Sisters Sandy Portner-Quiring (left) and Kelly Murphy are long-time bridal shop owners previous owners. While a full-service bridal and accessories shop, the sisters also sell suits and do lots of work for prom-goers. Murphy said dashes of color on trim and sashes were big in bridal gowns, but that’s given way to pale pinks, country chic and burlap. Yes burlap. “Country chic is very big. People are making their own center pieces with Mason jars, having little patches of burlap on accessories, country boots on bridesmaids. For the guys, the trend has been toward more tailored tuxes. “It used to be a more boxy look a few years ago, now they want them more fitted,” Murphy said. “The Michael Kors tuxes are big now.” Murphy said most brides spend between $499 and $1,799 on a bridal gown, with the average at about $1,200. “I’ve done this for 14 years. The prices have gone up and what people are willing to pay has gone up. Even five years ago we were thinking, can we sell a $1,000 dress?” People decide what they want for a gown and they will cut their budgets in other ways if they have to to pay for it.” Flower power A conversation about flower trends with Van Tol at Hilltop Florist quickly turns to burlap as well. “We’ve seen the burlap and country look for a while,” Van Tol said. “But now it’s moving more toward Victorian/classical. “We work hard to keep up with the trends, for the regular store and for weddings. Our wholesalers have classes we go to on what’s new and on the mechanics of how to put (arrangements) together,” Van Tol said. Those mechanics have also gotten more complex, going from simple corsages to complex body flower jewelry with beads and bling. “Weddings are really specialized and require somebody that’s experienced. We pride ourselves on that. The mechanics are important, you don’t want it to fall apart.”
16 • may 2014 • MN Valley Business