From Broadway to Bridal

By Amy Dee Stephens

Lindsie VanWinkle-Guthrie’s life sounds much like one of the musicals in which she has performed:

Lindsie, a struggling actress from Oklahoma, works at a bridal store in New York City while taking various roles in off-Broadway musicals. After the birth of her son and a mysterious pandemic, she and her director husband reevaluate their life and return to Oklahoma. Lindsie opens a bridal shop and finds herself fulfilled in “costuming” women who will be performing in their own big productions: Weddings!

Life Off Broadway

An Edmond girl, Lindsie graduated from Edmond Memorial High School and had a full-ride musical theater scholarship to the University of Central Oklahoma. After graduation, she worked as a performer for Holland America cruise line, traveling the world while she waited for her actor boyfriend, Scott Guthrie, to graduate from Oklahoma City University. Afterward, they married and moved to New York City to live the dream.

“Then came the grind of being a professional actor, constantly auditioning and working part-time,” Lindsie said. She landed some amazing roles, and even worked with Oscar-winning director, Tony Walton. Tired of waitressing, Lindsie found work at a bridal salon. She loved helping brides find gowns––and her experience with costume fittings gave her excellent perspective.

Eventually, her husband moved into directing and teaching, so they relocated to Philadelphia, and she took over a bridal salon there. Lindsie auditioned for the local community theater, and on the opening night of her first show, she learned that she was pregnant.

After Baby Jed was born, Covid hit. “It was total lockdown with a six-monthold,” Lindsie said. “Our moms couldn’t even come help, and I finally told Scott, ‘I want to go home!’ He surprised me by saying, ‘Me too.’”

Reconnecting in Oklahoma

Lindsie, Scott and Jed moved back to Oklahoma and reconnected with friends and family. Lindsie decided to continue her bridal-salon career, opening her own shop, Found Love Bridal Consignment. She started in a tiny 600-square-foot space, hoping to acquire 75 gowns to sell. “Six months later, I had 275 gowns , and I was tripping over everything!” Lindsie said.

She moved to a larger property in Oklahoma City, selling stunning designer gowns under five years old with new tags, unaltered gown samples, and onceloved dresses ready to grace another aisle. Lindsie’s brides pay discounted prices, but they still get the full boutique experience that feels top end, complete with a lounge couch, personal stylist and champagne. “I tell them, ‘Today, you are a living Barbie doll. We are going to play dress up and I’m here to help you find that amazing dress you feel great in.’”

At Home on Stage

Both Lindsie and Scott have returned to their acting roots in Oklahoma City. Scott is performing in The Sound of Music, and Lindsie will be performing in The Prom.

“It’s wonderful to be back at Lyric Theater. I would have loved to have made it on Broadway, and I nearly did so many times,” Lindsie said, “but I also had an amazing life for 15 years as an actress. I played in White Christmas. I was Mary Poppins. I was Eliza Doolittle four times, and I originated roles in five off-Broadway musicals. Now, I’ve come back home, and I’m ready for the next chapter of my life. My son is growing up backstage, our family is here, and I feel complete.”

Learn more at foundlovebridal.com.