Buying abusine

Her vision was clear. The challenge was determining just what kind of business to start.

Holkup’s route to business ownership was a circuitous one, with stops for a bachelor’s in psychology, a minor in biology, and a master’s in counseling from the University of North Dakota and work as a bridal model. When she took a job at Affairs by Brittany in Grand Forks and worked alongside owner Brittany Anton, a key part of the puzzle emerged.

“She became one of my mentors,” Holkup says. “Brittany had such a reputation for not being pushy and very genuinely caring about her brides. She wanted to help. She wanted them to feel beautiful.”

When Brittany was ready to sell her shop in downtown Fargo, Holkup realized she could build upon this tradition of excellence. A er a decade in the bridal industry — and getting married herself — she became a small business owner in July 2020.

A key part of her mission was to make sure that the wedding gowns on the racks were as unique and breathtaking as the women who would wear them. To accomplish this goal, A airs by Brittany shops very di erently than its competitors.

“Our section of wedding gowns is ever- changing. Most stores order twice a year. We order a couple times a month,” Holkup explains. “We are o the rack, which means we don’t order in dresses for individuals. We only buy one of most dresses. Nobody wants the same dress as anyone else.”

The A airs by Brittany sta can help a bride nd her perfect dress, even if her wedding is just a few months away. As a result, the shop attracts brides who want to stand out, and also decisive brides focused on results.

“I think our bridal shop has a very practical undertone to it,” Holkup says. “There’s no waiting. You know exactly how it fits you. Our brides are the go-getters, the ones with the crazy zest for life. I also feel like they’re always crazy in love.”

The downtown Fargo shop is bustling with these focused and passionate brides, even during a pandemic. But the shopping process has changed a bit to keep everyone safe. The shop is strictly appointment-only on weekends. Weekday walk-ins are available if the shop isn’t crowded.

The pampering begins the moment the bride and her entourage cross the threshold. Masked sta members usher her and her guests to one of the two secluded dressing rooms in the shop and help the guest of honor select ve to seven gowns to try on rst. They also switch out gowns as the bride’s vision becomes clearer.

The bride and her guests can order mocktails, nibble on delicate macaroons by Sonder Bakehouse, don customized T-shirts by Shirts from Fargo, or even book a private tting session to make dress shopping extra festive and fun. Even though the pandemic has changed safety protocol, Holkup wants her brides to feel safe and supported during such an important moment.

“People want to feel heard and they want to feel beautiful,” she says. “The bridal dress shopping day is one of the three days that you have in your head. You have your proposal, your wedding dress shopping day and your wedding day. You have a lot of expectations. We’re able to deliver that exciting ‘wow’ moment.”

Holkup revels in helping brides present the most powerful vision of themselves to the world on their wedding day. The bride’s look sets the tone for the entire event.

“It’s the ultimate day to show who you are,” she says. “It’s a day that you are showcasing to the world who you love. That’s the day you want to feel the most beautiful and the most ‘you.’”

Each bride’s wedding look is as distinct as she is. But local brides have a few favorite styles. Dreamy bohemian dresses remain a favorite. In contrast, a fondness for elegant crepe gowns emerged this summer.

“We literally cannot keep crepe dresses on our racks,” Holkup says. “I think with the pandemic, people are liking that minimalistic look. It has a very clean undertone with a modern spin.”

A airs by Brittany stocks gowns for brides on the opposite end of the spectrum too. A er a season of sleek austerity and boho romance, designers are embracing a little celebratory shimmer.

“I’ve been noticing the subtle sparkle coming back — the clear sequins, the bugle beads, those sunshine-catching sparkles,” Holkup says. “I’m excited about it.”

Extravagantly ru ed gowns with dramatic texture and volume are also having a moment. They spotlight cascading layers and uttering handkerchief hems. Some even have horsehair hidden in the seams to give the ru es eye-popping depth and de nition.

“It’s so fun to watch the ru es and the layered dresses move,” Holkup says. “It’s a lot of dress and it’s not for everyone. It’s super ultra-feminine — very, very romantic. My brides who have bought that style of dress so far — they are looking for that ‘wow’ factor. They want to walk into the room and not have anybody looking anywhere else but at them.”

Attention-getting brides can opt for distinct accessories as well. A airs by Brittany o ers custom earrings from Fargo’s Clay and Fern Co., as well as a line of unique veils by artisan Julie Harris in a huge range of colors, including purple, blue, even black.

Bold bridesmaid dresses are trending as well. Two colors are especially hot.

“Yellows are making a big comeback, especially a beautiful darker, almost marigold yellow that’s stunning on people,” Holkup says. “I’ve also been seeing a lot more brides having their entourage in black. Nobody ever says, “I look bad in black!’”

Making the bride and her bridesmaids look and feel great is Holkup’s main goal. But she also wants to help support women and girls who may never step into the shop. A big part of why she became a business owner was to help give back to the community.

The shop donated to CreativeK9 Solutions this holiday season. But a family tradition of altruism and a grandmother who survived domestic violence moved organizations like the YWCA onto Holkup’s priority list.

She also serves on the board of directors for Project Dignity, which supplies sexual assault survivors with clothing to wear when they leave the hospital, since their own clothing o en becomes evidence. Holkup’s also a longterm volunteer and committed supporter of the Community Violence Intervention Center, which assists and empowers survivors.

When she’s not volunteering or working, Holkup is at home with her husband Nick, their new baby Norris and their pups Luna and Betsey. It’s a lot to manage. But Holkup says any driven woman could do it, because she’s not doing it alone.

“My number one thing is not being afraid to ask for help,” she says. “Find a dream team and don’t be afraid to utilize them.”

Teamwork and mentorship got Klaudia Holkup into the bridal business. And it’s helped her expand her goals to lift up her entire community. When brides walk into Affairs By Brittany, they don’t just walk out with a dress — they’re honored as the passionate, empowered women that they are.

“I want our brides to know that we’re on their team,” Holkup says. “We’re going to advocate for them, we’re going to help them articulate what’s in their mind and translate that into a dress that ts their wedding vision.”