The time is ticking fast leading up to Sunny Carter’s April wedding. Since getting engaged 4 months ago, the 23-year-old Vero Beach bride has been engrossed in myriad errands and decision-making to stage a wedding as magical as the one she envisions.
Gradually, she’s making her way down a packed to-do list ahead of the “I do” milestone moment: choosing the church and reception location, and selecting a gown, florist, caterer, cake designer and hair stylist.
“It’s incredibly overwhelming,” she says. “Everyone has their own spin about what you should and should not do.” But with appealing places to shop, she said, “the price point, quality and attention to detail offered by businesses are a big draw.”
And that’s exactly what Carter found at two businesses conveniently located next door to each other on Cardinal Drive. A third one _ specializing in bridal wear _ would have been the ace-in-the-hole for a bridal gown, but it hadn’t opened up at the time so she settled on one at a Melbourne store.
HauteDry, Vero Beach Florist and Isabella’s Bridal Company _ which is now in business _ are what Amanda Shaffer, the hair salon’s owner, coined, “Bridal Row.”
“It’s kind of a cool synergy,” she said.
Case in point, Carter plans to send her 6 bridesmaids to HauteDry for styling for her wedding and hired Vero Beach Florist to make exquisite arrangements. She is confident she could’ve found her dream gown at Isabella’s _ after all, the bridal shop carries 9 top bridal lines and is the only boutique in Florida where clients can purchase the highly customized designs of Claire Pettibone, Sarah Janks and Karen Willis Holmes. There are currently 60 styles of dresses in the showroom, and the merchandise continues to expand. Most designs offer a light, airy feel.
“I like the fact that there are a few people in the different businesses working on the same wedding,” explained Carter. “It’s more efficient, more cohesive, having the same girls, each one’s touch in a different part of the wedding, yet they help you achieve the same goal.”
Each place has a relaxed setting to sit and sip wine and look at what’s there, making the shopping experience a very personal one that’s enticing for the bride and her family and friends. The businesses are not exclusively appealing to brides, however.
“It’s for a bride or for any someone hosting other events,” said Jessica Wilgeroth, who along with husband, Chris, owns Vero Beach Florist, which has another location on Aviation Boulevard. “We are a floral concierge. No matter what you have going on, whatever season, we are that concierge. And we meet high expectations. We do stellar work.”
Together with the two other shops, she said, “We customize in whatever you need at that moment in your life.”
Note that Isabella’s Bridal Company’s selection is broad enough for clients to find a sharp-looking white suit or elegant evening gown; for example, a strapless Enzoani ball gown with gathered chiffon, a Karen Willis Holmes beaded gown, and one of Canadian designer Lea-Ann Belter’s eye-catching designs. These can be worn to a black-tie event or other special event.
Claire Pettibone, a Los Angeles designer noted for her intricate hand sewn lace work, offers several vintage-inspired designs. Her gowns are highly customized. If a client prefers a sweetheart neckline or a v-neck, or a sleeve added, or spaghetti straps, owner Melissa Patrick measures the client and off it goes to the designer to be custom made.
There are Nicole Miller long dresses that range from $1,200 to $2,000. And short ones that can be worn to a rehearsal dinner, bachelorette party or engagement party, or another special event.
HauteDry is a specialty hair salon with four main offerings, all curated and designed to launch clients toward their next big moment. It offers full service, cut, color, highlights and extensions as well.
It offers a style bar with wash and blow-dry; gallery with a curated collection of items from Europe; and studio where clients can have a private hair design session. Another service caters to men – offering them cuts and close shaves.
Shaffer, who came from Ohio to Vero Beach 6 years ago, has worked in the industry for 13 years. She had her single-chair business at a local salon until she decided to branch out on her own by opening up this new, sleek and contemporary salon. She uses high-end wooden brushes by Acca Kappa and high velocity dryers by Babyblis and Ferrari as the main tools.
HauteDry is great for weddings, special events, business meetings and last minute dinner plans, Shaffer explains. The blow-dry menu includes various looks: the tussled, beach look deemed “Milan;” the hot roller look, very casual called “Sydney;” the volume with movement on the ends look, “New York;” sleek and straight “Paris” look; and the defined curl which is defined as “London.”
“We didn’t want to be all things to all people,” explained Shaffer. “We we want to launch people into the next moment. This is about getting people to the party, event, conference, meeting and looking great.”
At Vero Beach Florist, floral artistry takes place in front of customers. The creations occur at a marble table with a beautiful crystal chandelier over it, and customers can sit on a couch, sip wine and enjoy watching the art take form.
Patrick, owner of Isabella’s says the interplay among these businesses is an exciting one. “I love that there are other businesses on Cardinal Drive that also cater to brides,” she said. “It’s like one-stop shopping! This end of Cardinal Drive is becoming quite the hub for wedding-related vendors.” There are still more in the immediate area useful for weddings: Frosting bakery, Polished beauty shop, and the Idlewild Co. stationery shop.