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The display windows at Big Rock Little Rooster are brimming with spectacular wedding dresses, but upon entering the airy space at 654 N. High St. it’s immediately obvious that this is not your standard bridal shop.
First, store manager Kristin Cooke greets each visitor warmly and enthusiastically, even encouraging them to touch the gowns on hand. (I’ve visited quite a few bridal shops in my 27 years and I’ve never once been invited to finger the merchandise.)
Second, I haven’t been aware of a bridal shop’s soundtrack prior to my trip to BRLR, where George Strait’s “I Saw God Today” was followed by Ne-Yo’s “Mad.”
Such music choices not only lend the shop a hip aura, but also jibe with its slogan: that BRLR is a store for “cool chicks” who are “a little city, a little country.”
BRLR’s target customer is a young woman –in her late 20s or early thirties− who might visit the store in flip flops and Levi’s, but hits the town in Rock & Republic jeans and Louboutin heels, says Cooke.
“She gets fashion and loves to rock out in today’s style trends, but she’s a down-to-earth, great girl,” she adds.
For additional proof that BRLR is a break from the bridal norm, look no further than its dresses.
The store carries a total of 30 wedding gowns by Christos, Romona Keveza, Amy Michelson, Kenneth Pool and –drumroll, please− Vera Wang. (In fact, BRLR is the only authorized Vera Wang bridal collection boutique in Columbus!)
“No two are alike,” Cooke says. And I have to agree; the dresses are well edited, ranging from frothy, tulle confections to sleek, silk satin ones. Some are tinged with color while others are sparkling white. Embellishments include large bows, sashes, and Swarovski crystals.
Prices start at $2,500.
Twenty bridesmaids’ dresses and four flower girl dresses, all by Vera Wang, also are available at BRLR. However, the store plans to stock other maids vendors beginning next spring.
In addition to dresses, BRLR −which opened August 14− offer veils, tiaras, headbands, jewelry (half of which is made by local artisan Jamie Linscott), books on weddings and style, picture frames, and Maddison Avenue soy candles.
“It’s about fashion and having fun, not the bridal experience,” Cooke says, uttering the last two words in a low, slow manner that made me laugh out loud.
The decision to set up shop in the Short North was obvious to BRLR’s owners, Rebecca Reeder and Scott Osborne, Cooke says. Not only is the neighborhood in the heart of Columbus, its proximity to Rose Bredl Flowers, On Paper, and Jacob Neal Salon makes it “a one-stop shop for brides.”
Despite having been open for just a few weeks, BRLR has already placed “a few orders and more are in the works,” Cooke says. “Buying a dress is something that shouldn’t be rushed. We want our brides to feel comfortable enough to come back two or three times to try again, and know they’ve found the perfect dress for their perfect day!”
Weekend trunk shows, “which are a lot of fun and allow us to bring more styles in for variety” are slated for the fall, Cooke says, starting with Vera Wang this month; Kenneth Pool and Amy Michelson shows will take place in October and November, respectively.
Big Rock Little Rooster’s store hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., though Cooke says brides can make appointments at any time. To do so, call 614-754-8116.
Over the course of my interview with Kristin Cooke, it became clear that she is very knowledgeable about current and future wedding trends. Below are her observations about:
Wedding dresses
- Knee length is trendy, especially for garden weddings and beach weddings.
- Colored sashes, colored edging, or full-on colored gowns are gaining popularity.
- Eco-friendly dresses with “green” elements, like remnant fabrics and vegetable dyes, also are on trend.
Veils
- Many brides are choosing to wear shorter veils, especially birdcage styles, or forgoing veils entirely.
Bridesmaids’ dresses
- Deep jewel tones, particularly dark purple, are huge this fall.
- Softer purples, greens, and roses are popular for spring.
- Monochromatic color schemes in neutral shades, such as crème and beige, are trendy for the bridal party (as well as the groom and groomsmen) since they look great against green grass, tree lines, and sunsets.
Photos by Cat Meyers.
Not too sold on the name, but other than that lookin good! I’ll never personally be able to use this business, but still a solid addition to the neighborhood!
I stopped by the store yesterday and was really impressed. Kristin was so enthusiastic and asked a ton of questions about my recent engagement. I think the store is a great addition to the Short North and will definitely be going back when I am ready to buy a dress.
It looks great, I was a little confused that a bridal store was locating in the neighborhood until I saw it. It’s beautiful, tastefully done, and a good fit for it’s neighboring salon. I was a little disappointed to hear that even a bridal store put up an OSU flag yesterday but that’s a battle not worth fighting so all in all, great addition to the neighborhood and I wish them a lot of success.
I didnt like that it was closed during gallery hop for a bridal fitting. Not the best plan idea. Im sure the store missed out on a lot of traffic which could have been great for business.
The store looks fabulous!!!!!!!!! Love everything about it, it’s edgy, creative, soooooo fashion forward…in fact, makes we want to walk down the aisle again. (Although I definitely don’t fit the demographic!)
You ROCK!
Okay…thought the store looked great and the write ups made me want to go and check it out. BUT, when you say that you’re a “little country” because you live in Ohio. Is that serious? Since when is Columbus country. Stopped in to see if there was anything I wanted for my upcoming nuptials and SO over priced it was ridiculous. Seeing as how we’re “country” maybe you should attempt to lower your cost. Sales staff was over the top. Would not buy anything, or go back. And I have to agree with Tigertree…why the OSU flag? So not a part of the bridal world.
Great store and shopping experience. I will definitly be back for my dress. Sounds like you have sour grapes over the price of great fashion Tigresstree. Their prices are definitly within reason for the designers. Loved the store, service, and atmosphere. Not sure what Tigresstree meant by the “OSU flag”?? Sounds like she has something against OSU and Ohio. I don’t think “little country” is because the store is in Columbus. Good grief, get a life..LOL. Obviously Tigresstree and Tigertree is the same person.
So, had to check out the store since I just got enaged and am marrying next August. Was kind of turned off by the “meow” of Beemergirl36 (sounds like someone knows the people that work there), but went in with an open mind and my mom’s credit card (could life be better!). Definitely saw some things that caught my eye, but was a bit hurt by the service…I guess I wasn’t dressed up enough in order to receive the service that I so deserved…here I am with a credit card burning a hole in my pocket. Wanted to try on some dresses, but it was difficult with the clutter for an event on Saturday. Found the one woman very short and somewhat rude when I asked about certain dresses and ideas for what she thought would work for me. In the end, I left with a bad taste in my mouth and headed to Saks…where I must say they were very willing to treat me with the respect and sweetness that a bride-to-be is looking for. Yes, Big Rock has a great selection, but it almost seemed over the top…and a bit bitchy. I’m a Columbus girl (although I am definitely not a little country…might be a good idea to take that out of your description…Ohio is not country…you might be thinking of somewhere else) and I really wanted to support a new Cbus business. I would not suggest going there…just my honest opinion. If you want to rip me apart for leaving my feedback, totally your call…but felt others should know…it was very pretentious, and I did not care for the service at all.
Okay, it has to be said…what the heck is up with the name of this store? Am I alone when I say that I don’t think of my fiance as a “rooster” – or as some of the signs (in what would appear to be a classy store) call him a “cock”. Trust me, I get it, it’s a play on words, but when I brouth my fiance’s mother and grandmother with me, let’s just say that they did not get the “joke”. The store is very nice, beautiful selection, but it was a bit stupid to have such signs displayed. My future mother-in-law was disgusted, and even thought I found things I liked, we did not stay. CHANGE THE NAME!!!! IT’S SO DUMB! AND MAKES A CLASSY STORE SEEM TACKY.