After hearing rave reviews from brides and friends, we finally made it over to Annalise Bridal Boutique! Meeting owner, Lindsey and hearing about the experience she’s offering clients gave us a chance to see what all the buzz was about!

The Inspiration

After planning her own Charleston wedding in 2013, financial adviser Lindsey Livesay decided to take the plunge and enter the wedding industry. Three years later, her efforts culminated in the opening of Annalise Bridal Boutique in downtown Richmond. She’s only been open since October, but has already made a name for this new boutique in the Richmond Wedding scene.

Lindsey noticed that despite the considerably large wedding industry in the area, Richmond was lacking a luxury wedding dress store. She didn’t understand why Richmond had the venues, the photographers, and the planners, but brides still traveled to DC for luxury dresses. Lindsey decided to fix that by offering the ultimate experience for brides.

The Experience

Annalise Bridal Boutique provides visits by appointment only, with only one bride at a time. This enables them to have the privacy of the whole store, and Lindsey's attention and expertise all to themselves. Before appointments arrive, an initial consultation is provided to learn about the bride’s style, size, budget, etc. When clients show up, dresses have already been pulled that she feels matches their taste and ideal budget.

Shopping at Annalise

A majority of the dresses you’ll find at Annalise Bridal are samples meant for custom orders. There are a variety of styles from popular brands, such as: Hayley Paige, Blush, Amy Kuschel, Anne Barge, Blue Willow, and Liancarlo. Dresses price range vary from $2,000 - $6,000 and the boutique also carries plenty of accessories to help brides complete their perfect wedding ensemble. Once the perfect dress is found, it takes about 4-6 months for the custom order to come in. With another couple of months for alterations added to that, Lindsey recommends starting this process 8-10 months in advance of the big day.

Trend Alert

Lindsey says some of the top trends she’s seeing right now are alternate colors to white (such as Blush or Champagne); separates with detachable skirts, toppers, or two-pieces; and Illusion necklines.

We asked Lindsey if she has any tips for shopping for the perfect dress, and she had some great input to share.

Do some research! Prior to visiting the salon, check out the designers and price points to gain a good sense of the available styles that suit your taste, and pocket.

Bring a pal. On the actual appointment day, Lindsey recommends bringing a small group of loved ones with you. If you really want a large group of friends and family though, consider bringing them to a second appointment once you've had a chance to narrow dresses down a bit. You don't want your opinion to be overshadowed on that first day out!

Keep an open mind. More often than not brides end up choosing something they never even imagined.

Have FUN! Make sure you enjoy the moment! Saying “yes” to a dress is a special time and one you will want to cherish forever!

While Annalise Bridal Boutique might be the new shop in town, it is clear that Lindsey’s boutqiue is setting the bar high offering an ultimate, personalized shopping experience that brides are looking for. We definitely agree that every bride should receive the attention, and expertise they all will find shopping at Annalise Bridal Boutique.

We had so much fun meeting you Lindsey!

Feature Friday: Annalise Bridal Boutique