With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, many couples are about to get engaged or are preparing for their upcoming wedding. It is an exciting time in every bride’s life; however, it can also bring along some stress. One of the most important questions a bride will ask is what dress they will wear. Its bridal shops such as Blush Bridal Boutique that help solve this concern and make a bride’s special day the best it can be.

Blush Bridal Boutique recently opened in the summer of 2014 by Saint Anselm student Paige Corimer and her mother Teri. They previously owned Andrea’s Bridal in Rochester, NH for ten years before this current shop opened in Dover, NH. Blush Bridal offers selections of wedding attire for brides, bridesmaids, grooms, and mothers as well as veils, headpieces, shoes, and jewelry. The shop also sells prom dresses for high school students as well.

All bridal gowns range between 600 and 2,000 dollars. The boutique receives its gowns from companies Casablanca and Bella Rosa. These companies are able to piece different gowns together, make alterations, and add embellishments to the gown to ensure that a bride will receive her dream dress. However, it can take about 8 months if one wants to make these alterations or is ordering a gown. Corimer suggests that brides plan a good year in advance when making these decisions.

Paige, who works as a bridal consultant at Blush, emphasized how the boutique is different than other stores such as David’s Bridal. Although David’s advertises dresses for 99 dollars, Blush Boutique makes sure that choosing wedding dresses is more about the brides’ experience and less on the sale. She talked about how the shop makes it about having those special moments; there is no time limit for the brides and the boutique provides a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere.

Paige also noted how bridal shows such as TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress” are obviously scripted, and do not exactly show a true representation of picking out a gown. However, there are some similarities. The brides have the same experiences. Paige and her mother see every aspect of the brides and are introduced to all different kinds. Although some brides are more stressful than others, they ultimately realize that those who work at Blush are there to help them.

The dresses sold at Blush have been featured in Bride’s New Hampshire Magazine multiple times as well as in other ads photo-shoots, and spreads. Paige modeled the dresses for a shoot at the top of a mountain in North Conway that was featured in the magazine’s Winter 2013 issue. Other vendors also participate in the shoots which in a way provide free advertising for them, the photographer, and Blush Boutique as well.

When asked what she likes most about working in a bridal boutique, Paige replied, “I’ve been around it so much, my mom has been running it since I was 10 or 11, and I get to try most of the dresses on. But I love seeing everyone’s different ideas of what they want and provide that for them; to be a part of the happiest day of their lives”.

Paige, who is engaged herself, also had some advice for the St. A’s students who are currently engaged or thinking about getting married. She said, “They should give themselves time. They think it comes so easily to plan and know what they want, but a lot of people don’t. It’s supposed to be relaxing and fun, but it can get stressful easily if they don’t plan it well”.

As far as prices go, Corimer says it can go either way. Some couples like DIY projects or take ideas from Pinterest while others want something really glitzy. It all depends on how you decide to plan everything. It is only as expensive as one wants it to be.

Corimer says that when she does get married, her mom will definitely help and they will use the connections with the other vendors through the boutique to plan her big day.

If any St. A’s couples want more information about the boutique, they can look into Blush’s website at andreasbridalboutique.com. The site offers style tips and features some of their bridal beauty selections. It’s a romantic time of year, and Blush Bridal Boutique want to make sure that brides enjoy what is supposed to be the best time of their lives.