Blush Bridal’s phone rings. Partner Christy Cinnamon explains that the bride-to-be has inquired about a gown that is significantly higher than the top of her stated budget. Prior to scheduling a private appointment, Cinnamon offers to email some images of dresses that better match the caller’s budget and also come in her small size. A private appointment is the only way to try on a wedding gown at Blush Bridal, nestled in Port Warwick but off the beaten path.
The boutique has been at the same location since 2004. Cinnamon and her partner Carmen Harris took over the shop in 2015. Their accountant — a trusted advisor — helps them assess financial decisions so they can focus on their brides and other critical ownership tasks such as rotating their stock and meeting with designer reps.
“We ask about a bride’s budget first and try to be very conscious about it as we work with her,” Cinnamon says. “We don’t want her to fall in love with a gown she could never afford. We’re contractually obligated to sell a dress at the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), so we cannot discount the dress that caller asked about.”
In addition to excellently organized racks of current designs (sizes 8-26) primarily in shades of white and ivory, Blush Bridal also carries many gowns in their discontinued stock room. “A bride with a tighter budget might find a good option there. A lot of our military brides often have shorter timelines, so finding a discontinued dress that doesn’t have to be pre-ordered can be a viable alternative. We can order additional dresses in up to size 32. For the initial appointment, we are very adept at pinning back a
size 8 dress on smaller brides,” Cinnamon adds.
Cinnamon continues, “We like our brides to bring:
- A small party of trusted people. One happy bi-product of ‘Covid Times’ is how easily brides use FaceTime during their appointment.
- An accurate budget that includes any accessories plus alterations by our recommended seamstresses.
- An open mind!
“You’d be surprised how many brides end up buying a completely different style from their original idea,” she says. Popular requests currently include “cat eye” necklines and “basque” waistlines that elongate the torso and dip into a deep V.
The phone rings again. In her spare time, an avid reader, traveler and cook, Cinnamon says, “Your gown just arrived! I was going to call you today! When would you like to come in?” Cinnamon schedules that appointment, but appointments can also be self-scheduled online or with the QR code on the shop door. Cinnamon says that occasionally a mother-of-the bride might ask if she can just peek in the store before she tells her daughter to look into Blush Bridal. According to Cinnamon, their bridal shop is the only one between Richmond and Virginia Beach.
Brides need to plan to purchase a gown eight to 10 months in advance and leave an additional 60 days to complete fittings and alterations.
The elegant but not pretentious atmosphere includes great lighting, comfortable guest seating apropos of a boutique, hand-held signs with assorted messages of approval and, of course, the prerequisite boxes of tissue!
TO THE POINT:
Blush Bridal Inc.
Address:185 Herman Melville Ave., Newport News, VA 23606
Contact Christy Cinnamon and Carmen Harris, partners
Phone: 757-595-7797
Email: blush@blushgowns.com
Website: www.blushgowns.com
