D .I. Y Style
Nuptial Know-How From Vows
DeAngelo Rick and Leslie
Vows Bridal Outlet, located just outside Boston, is owned by Rick and Leslie DeAngelo. A cursory glance suggests this is just another bridal boutique, but TLC fans know better, because Vows is the star of the show I Found the Gown. Gown Rick and Leslie have built a business and a hit TV show based on brides with budgets, so we sought out their expert advice on finding the perfect dress at the perfect price.
What’s the story on Vows? Leslie: We started the store over 20 years ago after our own wedding. I wasn’t able to find a designer dress for less so after the honeymoon we started brainstorming and opened the store eight months to a year later. We had 50 gowns in a small second story space. Rick: We’re like the TJ Maxx of bridal stores. We work with retailers, designers and manufacturers to buy samples, overstocks and last year’s gowns. We typically price our gowns 50 to 80 percent off and we work hard to make sure we have lots of different sizes. To accommodate a variety of sizes we have our own line called Liv Harris. We buy those in large quantities to save customers money and they go up to size 24.
How did you get involved with TL C? L: As we grew, so many people were saying we should have our own show, and Rick said ‘why don’t you call the production company?’ We connected with the production company for TLC and introduced ourselves, and it turns out three of their employees had purchased dresses from our shop. The rest is history!
How has I Found the Gown affected business? L: It’s a national show so now we get calls from all over. Last season a bus of brides came from the
tri-state area, and we might have another bus coming from North Carolina soon.
What is the importance of having a budget for the dress? R: The whole genesis of the store was brides on a budget, we love them. Most people have a budget so we really try to keep our prices down. L: Our brides are smart and they want designer gowns for less. They don’t want to sacrifice the experience for lower cost. They’re thinking ‘do I want a new living room set when I get back from the honeymoon or four hours in a more expensive dress?’
Do you have any tips on sticking to budget in the face of more expensive gowns? How can brides resist temptation? R: If you’re looking at cars, you don’t drive the Rolls Royce first because everything else will be disappointing. When you go to the store and try on a gown that’s double your budget, that’s disappointing, too. When brides want to try them on I say ‘don’t do it!’ Tell your consultant your price point and the look you like and they’ll work with you to find the right gown. L: Rick always uses the analogy of test driving a car. Typical guy! Stay within your means; you can get the look for less. Interview continues on page 56
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