especially for weddings, but also for proms, Gardini and Weiss said advance planning is one of the keys to a successful event. For a wedding that often begins long before the day of the ceremony.

“Anywhere up to a year before,” Gardini said.

Gardini and Weiss said most bridal gowns are special-order items. Customization is the norm.

“It takes sometimes a long time for a bridal dress to come in,” Gardini said. “It takes anywhere up to four months.”

While beginning the selection process well ahead of a wedding day is the preferred approach, the team at Annie’s can also address situations where that isn’t an option.

The store has some gowns in stock that can be readied quickly.

“If there is something on the rack that fits them, we can alter it if they need it right away,” Gardini said.

Many options

Weddings and proms can be expensive undertakings. The selection at Annie’s Bridal and Dress Shoppe addresses the reality that price is a consideration for many customers.

“We go from low-end all the way up to high-end,” Gardini said. “Any price range a bride is looking for we can accommodate her.”

Whatever the client opts to buy, Gardini said she and her sister are determined that it be a garment they will treasure.

“We want our girls to be happy with their purchases,” she said. “They are not going to take the dress out of the store unless they are completely happy with it.”

While weddings will be a major focus at Annie’s, with prom season rapidly approaching that aspect of the business is in high gear at the moment.

With that in mind, the store is currently running a contest directed at prom-gown shoppers.

“The girls that come in and try on a dress they can get in our drawing,” Weiss said. “One lucky girl is going to win her prom dress for free. We’re giving some accessories away. We’re going to be giving some boutonnieres and corsages away. We’ll also be doing a meal for one lucky girl and her date.”

The drawing will be March 15. One does not have to be present to win.

Annie’s Bridal and Dress Shoppe is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. The store has a website – www.anniesbridalshoppe.com – and a Facebook page.