Maggie Matthews has known what she wanted to do since she was a little girl. Even though she took a detour for a few years, Maggie followed her heart and eventually established Margaret Ellen Bridal in 2018.
“As a child, I had dreams of being a wedding dress designer and that kind of fell by the wayside,” Maggie said. “I decided to pursue education and taught in an elementary school for six years; but truly it was not my calling. It was not until I went wedding dress shopping with my best friend that I finally realized my first love was truly for bridal.”
Today, Margaret Ellen Bridal offers high-end designer dresses and private fitting sessions to brides who venture to her 30A store.
“We carry nine, well-known designers that you would usually find in larger cities,” Maggie said. “But the biggest thing that sets us apart is the way we do business. It’s a special moment that we are getting to help with, so I really make sure that every bride feels loved, celebrated and like they have been our friend forever.”
When a bride makes an appointment at Margaret Ellen Bridal, the planning begins with a phone consultation. This is where the bride’s vision is shared, and any inspirational photos can be discussed. From there, the bride and a few of her close friends and family members are invited to a fitting. This is where the magic happens.
“At the fitting we provide champagne, and do a toast with the bride,” Maggie said. “Each bride we host is in their own space and while they are here, we do everything for the bride. We really go all out and make it incredibly special.”
When it comes to what makes a wedding dress timeless, Maggie said it really has very little to do with the dress itself and instead, it all comes down to how well the dress reflects the bride.
“I think, what makes a dress timeless is the question, ‘Would it carry over in time with that bride?’” Maggie said. “Is the bride being true to herself in that dress? If it reflects who they are as a person, then they have created a timeless dress.”