The Beginning of Our Central Florida Bridal Boutique

I have so many emotions writing this post. It is Friday night of New York Bridal Fashion Week and all the latest trends of the season debuted down the runway. I could easily write a novel on frills of #NYBFW, but I'll save that for another day.  I guess it's hard to write about trends without sharing my purpose and how I got here. 

The story actually started thirteen years ago. I was recruited and handed this opportunity of a lifetime. I'm not sure if I viewed it that way at the time. I remember thinking bridal sounds glamorous and different, let's give it a shot. I failed the interview, but somehow I still got the job. Throughout  the course of thirteen years, I built a bridal brand with my dream team and an owner that trusted me. I acted like the owner, but at the end of the day, I didn't own the business. If you stay with a company for 13 years there is a chance it will be sold during your employment.

The time came on July 1, 2017 at 39 weeks pregnant with my son, Jude. The company had new owners. On July 11, 2017 I gave birth to my son. On August 21, 2017 I signed the lease at The Bridal Finery. I didn't realize things in my life were lacking purpose. Honestly, I was okay being a manger and not owning my own business. Titles have never been a big thing for me. I think my creative side started to wonder what if things don't work out. I started to ask myself what is going to make me happy. I spoke to my family and they really pushed me and said that I've been wanting this my whole life. I think I needed to hear that. Having my son pushed me as well. It really put things into perspective. The best mom I can be for him is a happy mom.

Back to that dream team. I couldn't do this alone and I wasn't afraid to admit that. While I was building the website and looking for a lease space, I approached Roberta Noronha. See we have been working side-by-side for the past seven years. We both moved to Orlando for bridal. We both have made many of the same sacrifices. Together, we have had moments of success and failures. In many ways we grew up in bridal. We are certainly not the same people as when we started. If you haven't met Roberta yet, let me just tell you something, she knows how to make things happen and she treats her clients like family. Many people suggested against the partnership idea but I didn't see it any other way. This needed to happen with Roberta. So, how do I pitch Roberta on this. I was nervous, I don't know why. Actually I do. I was worried if she said "no", that a part of me would be discouraged and wouldn't move forward with the plan to open the boutique. Roberta has to be a part of this. She is the perfect partner.  I just told her what I thought the Florida bride needed access to and that we were the right people to make it happen. She said she loved the idea and that she was in. Whew... thank god! 

See we have been working side-by-side for the past seven years. We both moved to Orlando for bridal.

So here we are, in this together. While we have 20 years of combined experience and many stories to share, a part of me feels like our story is just starting. Almost like all of this was meant to happen. I guess I just sense something big around the corner.  This is our story. It has to do with building a national brand and having to walk away from all of it to build something great. Some mornings I wake up and feel a moment of unfairness. We have to start with 0 followers on Instagram. 0. But then I get excited. We get a do over and this time we have 20 years combined of mistakes and wins leading us in the right direction. Cheers to the beginning of our story.  

This is our story. It has to do with building a national brand and having to walk away from all of it to build something great.

So much to share with you all! I'll be posting soon about our new concept boutique, how I got 106 fever painting dress racks, behind the scenes at our first photo shoot at the Alfond Inn, how I found a restoration hardware coffee table for $150, Bridal Fashion Week trends, interviewing Roberta, our next door neighbor, our trip to a designer's studio, and our first client! Oh and if you have minute, follow us on Instagram! XO Tali