Soon-to-be brides with an eye for sustainability have plenty of options for a low-waste celebration. Florals and food can be locally sourced, invitations and cards crafted from recycled materials, but what is to be done about the gown?
Salt Lake City’s Lovers Bridal Co. (a 2022 “Best of SLC” winner) offers an alternative to the “single use” gown by giving new life to vintage wedding dresses. Owner Kristina Batal has filled her shop on 800 South with one-of-a-kind gowns from bygone eras, beginning with the 1940s, and including a few pieces created as recently as the 1990s.
When making an appointment with Lovers Bridal—or “Joining the Love Club,” as Batal likes to call it—brides can request to try on specific dresses, or note a particular era, style or detail. Batal will find a gown in her collection to fit the bill. Often, brides will custom-tailor their picks for a personalized, modernized final look.
Occasionally, Batal will also help source a gown for a bride who is hunting for environmentally friendly wedding attire. Armed with a client’s wishlist, Batal has a knack for scouring estate sales, thrift stores and vintage collections to find the perfect dress.
But her true passion remains in that Say Yes To The Dress-style moment that she gets to share with her clients in person.
“There is a bit of bridal magic that happens in my store,” says Batal. “A bride’s number-one pick on the hanger often fits her like a glove. Everyone seems to have their perfect dress match.”
806 S. 800 East, Salt Lake City
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