Feet on the Street: Do I Hear Wedding Bells?

by Teresa Royer, Member Relations Specialist

My travels took me to The Bride to Be a while ago where I met one of the owners, Sarah Winling - she and her sister Kate Miller opened the boutique August, 2007.

What makes The Bride to Be different is that they have designers that sell exclusively to them. In fact, you can purchase gowns right here in Fort Wayne that you can’t find in any other city in the state. They have many customers that travel to Fort Wayne from as far away as New York to purchase the unique gowns they offer.

Sarah mentioned that the hit TV show, Say Yes to the Dress has definitely helped their industry. She is proud to say that a bride will call them after watching an episode and falling in love with a particular dress to inquire if they have it available to purchase. Quite often the answer is “yes!”

She summed it up best when she said something to the effect of “we are all watching the same shows regardless of where you live in the country,” and Fort Wayne didn’t have access to what was on the show - but now we do. I was quite impressed with that statement, and would think that Sarah and Kate should be very proud of their accomplishment!

Of course, brides and their families traveling to Fort Wayne have a ripple-effect as they will most likely be spending dollars during their stay which profits others of course…

The Bride to Be offers a large assortment of gowns for a variety of prices, from a budget of  $400 - $900 or $2000 - $5,000.

To find out more about The Bride to Be, check out their website at:  www.thebridetobeonline.com.

Congratulations Sarah and Kate for following your passion; I wish you continued success!