I think it’s safe to say that every bride dreams of a wedding dress shopping experience that is a little bit magical–a time when she feel confident, beautiful, supported, and most of all, excited about being a bride! Two of the biggest factors that contribute to that experience are who you bring with you and where you go to shop. We share our advice for choosing who to bring here, but in order to better address where to go, I’m delighted to introduce our new Shop Spotlight series, where we’ll be introducing y’all to some of the loveliest bridal salons in the South.
Kicking things off is the adorable Twirl in Lexington, Kentucky–a cute yellow house-turned-bridal salon, thanks to the passion and hard work of owner Ty McBrayer. Ty and Twirl’s Marketing Director, Liz, were sweet enough to share the story behind this darling Kentucky bridal salon, as well as a few tips for brides on the hunt for their dream dress!
Thank you to Rachael McCall for these lovely photos!
Tell us about the beginnings of Twirl–why did you want to open a bridal boutique, and how did you get started?
Ty: I opened Twirl to offer the ladies of Kentucky a small, boutique shopping experience. I had been in nine (!!) weddings at that point and realized that the area needed a charming place to shop that catered to women wanting more than rows and rows of the same old dresses. I was also frustrated in the corporate world and longed for a more meaningful career. Owning my own business in a cozy old home had always been a dream of mine, and I know it sounds crazy, but I really just woke up one day and decided I needed to open a bridal boutique! I did lots of research and decided to take the leap and make it happen when I was 29 years old. I haven’t looked back since! Twirl is such a blessing in my life.
Tell us about what y’all offer to brides and gals.
Liz: Our little boutique currently holds 120 bridal gowns and over 200 bridesmaid dresses! Currently, we carry nine different bridal designers, including Hayley Paige, Blush by Hayley Paige, Tara Keely, Justin Alexander, and Stella York. For bridesmaids, we currently carry LulaKate, Jenny Yoo, Amsale, Lynn Lugo, and the Dessy group. Nothing makes us happier than a total Twirl wedding–gorgeous brides and their beautiful bridesmaids decked out in Twirl dresses just sends our hearts soaring!
What is your current favorite wedding dress in the store? If you were getting married tomorrow, what dress would you wear?
Liz: If I absolutely had to choose, it would be Londyn by Hayley Paige. Londyn’s beautiful silk radzmir sweetheart bodice and the horsehair-trim layered skirt create the perfect combination of simplicity, elegance, and an element of modern chic that I adore. Plus, it’s a ball gown, and let’s be real, when else in your life can you get away with wearing a big, beautiful dress like that?!
What sets the Twirl experience apart from other bridal salons?
Liz: We do our best to offer brides a wonderful, personal, and memorable experience. Helping a bride pick out the dress she’s going to become a wife in is a big deal to us, and our top priority is to make that process as enjoyable as we can. When a bride comes to Twirl, she will have the entire bridal suite to herself for around an hour and will work one on one with our amazing consultants to find that perfect dress. Our consultants listen to the bride’s vision and work with her to make it come to life! We believe that the cozy and cute atmosphere of Twirl, paired with the quality, one-on-one attention each bride receives, is the perfect combination for a bride as she searches for her dream dress!
What is your single best tip for a bride about to start shopping for her wedding gown?
Liz: Have an open mind and a hopeful attitude. I can’t tell you how many times the unexpected pick has been “the one.” Having a vision, but also allowing for some flexibility, can lead a bride to the very best dress for her. Additionally, attitude is everything, and having an optimistic one can be what makes an appointment a total success. Having the hope in your heart that your wedding dress could be in the store you just walked into is one of the greatest gifts a bride can give herself!
What is your favorite memory from your own wedding day?
Ty: My husband and I were married just six months after I opened Twirl. Our outdoor wedding took place on a warm, sunny day in May 2010 at The Carrick House in Lexington. My dad and I stood at the back of the ceremony and watched the bridal party and everyone be seated, as our favorite acoustic guitar versions of The Beatles’ songs were played. Standing there with him, seeing my soon-to-be husband, and watching it all come together was very surreal. “Here Comes the Sun” began to play and I walked down the aisle to the man of my dreams on the arm of the man that helped mold me into the woman I am today. It was hard to hold it together!
Do you have a favorite Twirl memory?
Ty: It is hard to name just one favorite memory, but one of my favorites may be my first trip to Bridal Fashion Week in New York! The energy buzzing amongst all of the buyers is amazing and the passion each designer puts forth to make each season more memorable is unbelievable.
What is the single greatest lesson you’ve learned in business?
Ty: Be kind, be kind, be kind. My mother taught me that long ago, and it is always a good reminder. You never know what battle someone is facing that day. We all have our own struggles, and sometimes, it is hard to put forth your best foot when nothing is going quite the way you had hoped. We do our very best to give every bride and bridesmaid a warm fuzzy feeling while they are here with us. It is our chance to put a burst of sunshine into their day!
Name three items every gal should have in her closet.
Ty and Liz: The perfect little black dress, a classic set of pearls, and a rocking pair of heels!
Thank you so much, Ty and Liz! Lexington ladies, be sure to follow along with Twirl here:
Website: Twirl | Blog: Twirl | Facebook: Twirl Lexington | Twitter: @TwirlLex | Instagram: @TwirlLex
This post is brought to you by Twirl–thanks for your support of the brands that make Southern Weddings possible!
This is just so exciting! Thank you all so much for letting us be a part of the SouthernWeddings family and featuring our little shop! This is a joy & honor for us!! XOXO
What a great article about Twirl- the best bridal shop in Lexington! The care and attention they share with brides is outstanding!
Very impressive Ty! We are so very proud of what you have done with the business. Maybe we will get married again and get the dress from Twirl, ha, ha.
Love you,
BrenLon