All brides want to feel special when searching for and choosing that perfect dress. The experience should be everything they have ever dreamed about. At J.Lynn Bridal in Lawrence, owner Jena Lynn Dick and her staff make the whole process a memorable and enjoyable part of the wedding journey.
“We offer three different bridal appointments,” she says. “We do a free 60 minute appointment, but then we also offer a 90 minute appointment that includes beverages like sparkling water, hot tea, champagne, and mimosas. Our ultimate package is the VIP appointment, which is also 90 minutes and includes these beverages, but also boasts a charcuterie board full of fruits and other sweets, which changes depending on the season.”
All of the appointments are for a bride and up to four guests, although they can expand a bit depending on the circumstances. Each bride gets her own consultant and a designated bridal suite. The bridal consultant takes the time to get to know the brides and their families and friends who they've entrusted to bring along with them.
The consultants, Martha Rose and El Runyan, who is also the store manager, are very supportive, patient and kind. They will talk with the brides and find out what they like and what they don’t like, and then have them try on dresses with different styles and in various silhouettes, especially if it's the first time they've ever tried on dresses.
“We never want to rush the decision and always welcome them back for another appointment,” says Jena. “If and when they do decide on a dress, they can then try on veils and other accessories. We are a specialty bridal boutique, so as long as we have four or five months until the wedding, we can customize and order the dresses in their sizes, colors, and styles.” If not, the store can also sell gowns off the rack if need be.
J.Lynn Bridal carries wedding attire for the entire party, including bridesmaids gowns, mothers of the bride dresses, and grooms wear. “Another one of our specialties is tuxedo and suit rental,” she says. “We handle the measurements and can do special orders. And, because many of our grooms like to keep their wedding suits, they can buy them from us.”
There’s a fun tradition when a bride says yes to her dream dress or when a groom says yes to his perfect suit. “Soon after we opened the store 10 years ago, one of my bridal consultants found this little gong in a second-hand music store in downtown Lawrence,” says Jena. “So, the bride and groom get to bang the gong once their choices are made. We believe it brings them good fortune.”
She and her staff also want to ensure that everyone who comes in feels comfortable, whatever their style or shape. The gowns are available in a wide range of sizes from zero to 32. “Designers have become very inclusive now, which I very much appreciate,” says Jena. “I want this to be a joyous time, a happy time, and women especially tend to get all caught up on sizes and weight, and you just don't want to taint that moment with these issues.”
A good amount of the shop’s customers come from Kansas City, even though there are 20 plus bridal boutiques located there. As an independently-owned small business run by someone who was born and bred in Lawrence, Jena understands the demographic, the style and the price points of the region better than most.
J.Lynn Bridal, which is proudly celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has been awarded the Knots Best of Weddings every one of those years, and has been inducted into its Best of Weddings Hall of Fame. Visit JLynnBridal.com.
