COVER STORY

by Rhett Butler

There exists an ethos in Mount Rainier, MD, that is hard to describe. Part charm, a lot of creativity and a dash of small-town flair, defines the area that sits in the gateway at the edge of the District and Prince George's County. However, it is the community that truly embodies the region. One business, in particular, has added a unique flavor to Mount Rainier that it is stamping the city in the niche fashion space. That place is the House of Ketubah Bridal (HOK).

"Brides-to-be and up to five guests will enjoy a curated appointment based on their needs. During these sessions, I personally assist with styling the future bride. With an array of designs to choose from, brides-tobe are sure to find their once-in-a-lifetime gown here. We like to focus on the 'whole' bride, inside and out.

In the true spirit of the community, Kelly prides herself on not only helping people find their perfect dress, but also dropping some sister circleworthy gems about marriage & life.

HOK offers a relaxed and personable environment with vegan confections and a variety of organic, loose teas for the bride and tribe to enjoy in between browsing and trying on gowns. "I want my brides to have a comfortable, relaxing and memorable time, so the space I chose to operate in had to make my brides feel "at home" and in their comfort zone when selecting a bridal dress for one of the most important days of their lives. We laugh, we cry (tears of joy when she says yes to the dress) and we make special memories. I am a bride's bff, and I love every bit of each experience!"

Passionate about brides since she was a little girl, Kelly has taken her love for perusing her mother's catalogs and circling every little detail to now planning future weddings for other brides-to-be. She also pays attention. Nuanced concerns about the fit, to the sometimes stressful process of "saying yes to the

dress. Kelly has an entire back story that makes her brand of the wedding experience even more unique. "Naming HOK Bridal was very special to me. I take the institution of marriage seriously, and it is dear to my beliefs from a spiritual and Hebraic, biblical perspective. The word "Ketubah" derives from the Hebrew root word "katav" meaning to write. The Ketubah is a marriage contract.

Kelly is a native of the Midwest. "My noticeable accent gives me away every time, lol. After a few minutes into a conversation with anyone from the DMV, they most certainly ask, "Where are you from?" Born and raised in St. Louis, MO., I never thought I would move to the East Coast.

The House of Ketubah Bridal and Tiffany Kelly have made Mount Rainier their home and added a unique infusion of midwestern charm to the business community and beyond.

It is one thing to move to Prince George's County and another to choose the charm of Mount Rainier. For Kelly, the reasoning was simple: familiarity. "Mount Rainier felt and still feels like home. When I first visited, I was overcome by nostalgia. It had a sense of community, and that warmed my heart. Being near the Historic Route 1 Corridor aided my decision. I remember wanting to sign my daughters up for sewing classes and came across SEW Creative. After passing by and seeing the fashion-forward frocks in the DPark3311 window, I knew Mount Rainier was where I wanted to be. And, food is the way to my heart, lol. I found Dodah's Kitchen and had the best vegan wings ever. Something kept telling me I needed to open a shop in this area to give the community an unmatched bridal shopping experience and build relationships with area businesses.

But soon, the pandemic era began to take a toll on Kelly and the business. During a time of financial distress and uncertainty, Kelly found herself in need of business development support. She soon enrolled in the City of Mount Rainier's Economic Development Entrepreneur Scholarship program. There she received technical assistance, counseling and gained access to capital. She attended workshops, received counseling and took advantage of opportunities.

"My experience as an entrepreneur scholarship recipient was nothing less than amazing. Having the opportunity to meet other business owners and work with a dedicated mentor helped me grow my business and mindset tremendously. Ron, Michelle and a myriad of others did a phenomenal job of putting together resources for those who were committed to doing the work within the program. I had a reliable team of experts that helped me get to the lighter side of things.