Blye’s seeks bridal photos for album

A lightbulb went off for Carrie Giannakos recently while she was assisting one bride-to-be at Blye’s Bridal Shoppe.

The customer brought along her mother and her grandmother to the fitting, and it was during that fitting that Giannakos learned that all three women had purchased their gowns at the longstanding Kokomo shop.

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photos:http://www.marieprom.co.uk/long-prom-dresses

“That made three generations of brides in one family who had purchased their bridal gowns from Blye’s,” Giannakos said.

While Giannakos only has worked at Blye’s since December, she learned from the owners, Deenie Clarkson and Vicky Sofianopoulos, that those types of stories were common among customers.

Blye’s, the boutique-style formal wear store located at 219 N. Main St. in downtown Kokomo, has been helping brides find their short prom dresses for decades. While the current owners have had the shop for more than 25 years, it has been a Kokomo staple since its opening in 1948.

According to the owners, customers love to share family history with the staff.

“It is not at all unusual to have a mom say, ‘I bought my prom dress and my wedding gown here. Now I am back to help my daughter find her bridal gown,’” said Giannakos.

Knowing how many women are out there who have purchased gowns since the store’s opening, Giannakos is hoping to create a photo album of the decades of dresses from local women. To make the book as inclusive as possible, Giannakos is asking the community to submit their bridal photo. The goal is to collect enough photos to create a book that tells, through wedding pictures of its customers, the history of Blye’s. Those who have generations of dresses in their families will be displayed on the same page, she said.

Giannakos said she’s looking forward to seeing the photos and how the styles of dresses have changed over the years “from the empire waists and flared sleeves and daisies in the 1960s to the cathedral-length trains, full-length veils, and oversized bouquets influenced by the 1981 wedding of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles, to the gowns of today, which feature frothy skirts, crystals, and beading.”

To be included, submit a high-resolution digital photo to Blye’s via e-mail to blyesbridal@att.net with the names of the bride and groom, the wedding date, and where they were married. If the bridesmaid’s dresses and/or tuxedos came from Blye’s, she said to feel free to send a picture of the entire wedding party.

If it is not possible to get a wedding picture sent by e-mail, call Blye’s Bridal Shoppe at 765-452-1219, and Giannakos said she will find a way to get the photograph.

“When the book is complete, Blye’s Brides will be a pictorial history of Blye’s brides through the decades, as well as a ‘thank you’ to all who have allowed the team at Blye’s Bridal Shoppe to share in their big day,” she said.

Additionally, Blye’s is participating, for the first time, in National Bridal Sale Day, which takes place July 16. Dresses will be on sale starting at $99, and non-sale short formal dresses purchased that day will come with a free headpiece or veil valued up to $250.

Read more:http://www.marieprom.co.uk/short-prom-dresses