STORE AROUND THE CORNER: Sarasota Brides and Formalwear

Once upon a time, a military bride in her 20s ran as quickly as she could into Sarasota Brides and Formalwear. She was in search of a simple dress for a casual beach wedding — which happened to be the following morning.

“Her husband was getting deployed, and she never thought she could pull this off in one day,” said Kristy Musteffe, manager of Sarasota Brides and Formalwear. “We found her a dress, her mom came back in with her that afternoon and found a dress for herself, and we altered them while they waited. The bride and groom got married the next day.”

Sarasota Brides and Formalwear stocks more than 350 gowns and carries designs by lines by Pronovias, Paloma Blanca, Maggie Sottero, Anjolique, Casablanca and Allure Exclusive. The shop also outfits for black tie season, prom and debutante parties.

But the ladies who work at Sarasota Brides and Formalwear have as much fun finding the perfect dress for the perfect bride as they do behind the scenes — it’s all part of their love for the wedding industry.

“There happened to be a day that there was nobody in the store,” Jessica Johnson said. “I unpacked a dress and was already in it by the time Carol and Kristy found me. It was a one-shoulder, mermaid dress with lots of ruffles. I dream about it.”

Contact Loren Mayo at [email protected].

BASICS
Sarasota Brides and Formalwear
Address: 4051 Clark Road
Phone: 927-4969
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday
Owner: Bachman family
Established: 2008
Line of business: Full-service bridal salon in addition to formal and cocktail wear
What makes the business unique: It carries a wedding gown for every bride on any budget.
Website: www.sarasotabrides.com