Say Yes to the Dress at Luxe and Lace: Lock Haven’s New Bridal Boutique
By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN—Luxe and Lace Bridal and Formal Wear, an exquisite boutique designed to cater to all bridal and formal wear needs, has recently found a home in downtown Lock Haven. Michele Briggs, a Clinton County resident and the visionary owner behind the business endeavor aims to enhance the community’s access to high-fashion wedding and prom attire. In an exclusive interview, Briggs shared her aspirations and the inspiration behind launching Luxe and Lace, situated at 123 Bellefonte Avenue in Lock Haven, in the location previously occupied by Liberty Tax Service. The space has been completely transformed into a bridal boutique after Briggs and her husband spent much of last summer completing renovations.
Shoppers eager to explore Briggs’ chic collection of formal dresses and wedding gowns have an opportunity to get a sneak peek during her soft opening on Monday, December 16, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. “I’m hoping to hold an official grand opening sometime in January,” Briggs mentioned. The boutique will introduce unique shopping experiences and personalized appointments that promise to delight brides and prom-goers alike.
During the week of the soft opening, hours of operation at Luxe and Lace will be Monday through Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., and on Friday, December 20, the boutique will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Saturday, December 21, hours will be from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Driven by a personal passion for bridal fashion and the lack of formal wear options in the area, Briggs reflected on her background in the industry. “I worked in the bridal shop where I bought my dress for my own wedding,” she recalled, sharing fond memories of her time as an employee at TS Adams Bridal & Formal Wear in Hughesville. The positive experience she had while working at TS Adams, which she described as “the happiest place to work,” inspired her to open a one-stop-shop for wedding and prom needs, aiming to keep the formal wear business right here in Clinton County.
“I knew when I was at TS Adams that it would be a retirement dream of mine to open a bridal shop,” Briggs shared.“I’ve spent the past 20 years working in Corporate America, and most recently, I was working on global projects, but when my last project ended, and I wasn’t having luck finding another job, I decided to follow my retirement dream,” and so Luxe and Lace was born.
Michele Briggs observed that brides and high school girls often have to travel long distances to find the prom gowns or dresses they desire. “I feel like it’s something that’s missing from our community,” she explained, noting how common it is for local girls to journey to Altoona or further for their prom attire, and the same rings true for brides-to-be.
Briggs’ vision for Luxe and Lace from the outset is to serve as a central hub for bridal and formal wear, enabling brides and their entire bridal parties to find everything they need in one place. “We’re going to be the one-stop shop for wedding gowns, prom gowns, bridesmaids gowns, tuxedos, and flower girl dresses,” she shared with excitement.
Luxe and Lace distinguishes itself from other bridal boutiques through its exclusive line of private-label wedding gowns. Briggs revealed that she launched her own line of private-label wedding gowns, and she’s thrilled to offer them at Luxe and Lace.
“I’ve been working with the designers to come up with the dresses that I wanted,” she shared. “You won’t find these gowns at any of the stores in the area.” Briggs puts an emphasis on incorporating top-notch fabrics to design elegant gowns that are affordable without sacrificing quality or fit. “They will be set at a lower price point than national labels, but will still have the same quality,” she said.
In addition to the Luxe and Lace brand of gowns, the boutique features a range of nationally recognized designers like Amy & Eve by Morilee, Wtoo by Watters, and Demetrios, ensuring a diverse collection to suit various tastes, styles, and budgets.
Briggs provides future brides the opportunity to customize their dream wedding gown through her exclusive private-label line, adding a personal touch that is uncommon in traditional bridal shopping. She emphasized that customization requires starting the design process well in advance of the wedding day, as bridal gowns generally have a 20-week production turnaround time before they are shipped.
Another noteworthy feature of the boutique that distinguishes it from others is Briggs’ commitment to ensuring that formalwear, especially for proms, remains exclusive. In a recent post on the Luxe and Lace Facebook page, Briggs announced, “An important thing to note about our store: We will NOT sell the same dress, in the same color to the same dance! With that being said, stop in and see our BEAUTIFUL collection of prom dresses starting on Monday, December 16th!” This assurance guarantees prom-goers that they can feel confident that their gown won’t be worn by anyone else at the event.
Thinking toward the future, Briggs offers professional bridal gown preservation kits from a company called Wedding Gown Preservation Co. at Luxe and Lace. “This would be a cool thing for a bridal party to buy for the bride for the bridal shower,” she suggested. The kit includes a box, sheet, and stickers to mark any stains on the dress. Brides simply pack their dress, apply the pre-paid shipping label provided in the kit, and send it off. Upon receiving the gown, Wedding Gown Preservation Co. cleans and removes stains before professionally preserving it. The preserved dress is then returned to the bride in special packaging, backed by a 100-year guarantee. This distinctive service enhances the boutique’s offerings with a thoughtful detail that’s not commonly found in the area.
Briggs aims to offer a highly personalized shopping experience at Luxe and Lace for those hoping to “say yes to the dress”. The boutique provides various appointment types, such as the premium “Signature Splendor” booking, a “Prom Perfection” shopping party for prom-goers, and a “Suit Up Session” for men in search of a perfectly fitted tuxedo. These exclusive shopping options, along with several others, are available for booking on Luxe and Lace’s website, where more details can be found.
The “Signature Splendor” appointment, available on Saturdays, grants brides and up to three guests an hour and a half of private shopping with the boutique closed to the public. Champagne is provided to celebrate if a dress is purchased, and the booking fee is applied toward the gown purchase.
The “Prom Perfection” appointment, which Briggs describes as “a shopping party for girls” offers a 90-minute private shopping experience for a group of six, allowing them to find their perfect prom gowns with ease. The booking fee is applied to the purchase of a prom gown on the day of the appointment.
For gentlemen, the “Suit Up Session” provides a 45-minute fitting for tuxedo rentals. Expert stylists assist in achieving the perfect fit and style, and the booking fee is credited toward the tux rental. “We will have a full line of tuxedos by Sarno Menswear and Suits out of Scranton,” Briggs said. “They will be available for rent, and they also offer tuxedos for purchase.”
Briggs announced that from the boutique’s opening week until the end of December, brides who book an appointment will automatically be upgraded to a premium appointment, and the booking fee will be waived. This premium experience offers the bride and up to three guests exclusive access to the boutique for an hour and a half, along with complimentary non-alcoholic beverages. As an added bonus, if the bride purchases a dress during the promotion, she will receive a special gift.
Briggs’ future plans for Luxe and Lace include forming partnerships. She expressed that she would love to collaborate with other local businesses and vendors, such as photographers for example, a testament to her commitment to fostering a supportive business ecosystem within Clinton County.
With an eye on the future, Briggs is set to expand Luxe and Lace’s inventory annually, aligning her boutique with the latest fashion trends and continuously enriching her offerings.
Luxe and Lace is ready to welcome and cater to all wedding and formal wear needs. To book an appointment or inquire further, Michele invites interested parties to contact her by phone call, email, or through Facebook Messenger.
Facebook: Search “Luxe and Lace”
Website: www.luxeandlacelockhaven.com
Email: luxeandlacelockhaven@gmail.com
Phone: (570) 263-7041
Regular hours of operation after the week of December 16, 2024:
Monday & Tuesday – By Appointment Only
Wednesday & Thursday – 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday – 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday – Closed
Explore Luxe and Lace and discover a world of bridal beauty and elegance right in downtown Lock Haven.
