Continued from Page 6


nine years, the store has reached an ever expanding base of clients. “Every element of our store has developed over the years, but more than that, our vision has grown of what our store would mean to others,”


explains Lauren. “In the


beginning the store was our dream; now it has become the fulfillment of many dreams.” She says every time a bride, a


mother of the bride/groom, a girl attending prom, or a bridesmaid selects a dress, Treasures becomes a part of a memorable occasion in their life. Every customer is unique, said Lauren, and each one requires personal attention. “Treasures really isn’t about us, it’s about all the women we have the pleasure of serving on a daily basis,” said Lauren of the business philosophy that is applied to every customer. She says the goal is to make the


experience of shopping for a gown a pleasant experience. “When a bride says finding a


gown was ‘fun and easy’, or when a mother of the bride or groom says we


Left: Bonnie Williams assists a bridesmaid with her shoe selection. Right: Dazzling jewelry fills the shelves at Treasures Formals.


helped her feel and look fabulous, that’s a blessing.”


Finding the perfect dress When shopping for a wedding dress, Lauren advises brides to


compare each dress against others, and not just individually. “A bride shouldn’t look at herself in every dress thinking, ‘Is this the one?’” said Lauren. “Instead, she should ask herself if she likes this dress, or the one she had on before best. Comparison is key.” Many brides come in with specific ideas in mind about what they’re looking for in a gown, but oftentimes a bride’s ideas will change as she goes through the process of searching for the perfect dress. “We find that the process goes most smoothly for the bride who has a concept of her likes and dislikes, but keeps an open mind to something different than what she might have anticipated ending up with,” said Lauren.


The majority of bridal gowns at


Treasures Formals range from $500 and $1500, but Lauren advised brides to consider the value foremost. “ If a bride can spend $100 more


on a gown she loves, which fits her better and needs less alteration, then she has found a much better value than a dress which costs $100 less, doesn’t fit her as well, and needs more alteration.”


Sometimes, the ideal vision of a dress in a bride’s mind doesn’t match the reality of what works best for the bride. Lauren says she works to define what the bride likes, and gently leads


8 | northsidewoman.com | march2012


her to the ideal dress. “Often


there


are


details,


elements, or a feel to a gown that will draw a bride towards it. Considering what it is about that gown which has caught the bride’s interest can lead us toward the right dress. Finding out what she likes can bring us to a gown she can love.”


The most important advice Lauren can give is encourage couples to always keep in mind they are planning a marriage, not just a wedding.


“If the couple --the bride, especially--gets all caught up in making the wedding day perfect and forget that ‘The Big Day’ is just the first day, I believe they miss many opportunities to make memories, collect wisdom, and learn lessons that could serve them well for the rest of their married lives,” said Lauren. For Lauren and her family, the best part of the day is turning out the lights in the evening, looking back on the day and recalling the women who found their “match”. “We’ve


invested our day


helping brides find the dress of their dreams,” said Lauren. “Years from now, whether they remember us or not, we’ve had a part in creating a memory they’ll never forget.” Turn to page 16 to see mother-


of-the-bride and bridesmaid dresses from Treasures Formals.


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