LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

from LNT_BCR_Illinois Valley Dream Weddings_012922

2022 IS THE YEAR OF THE WEDDINGS

Love at first sightMarien Mae Bridal Boutique has wedding outfits for everyone

Story by Shannon Serpette

Whether she’s planning a formal or casual wedding, every bride stresses over finding the dress of her dreams. Finding a dress shop that has your back can make the process so much easier.

When Katelyn Miller was planning her 2021 wedding to Bryce Cates and their reception in Streator, where Bryce is from, she turned to Marien Mae Bridal Boutique in LaSalle to help her land the perfect dress.

“My experience with them was great,” Katelyn Cates, who now lives in El Paso, said. “Everyone was so kind and helpful. My dress was missing buttons since it was a sample dress, and they quickly ordered those for me. When my dress arrived back at the store

See MARIEN MAE page 18

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/TAYLOR BEAN PHOTOGRAPHY Katelyn (Miller) Cates married Bryce Cates on Sept. 18, 2021, in Farmer City and had their reception in Streator, where Bryce is from. Katelyn ordered her wedding dress through Marien Mae in LaSalle and had a wonderful experience there.

The top floor at Marien Mae Bridal Boutique in LaSalle is a bride’s paradise. With many wedding dresses to look at for every size of lady, brides will have an intimate and cozy space to try on as many as they want. Grooms, fathers of the bride or groom, and ring bearers can all find an outfit for the wedding day at Marien Mae.

PHOTOS/SHANNON SERPETTE Brides should begin shopping for their wedding dress about 12 months before their wedding to allow themselves enough time to find the right dress and get alterations.

Marien Mae

FROM PAGE 17 from being cleaned, they let me try it on along with veils and jewelry. I bought my veil there as well.”

Holly Hoover, the owner of Marien Mae, said the boutique also offers wedding attire for moms, guests, men, grooms, and brides.

“We’re a one-stop shop for bridal attire,” Hoover said.

When asked what her bridal boutique offers that makes them stand out, Hoover said it’s the attention to detail, no-pressure atmosphere, and customer service each bride receives.

“They get a more personalized experience. We really listen to what our customers want,” she said. “We treat every customer like we’re going to their wedding,” she said.

They try to think of every detail to make things easier for couples. Although they don’t directly sell and print invitations, they do have a graphic designer, Kristin Shapiro, who works out of the boutique.

While the first floor of the building showcases bridal attire for guests, parents, and wedding parties, the upstairs of the building is reserved for the brides. It includes two fitting rooms for brides, allowing them and their co-shoppers a private room experience to find the wedding dress of their dreams. A bride and five guests can utilize the top floor to weigh in on the dress decision.

If brides are looking for accessories, Marien Mae can help with that too – they sell everything from jewelry to tiaras to veils. For brides who don’t relish the idea of getting ready on their wedding day in a small makeshift changing room in a church, Marien Mae also offers a bridal suite from June through December in a separate building just a few doors down from the shop. Brides can get ready and have pictures taken right in there.

“It’s a beautiful spot,” Hoover said.

The staff at Marien Mae is respectful that not every bride has a huge budget to work with, so they offer a wide range of price points for dresses.

“We’re very accommodating when it comes to your budget,” Hoover said. “And we cater to brides of all sizes.”

For ladies hoping to lose a lot of weight before the big day, Hoover offers this advice.

“Generally, a dress can be taken in two full sizes,” she said. “We see what their (weight loss) expectations are and go from there.”

Those who want to get married in 2022 need to plan ahead, she said.

“2022 is going to be the biggest wedding year since 1984,” Hoover said. “Almost a year out is the perfect time to shop for your dress.”

She recommends finding the dress eight months before your wedding. Gowns take anywhere from four to six months to arrive, and you’ll want to start alterations from two to three months before.

For brides wanting to follow the biggest trend in wedding dresses right now, Hoover said the most popular dress seems to be simple, with clean lines.

“We started seeing it really grow in popularity last year,” she said.

It fit the more intimate, smaller ceremonies that were happening in 2020.

“It’s timeless,” she said. “You’re going to look back on that dress in 30 or 50 years, and you’re still going to love that dress.”

Saying YESto the Dress

MARIEN MAE OWNER HOLLY HOOVER GIVES DRESS SHOPPING TIPS

Brides who aren’t sure what to expect when dress shopping can learn a lot from Holly Hoover, owner of Marien Mae Bridal Boutique in LaSalle. She shared some of her best dress shopping and wedding day advice to help brides at any stage of wedding planning. • “Come with an open mind,” she said. “We find a lot of brides will come in with a vision, and they leave with the complete opposite, and they’re very surprised by that.” • “You’ll know when you find the one,”

Hoover said. “You’ll have that feeling. You’ll keep thinking about that dress.” • “When you’re dress shopping, bring a small group of people you value the opinion of the most,” she said. • “I always tell just about every bride, at the end of the day, you two are married, so everything turned out just as it should have.

Have fun with it. Celebrate each decision. It all comes together.”

PHOTO/SHANNON SERPETTE Marien Mae Bridal Boutique owner Holly Hoover looks over the selection of veils at her store.

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