Bridal Gallery by Yvonne - Success Magazine Weekly

Bridal Gallery by Yvonne
Yvonne Spinelli - Owner
Success Magazine: Yvonne, how did you get
started in the industry?
Yvonne Spinelli: I was seventeen when I first
started working in a bridal store. The prom
gown I had my eye on was more expensive
than I knew my parents would allow, so I was
hoping I could save a little money by working
at the store. I didn’t realize this would be the
beginning of my career.
and
spacious
area
that our bridal suites
provide. We also love
to create and customize
bridal gowns and enjoy
the process of making a
“one of a kind” dress.
SM: How many designer
lines do you currently
carry?
At eighteen, I began working at Loretta Lane
of Latham and my love for brides began. I
became hooked on being a part of that moment
when a bride sees herself in the gown she will
be married in. I worked alongside the most
wonderful women in the business and many of
them still work with me at my store today. I
worked there through college, until the store
closed in 1998.
YS: We offer over
thirty designers for bridal gowns, bridesmaid
dresses, flower girl dresses and accessories. We
received the honor of being selected to offer
the 2Be Collection to the brides of the Upstate
New York area. We are proud to feature the
exquisite styles from designers Isabella Chessari,
Elizabeth Darcy, and Gavin Michaels.
SM: Why did you decide to open your own
bridal boutique?
SM: Do you carry anything other than bridal
gowns?
YS: I often heard from my friends and family,
“Yvonne, you were meant to have a bridal
store.” It was their support and encouragement
that led me to open my store eight years ago.
Working with brides brings a tremendous
amount of responsibility and dedication, and I
embrace that responsibility fully.
YS: Yes, we carry everything for the women
who have a part in a wedding. We offer a large
selection of mother’s gowns, bridesmaid dresses
and flower girl dresses, along with shoes,
jewelry, undergarments, and bridal accessories.
We also have wedding gown cleaning and/or
preservation services as well as prom dresses
for the first half of each year.
SM: What makes your shop truly unique?
YS: Our private bridal rooms have been a favorite
among our brides. It is a special experience
when a bride can share this memorable time
with her friends and family in a comfortable
SM: How far in advance should a bride begin
looking for her gown?
YS: Once the reception site has been booked,
its time to begin the search for the wedding
gown. For some brides this could be over a
year in advance, for others it may be with far
less time. Since our gowns are custom made
to order, finding the gown with a generous
amount of time is always recommended.
Due to the popularity of our private bridal
suites, we require appointments to view our
bridal gown collections. Appointments to
view the bridal party and mother’s gowns
are not required.
SM: You have become famous for your window
displays. What makes them unique?
YS: Our displays truly are the talk of the
town. We often change our displays to reflect
the upcoming holiday. The staff favorite has
always been the 4th of July display with our
sparkling red, white, and blue bridal gown. In
between holidays, we always have a theme or
a specific color we are showcasing. Customers
will often say they will drive out of the way to
see what we have in our window. We enjoy
dressing our window as much as those driving
by enjoy seeing it.
april 2010 SUCCESS 29