Why did you start Elegant Bridal & Boutique?

Mattie was always into clothing and fashion. When she would go on vacation to the islands and she would see the little boutiques, she would dream of one day having one of her own in the states. This had always been her passion, and one day the opportunity presented itself, and here we are! The initial vision was high-end sportswear and career suits. One day one of our repeat customers requested that we dress her for her wedding, and that is when Elegant Boutique morphed into Elegant Bridal & Boutique, and we’ve never looked back. We presently carry all of the top designers in bridal, bridesmaids, mothers, quince, flower girl, tuxedo, and special occasion.

When did you move to this location?

Elegant Bridal has been in business in the Poconos for 35 years. We started at the Pocono Outlet, which is located off Main Street in Stroudsburg. After around 6 years, we moved to Tannersville, and then three years later to Fountain Court in Bartonsville. We were there until June 25, 2023, when a huge fire destroyed the building where we had been for nearly two decades. We lost everything in the fire but were able to reopen six months later at this location. We had to start over from scratch. We were not able to save anything.

What are the latest trends in wedding dresses and formal wear?

IThere aren’t necessarily trends in wedding gowns. Every bride has dreamed of this day since she was a child, and each has a unique vision. Some brides choose a more conventional look, while others prefer something more modern. There have been the greatest requests for lace gowns, 3D florals, and non-traditional hues. Some brides want a cleaner look. Gowns without beading or lace with more streamlined skirts. There has been a movement in mothers gowns. Many mothers are moving away from typical old-school fashions and toward more youthful looks with bold sleeves, bows, and trendy necklines. Some mothers prefer jumpsuits.

What advice do you have for brides to be when choosing a wedding dress?

The best advice would be to always keep in mind that it is your day. You have dreamed of this for so long. Select the gown that you are most comfortable in and the one that makes you feel like the bell of the ball. You want to keep in mind a budget and be transparent about it. We would never want to put a gown on you that you fall in love with, but it is outside of your budget. Keep an open mind. A lot of the times you may like something on the hanger but not so much when you put it on, and vice versa. It is always good to bring someone with you who knows you and your style, but also limit the number of people, as sometimes to many opinions can be overwhelming. More importantly, enjoy the process; our hope is that your fitting will be memorable as we help you find your dream gown!

How do you help mothers of the bride and groom find the perfect outfit?

We start off by listening to them. Often, they have a list of things that they like, do not like, and areas that they want to hide. They also have an idea of the type of style that they imagine themselves in. We try to accommodate them, but we also try to throw in some out-of-the-box styles that we feel will compliment them. Frequently, they are pleasantly surprised and end up with that out-of-the-box style.

What are the most popular prom styles?

Sparkling sequins and bold colors. A lot of the girls like cutout designs, open backs, and slits. We are also very aware of each school's restrictions; whether it be an A-line or fitted gown, we strive to help each girl find the perfect gown that fits within their parameters. We register 13 schools for prom to help ensure that there are no twins at prom!

You carry a full line of tuxedos for any occasion?

We offer many different styles of tuxedos, from traditional to tails to different pattern choices. We also have tuxedos for all ages, whether it be for your communion, confirmation, sweet sixteen, or wedding, whether you are a guest or the groom.

Tell us about the accessories that you have.

We’d like to think that we are a one-stop shop. We carry a wide variety of accessories, which include headpieces, jewelry, veils, shoes, capes, and shawls.

What makes you different than any other bridal and formal wear shop?

Being a small family-owned business, we like to think of our customers as not just customers but as our family. A lot of our customers are repeat customers. We have some that we have fitted them with a 1st communion dress, sweet sixteen dress, prom dress and then their wedding dress. We have had some of our brides bring their daughter’s for their communion dresses, and so the cycle continues. Our slogan has always been “If we don’t take care of our customers, someone else will”. This is our daily motivation.

Video