MONROE - Brides-to-be throughout the Midwest are making Brandi's Bridal Galleria, Etc. in New Glarus their destination point for trending wedding party attire.
"Some even stay overnight at the (Chalet) Landhaus, so they can spend the whole next day shopping for their dress," said owner Brandi Nehmer.
That's because Brandi's not only carries exclusive, brand-name gowns many future brides long to wear, but it also aims to offer a shopping experience like no other from Minnesota to Chicagoland.
That experience starts in Brandi's parking lot, where piped out music sets the tone and sparkling wedding dresses in the showcase windows beckon a bride-to-be.
Once inside, Brandi's bridal salon opens up to her every desire: Dresses and accessories, store attendants and a celebratory champagne toast at the end of a successful shopping day.
Nehmer designed the spacious new 12,000-square-foot store along Wisconsin 69. Her store was previously in the former Swiss Miss lace factory building, also along Wis. 69. The new store opened in May, and is decked out in silver, black and mirrors, punctuated with technology.
"That's what I was looking for," Nehmer said. "Brides can relax and have fun."
The fun begins with trying on any number of dresses and modeling it for her friends or family relaxing in her individual showing area. Once a dress or two is chosen, the velvet ropes are opened and brides-to-be can walk the 3-D wedding aisle to see herself from all angles, as others will on her special day.
A wedding celebration can turn on the wedding dress, Nehmer said. Traveling for that special dress is not out of the question, but brides needn't fly to New York or Chicago to find style, she added. Brandi's has exclusive agreements with five brands - Pronovias of Barcelona, La Sporsa, San Patrick, Martina Liana and Anaiss.
"They're fun, different, unique, "outside-the-box" dresses at a fair price that every bride would want to wear," Nehmer said. Pronovias, which Brandi's has carried for five years, "is hitting the U.S. like wildfire now."
More than 500 styles of bridal gowns at Brandi's are arranged by price, from about $300 up to $4,000. Many are adorned in lace, beads, buttons, or, the newest trend, feathers.
"Brides today are not afraid to do different things," Nehmer said. Traditional is still popular, she said, but brides are looking to personalize the traditional. If she can't afford a full bodice of feathers, a bride may choose to add a few feathers to her veil.
The store says it carries the largest selection of bridesmaids' dresses in the Midwest - more than 1,000 styles by 16 designers in every fabric and color imaginable, to match the bride's color scheme and fit her attendees' various body shapes. Brandi's also keeps sample dresses in sizes 16 and up.
There are also dresses for the mothers of the bride and groom, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, reception and honeymoon. These "little white dresses" off the rack press the passé to come in ivory, off-white and light colors, which are trending now, Nehmer said.
Nehmer has doubled her staff to 25 people since opening in her new location. Nehmer, originally from Monroe, learned about dress designs in New York and about the retail clothing sales business in San Francisco.
Her business has earned awards from Wisconsin Bride Magazine each year since 2006. But her greatest accolade came a week before the grand opening of her new store.
Lluis Sole, director of U.S. Operations for Pronovias Brands of Barcelona, dropped by to see the store, and later wrote, "I was mesmerized ... the elegance of the space is superb ... the store comes with some surprises that will make the visit to this store unforgettable ..."
"He was amazed - this guy who travels to New York and Barcelona," Nehmer said. "It almost brought tears to my eyes."
"Some even stay overnight at the (Chalet) Landhaus, so they can spend the whole next day shopping for their dress," said owner Brandi Nehmer.
That's because Brandi's not only carries exclusive, brand-name gowns many future brides long to wear, but it also aims to offer a shopping experience like no other from Minnesota to Chicagoland.
That experience starts in Brandi's parking lot, where piped out music sets the tone and sparkling wedding dresses in the showcase windows beckon a bride-to-be.
Once inside, Brandi's bridal salon opens up to her every desire: Dresses and accessories, store attendants and a celebratory champagne toast at the end of a successful shopping day.
Nehmer designed the spacious new 12,000-square-foot store along Wisconsin 69. Her store was previously in the former Swiss Miss lace factory building, also along Wis. 69. The new store opened in May, and is decked out in silver, black and mirrors, punctuated with technology.
"That's what I was looking for," Nehmer said. "Brides can relax and have fun."
The fun begins with trying on any number of dresses and modeling it for her friends or family relaxing in her individual showing area. Once a dress or two is chosen, the velvet ropes are opened and brides-to-be can walk the 3-D wedding aisle to see herself from all angles, as others will on her special day.
A wedding celebration can turn on the wedding dress, Nehmer said. Traveling for that special dress is not out of the question, but brides needn't fly to New York or Chicago to find style, she added. Brandi's has exclusive agreements with five brands - Pronovias of Barcelona, La Sporsa, San Patrick, Martina Liana and Anaiss.
"They're fun, different, unique, "outside-the-box" dresses at a fair price that every bride would want to wear," Nehmer said. Pronovias, which Brandi's has carried for five years, "is hitting the U.S. like wildfire now."
More than 500 styles of bridal gowns at Brandi's are arranged by price, from about $300 up to $4,000. Many are adorned in lace, beads, buttons, or, the newest trend, feathers.
"Brides today are not afraid to do different things," Nehmer said. Traditional is still popular, she said, but brides are looking to personalize the traditional. If she can't afford a full bodice of feathers, a bride may choose to add a few feathers to her veil.
The store says it carries the largest selection of bridesmaids' dresses in the Midwest - more than 1,000 styles by 16 designers in every fabric and color imaginable, to match the bride's color scheme and fit her attendees' various body shapes. Brandi's also keeps sample dresses in sizes 16 and up.
There are also dresses for the mothers of the bride and groom, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, reception and honeymoon. These "little white dresses" off the rack press the passé to come in ivory, off-white and light colors, which are trending now, Nehmer said.
Nehmer has doubled her staff to 25 people since opening in her new location. Nehmer, originally from Monroe, learned about dress designs in New York and about the retail clothing sales business in San Francisco.
Her business has earned awards from Wisconsin Bride Magazine each year since 2006. But her greatest accolade came a week before the grand opening of her new store.
Lluis Sole, director of U.S. Operations for Pronovias Brands of Barcelona, dropped by to see the store, and later wrote, "I was mesmerized ... the elegance of the space is superb ... the store comes with some surprises that will make the visit to this store unforgettable ..."
"He was amazed - this guy who travels to New York and Barcelona," Nehmer said. "It almost brought tears to my eyes."