Thursday, May 22, 1997

Angie fits in the bridal business

By BOB BRUCE / Senior Staff Writer

When Angie Clark opened Angie's Bridal, she was looking for a part-time business, something that would let her work about half a day.

So she posted half-day hours: 1-5 p.m.

"After my first Saturday, I knew that was not going to last," Angie said, laughing in recollection.

That was four years ago. Now it's full time - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

And Angie says if she caved in to customer demand, the doors would be open to 10 at night.

But she loves it.

"It's a fun business. We fulfill a little girl's dream when she becomes a woman," Angie said. "It's not really tiring - not when you're enjoying yourself. And the brides always have a story to tell."

When they come to be fitted, their stories span the spectrum of emotions.

"Some say, 'I can't do this - I'll come back later,' " Angie said, especially if their mothers have died.

"We see a lot of tears," Angie said.

Once she let a bride take her gown and veil and all the accessories to the hospital where her mother was terminally ill with cancer. The sight of her daughter, fully attired in her wedding dress, brought a smile. Two days later, the woman died.

At other times, the brides' minds are just in a whirl.

"They're in a different state of mind when they leave. They leave sunglasses, shoes, purses, keys," Angie said.

Angie's introduction to the wedding business began 10 years ago when she planned her daughter's wedding.

"It was a 'Cinderella' wedding," she said.

It worked out well. So well, in fact, that friends said, "You need to open a brides' shop."

Encouragement also came from her husband, Tom Clark, now retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He now goes to market with her and does her computer work.

The shop became a reality in April 1993, opening with 10 wedding gowns and 500 square feet.

Now space has tripled to 1,500 feet and she has an inventory of about 230 gowns - plus accessories such as veils, shoes, jewelry, garters and unity candles.

"We do everything for the bride," Angie said.

That's everything in the way of apparel. But no arrangements for flowers, photographer or caterer.

"It goes no further than the shop," Angie emphasized.

At one time she was involved in consulting, too, but no longer. She may offer advice, but that's it.

The apparel part - creating an ensemble for the bride - has simply overwhelmed other wedding aspects.

Angie said her gowns range in price from about $300 to $1,500 and average $650 to $750.

Most gowns are made in China or elsewhere in the Orient.

"Some are made in the U.S. but very few. My personal view is because of labor," Angie said.

When a bride walks in, she usually has an idea of what kind of wedding she wants, whether it's traditional, romantic or simple.

"We get to know the bride first," Angie said. The process of selecting a gown takes two or three hours.

"Or sometimes all day," Angie said. "The most we've tried on (one person) was 37 gowns."

Selecting the veil is important, too.

"Finding the right veil to complement the wedding gown is as important as the gown," Angie said.

May and June are busy in the bridal business - a period in which Angie probably has 30 weddings.

The busy season gets rolling months earlier, however.

"Our busy time starts in January after the girls get their rings for Christmas. We'll stay busy through August," she said.

Things finally slow down during the last quarter of the year.

"The business is growing by leaps and bounds. Everyone is telling us we need to expand. I couldn't do it without my seamstresses," she said.

Angie's Bridal is located west of the Mall of Abilene at 3351 Turner Drive, Suite 107 N.