Vendor Spotlight: Blush Bridal & Formal

Blush Bridal & Formal is New England’s only independently [female] owned multi-location bridal & formal wear store. With convenient locations in Portland, Bangor, and Presque Isle, we provide a luxury experience at affordable price points. Each store is stocked with beautiful styles for weddings, proms, pageants, and everyday casual dresses. We believe in the power of the right dress and it is our goal and privilege to empower women to feel their best daily. ~Blush Bridal & Formal

How long have you been operating your business?

7.5 years

What inspired your passion for bridal fashion?

My biggest passion has always been for business. Since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to operate my own business. I grew up going to leadership camps and reading personal development books. As I got older, I developed a passion for fashion and interior design and loved getting to experiment with both as an adult. When the opportunity came to purchase my first bridal shop, it seemed like the perfect fit for all of the things I was passionate about.

How many locations do you have and how do they differ?

We have 3 locations- Portland, Bangor, and Presque Isle. We carry everything from casual dresses to prom, bridesmaids, and wedding gowns in all locations. However, the selection does vary based on price point and trends that are successful in each area. In addition, we recently added an online casual clothing boutique.

How would you describe your style and services?

As a brand, Blush is about so much more than selling a dress. Our mission is to use the experience of dress shopping to serve, celebrate, and empower women. As a woman-owned business, we’re extremely passionate about delivering an experience of excellence that will become a treasured memory for the women who trust us in their search for the perfect dress. We combine the flexibility of being a small business with the organization and structure of being a multi-location corporation to provide our guests with a unique atmosphere that is consistent, safe, inspiring, and feels like home.

Please provide us with a sample of different gowns at different price points.

We carry gowns starting around $1,000 and up to $5,000, depending on location. We also carry a selection of sample sale gowns that can be found at even lower price points. We can work with very conservative budgets as well as create customized couture gowns. We’re also very proud to carry a curated collection of wedding dresses exclusive to Blush, Ana Sophia. These gowns aren’t pictured anywhere online except our website & offer brides gorgeous styles that they won’t see all over Pinterest.

When making an appointment to try on bridal gowns, how many guests do you recommend they bring along with them?

We recommend bringing only a few of the people closest to you for your bridal appointment. This helps ensure a calming, quality experience for the bride. We can definitely accommodate larger parties but don’t find that the best experience for most brides.

Are there any items they need to bring with them? Should they have a specific style in mind?

The most important things to bring to a bridal appointment are an open mind and a positive attitude. While basic undergarments are important, being in the right mindset for such a key life moment is our number one tip. Finding the perfect dress can be like finding the perfect partner- you never know when it’s going to happen! Being ready for that magic to happen is SO important.

How early in advance should our clients book an appointment with you and when do they need to purchase their wedding gown?

The best time to purchase a special order wedding dress is 9-12 months prior to the event. Although we can most definitely work with shorter timelines, allowing ample time for the dress to be created, shipped, and altered is important to minimize stress. Scheduling an appointment with Blush a few weeks in advance will help ensure better availability, especially if one is looking for a Sunday appointment.

Once customers purchase their wedding gown, what are the next steps?

Once a gown is ordered, it’s a good idea to contact a seamstress right away (we can provide a list of options) & schedule a fitting for after the dress is scheduled to arrive. Then, it’s time to start shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses and accessories.

Do you also offer bridesmaids dresses? If so, what designers do you have available and what is the price range?

We do! We carry a variety of different designers in each store (shown on our website). On average, they range from $150-350.

Owner(s) Name: Courtney Wetzel

Business Name:  Blush Bridal & Formal

Addresses, Phone & Email:

160 Western Ave, South Portland, ME 04106  |  772-1699  |  portland@blushbridalformal.com

15 State St, Bangor, ME 04401  |  573-1647  |  bangor@blushbridalformal.com

728 Main St, Presque Isle, ME 04769  |  769-8611  |  pi@blushbridalformal.com

Website: www.blushbridalformal.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/BlushPortlandME  |  Facebook.com/BlushBangor  |  Facebook.com/BlushPI  |  Facebook.com/BlushBoutiqueME

Instagram: @blushportland  |  @blushbangor  |  @blushpresqueisle  |  @blushboutiqueme