MONROE - Summer has begun and wedding season is in full swing, which means busy days ahead for Monroe-based Julie's Bridal Gallery after moving from the downtown Square to the larger space at a former church property that has stood vacant for roughly five years.
The move from the west side of the Square to 2404 11th Ave. happened June 2, but proprietor Julie Ula said plenty of work went into the space before the transition could happen. The segmented space originally built to house pews and an altar needed to be more open.
Ula's parents, who helped her begin the shop nine years ago, aided the process. Her father, Tom Novak, built cubbies for various dresses to be housed throughout the store. With the help of Ula's husband, Joel, he also removed walls, tore up carpet and took out doors; all within a month. JoAnn Novak, Ula's mother and business partner who runs part of the store and largely works with mother-of-the-bride dresses, said she and Tom always wanted to support their daughter's ambitions.
"My husband and I supported her all the way through," JoAnn said. "We wanted her dream to come true and we wanted her to have the business that she wanted to enjoy."
Ula, a Monroe native, noted that between her parents and her husband, she has "a huge support system." After Ula graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a business degree, she went on to work as an assistant manager at a Walgreen's but quickly realized her life's dream was to have her own business.
"Being a bride myself, I fell in love with the wedding industry," Ula said. "I think that's where I connected with it."
Recent trends in bridal gowns have been geared toward rustic, Ula said, with a number of couples choosing outdoor or barn-based weddings. Brides have requested champagne or cream colors rather than a stark white, opting for "timeless" lace and either capped or long sleeves. A majority also choose color for bridesmaids dresses while allowing their wedding party to find a cut of their own preference. Brides tend to choose muted colors lately, Ula said, like beige and gray, for instance.
JoAnn Novak said mothers of the bride tend to stray from the traditional matching of the wedding party, but Ula noted though parents may want to remain out of the spotlight, it is important the mother of the bride find a comfortable and statement-making dress.
Grooms have favored blue, gray or even green jackets, though a number have rejected the idea. Ula said because outdoor weddings or ceremonies in renovated barns tend to be warmer, grooms and groomsmen instead simply wear pants, shirt and a tie.
Inventory at the store has increased, as well as demand, Ula said. JoAnn noted that because the building has its own parking lot, those family members who need close access to the store have less trouble visiting with their daughters or granddaughters.
"I loved being on the Square, but we needed the room," Ula said. "The opportunity came up for this space. My parents found this building, and we came and looked at it. I mean, what better way to have a bridal shop than in an old church."
The change in location was a bit daunting, but Ula said the destination gallery has only seen positive effects from the change and people from Madison, Janesville and parts of Illinois have continued to visit. Neighbors in the area have visited to compliment the family on their revitalization of the space, which sat empty for years.
"We were worried leaving the Square because we were there for nine years and that's what I was used to, I felt comfortable," Ula said. "Sales have increased. We've become more busy than we ever have."
Though they have not seen the impact a larger space will have on prom season, Ula noted how nice it was to have an open, well-lit space for tuxedos and dresses rather than the basement of their former space on the Square.
The gallery plans to host a grand re-opening the weekend of July 22, which Ula said all who are interested in seeing the new space should attend.
The move from the west side of the Square to 2404 11th Ave. happened June 2, but proprietor Julie Ula said plenty of work went into the space before the transition could happen. The segmented space originally built to house pews and an altar needed to be more open.
Ula's parents, who helped her begin the shop nine years ago, aided the process. Her father, Tom Novak, built cubbies for various dresses to be housed throughout the store. With the help of Ula's husband, Joel, he also removed walls, tore up carpet and took out doors; all within a month. JoAnn Novak, Ula's mother and business partner who runs part of the store and largely works with mother-of-the-bride dresses, said she and Tom always wanted to support their daughter's ambitions.
"My husband and I supported her all the way through," JoAnn said. "We wanted her dream to come true and we wanted her to have the business that she wanted to enjoy."
Ula, a Monroe native, noted that between her parents and her husband, she has "a huge support system." After Ula graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a business degree, she went on to work as an assistant manager at a Walgreen's but quickly realized her life's dream was to have her own business.
"Being a bride myself, I fell in love with the wedding industry," Ula said. "I think that's where I connected with it."
Recent trends in bridal gowns have been geared toward rustic, Ula said, with a number of couples choosing outdoor or barn-based weddings. Brides have requested champagne or cream colors rather than a stark white, opting for "timeless" lace and either capped or long sleeves. A majority also choose color for bridesmaids dresses while allowing their wedding party to find a cut of their own preference. Brides tend to choose muted colors lately, Ula said, like beige and gray, for instance.
JoAnn Novak said mothers of the bride tend to stray from the traditional matching of the wedding party, but Ula noted though parents may want to remain out of the spotlight, it is important the mother of the bride find a comfortable and statement-making dress.
Grooms have favored blue, gray or even green jackets, though a number have rejected the idea. Ula said because outdoor weddings or ceremonies in renovated barns tend to be warmer, grooms and groomsmen instead simply wear pants, shirt and a tie.
Inventory at the store has increased, as well as demand, Ula said. JoAnn noted that because the building has its own parking lot, those family members who need close access to the store have less trouble visiting with their daughters or granddaughters.
"I loved being on the Square, but we needed the room," Ula said. "The opportunity came up for this space. My parents found this building, and we came and looked at it. I mean, what better way to have a bridal shop than in an old church."
The change in location was a bit daunting, but Ula said the destination gallery has only seen positive effects from the change and people from Madison, Janesville and parts of Illinois have continued to visit. Neighbors in the area have visited to compliment the family on their revitalization of the space, which sat empty for years.
"We were worried leaving the Square because we were there for nine years and that's what I was used to, I felt comfortable," Ula said. "Sales have increased. We've become more busy than we ever have."
Though they have not seen the impact a larger space will have on prom season, Ula noted how nice it was to have an open, well-lit space for tuxedos and dresses rather than the basement of their former space on the Square.
The gallery plans to host a grand re-opening the weekend of July 22, which Ula said all who are interested in seeing the new space should attend.