Non-traditional Option

If you’re looking for jewelry and accessories for your wedding, Sean Philip Bridals has a growing collection.

Spb

FROM PAGE 16 with her parents to the United States, has lived in Princeton for the past 17 years.

“Princeton has so many specialty stores. It is a town that needs to be filmed and made well-known for its hospitality. All of the business owners are passionate about the community they serve,” she said.

When choosing a location for her shop, she knew she wanted it to be in Princeton to repay the community and all the businesses that helped her through a rough period in her life when her children were diagnosed with devastating diseases.

“We never thought for a moment a child would be struck with cancer, but it touched our family when my youngest son was diagnosed with a Wilms’ tumor resulting in losing both kidneys. Two years later, my oldest son was diagnosed with ALL, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,” she said.

“When my boys were sick, the entire community and businesses came together to support us financially and emotionally. We wanted to repay the area with investing back into the community. Princeton and the surrounding communities will always have a very special place in my heart,” Gerber said.

Through her shop, Gerber wanted to help other children and families who were fighting cancer, so she donates a portion of all wedding dress sales to support childhood cancer foundations.

“Pediatric cancer tested our family on so many levels. We believe that every child struck with cancer should have a chance to survive. St. Jude’s is one of these organizations which continually battle pediatric cancer, so we donate most of the funds towards them,” she said.

“In addition, we have plans to donate to Ronald McDonald House as this is also a very important organization for families who are forced to live away from home. We also hope to create a scholarship for high school seniors who are survivors of pediatric cancer and donate prom gowns and tuxes to girls and boys who are currently going through chemotherapy,” Gerber said.

When setting up her shop, Gerber also wanted to create a welcoming environment for brides and grooms to help take some of the stress out of wedding planning.

“Our brides become part of the SPB family the moment they walk in. We make the dress shopping fun, lighthearted, and stress-free. We understand this is a large investment, so we make sure the dress is what their vision is. We love straightening their crowns when they walk in, but isn’t this what women are supposed to do for one another?” she said.

“We hope brides know when they walk out the door with their gowns, we are still willing to help past the shopping experience. For example, I had a bride come back who was crying because she was just stressed out about the wedding itself. We laughed and ate chocolate together because that’s who SPB is,” Gerber said.

The store also carries tux- edos for grooms, and both brides and grooms will also find bolder styles rather than only traditional gowns and tuxedos, including black wedding gown choices for brides.

“Out with the boring and in with multiple options,” she said. “We love styling the guys as much as the girls.”

Gerber encourages brides to have an open mind when dress shopping.

“Sometimes the gown you think you love isn’t what ends up being “the” dress. Photos don’t reflect the beauty and details of the gowns. Make a Pinterest board of your perfect dress. We’ve had brides come in and say they don’t want a ball gown but end up walking out with one.”

She urges brides-to-be to try on any dress they’re considering.

“The dress never looks the same on compared to it hanging on a hanger,” Gerber said.

For a full-fashion experience, brides who need accessories will find some to choose from at Sean Philip Bridals.

“We have a growing selection of accessories such as veils and hair pieces,” Gerber said.

The shop offers more than wedding outfits. With a wide variety of prom wear, including attention-grabbing light-up prom dresses, it’s a great spot for high school girls to check out the latest fashions too. High school boys will also find a lot of unique designs that might help make their prom photos unforgettable.

“Men should be fashionable as well. We encourage dress to impress. You’d be surprised how many of our prom boys go all out because they deserve to be recognized just as much as the girls,” Gerber said.