In Arkansas Bride's Behind the Veil series, Editor Lindsay Irvin looks at how a Brinkley bridal boutique became one of the South’s go-to wedding dress shops.

Carrying 2,500 wedding dresses from more than 37 designers, Low’s Bridal & Formal is one of the biggest bridal boutiques in the South. It’s also one of the most sought-after, as brides travel from all over Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and even further, to find their perfect dress. It’s pretty remarkable, considering Low's began with six dresses in a room above a family pharmacy in 1977.

Forty-two years later, owners Dorcas and Stan Prince are powerhouses not only in the Arkansas wedding community, but in the bridal industry as a whole — theirs are household names among national and international designers. Stan and Dorcas know so many of the designers on a personal level and have followed their brands for years; and they usually have the scoop on what many designers are doing next. They work these connections at markets and exclusive designer events to bring back the best wedding dresses for their brides.

Low’s selection of gowns is always growing and inclusive of classic and high-fashion designs and everything in between — plus, dresses are stocked in sizes 02-34. “We are unique due to the number of wedding dresses we carry, especially in smaller and larger sizes,” Dorcas says. “We may have the same gown in a size 4, a size 12, a size 22 and a size 34 — all in store.” This allows brides to try on so many different styles and silhouettes, no matter their body type. And Dorcas encourages her brides to try on a lot, too. “Be open minded to styles you never thought about, you may be surprised what you fall in love with,” she says.

Becoming a rite of passage for brides in a state, let alone a region, takes a serious commitment to service. And customer service is the foundation Low’s is built on. “Our consultants work one-on-one with each bride,” Dorcas says. “Your consultant will ask questions to help understand your unique style.” She says what she loves most about working with brides is experiencing all the emotions. “The smile or tear of love when you see the face of a mom, dad or other family member as they see their loved one in their wedding gown…” —decades in and it never gets old.


BUYER’S GUIDE
The Low’s bride is… "Unique, intelligent, modern"
Average price: $800–$5,000
Est. number of dresses: 2,500 from 37 different designers

LOW'S BRIDAL & FORMAL   
127 West Cedar, Brinkley | (870) 734-3244 | LowsBridal.com

Get to know more about the businesses that bring Arkansas brides their sparkling baubles and dreamy dresses and meet the incredible people behind the scenes in Behind the Veil.