Girls in White Dresses is a clever name for a bridal boutique, no?
Located at 274 Marconi Blvd., Ste 110, the independent 1,300-square-foot shop aims to fill a niche by offering stylish, quality wedding dresses that aren’t likely to bankrupt a bride-to-be. (The shop’s dresses typically cost $1,700 to $3,500.)
In addition to wedding gowns −there are more than 100 in stock at the moment− GIWD offers dresses for bridesmaids and flower girls, veils, shoes, jewelry and accessories.
When asked what makes GIWD stand out from other bridal boutiques in the area, its owner, Courtney Leister, had a pretty simple explanation.
“We make brides look good!” she replied, adding that the business has thrived since opening a decade ago because of the skills and knowledge the shop’s associates possess.
“All of our stylists here actually hold degrees in fashion from The Ohio State University,” she said. “We are the only bridal store in Columbus that can say that, which truly does make us experts in our field.”
Seven years ago, when the opportunity to take over GIWD arose, Leister saw it as a chance to put her design, styling, and merchandising experience to use.
“Here, we style clients, pick the merchandise, as well as custom design certain pieces,” she said.
Appointments are required at GIWD to ensure that clients get the personalized attention Leister thinks they deserve. The goal is finding that “one dress that makes her smile,” she said.
For proof that the associates at GIWD know what they’re doing, look no further than the shop’s front desk, which is decorated with numerous thank you cards and letters from past brides.
Photos by Walker Evans.