New boutique focuses on bridesmaids

Shop features dresses from top designers, jewelry, purses, shoes and flower girl attire

LAUREN ROMANO/VIEWBella Bridesmaid owner Jamie Johnson shows off her store at 9555 S. Eastern Ave. Johnson opened the store in February and put a different twist on the typical bridal shop by catering to bridesmaids rather than the bride. Advertisement

Bridesmaids are there to assist the bride, to help her make decisions and keep everything running smoothly. But that doesn't mean she has to wear an ugly dress. At least not anymore.

Jamie Johnson, who opened Bella Bridesmaid in February, said the trend of floor-length, matching dresses in bright colors that make sure the bride is the most beautiful woman in the room has changed.

"She will always be the most beautiful. She's the bride," Johnson said.

Bella Bridesmaid, 9555 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 250, is an independently owned boutique franchise catering to the maids.

"These girls are spending a ton of money, and they're the bride's best friends," Johnson said. "They deserve to be treated well, too."

Johnson said the bride still chooses the dress and the color, but the dresses are lot more friendly to her bridal party.

The popular styles are shorter cocktail dresses that are made of materials that can be worn again.

In the case of a very formal weddings, Johnson said floor-length dresses still are appropriate.

Johnson, a Henderson native, was manager of weddings at Wynn Las Vegas before opening Bella Bridesmaid.

"I love weddings," she said. "It's just the most exciting time for a bride."

Johnson said she wanted to focus on wedding attire because when she got married at Lake Las Vegas a few years ago, she had to travel to San Francisco to find her dress, as well as her bridesmaids' dresses.

"Planning a wedding is stressful enough," Johnson said. "You don't need to go anywhere else."

Bella Bridesmaid carries a large range of styles, designs and colors. Numerous designers, including After Six, Coren Moore and Simple Silhouettes, are available at Bella, and some are exclusive to the store.

Johnson said it's important for bridal parties to order their dresses from the same store at the same time so that the dresses are cut from the same cloth. She said colors from one piece of fabric to another can be slightly different, and it can stand out in photos.

In addition to bridesmaid dresses, Bella also carries purses, jewelry, shoes, flower girl attire, mother of the bride dresses and a small selection of informal bride's dresses. Johnson said it is becoming popular for brides to change into a fun dress for dancing, and the dresses at Bella are perfect for the second change.

Most dresses can be altered to create unique, fun dresses. Straps can be moved or changed, and the dresses come long or short, with patterns or many colors.

"Designers are doing families of dresses," said Natalie Rempp, Johnson's mother, who works in the store. "They are the same dress, but they fit different body styles."

"There is a dress for everyone here," Johnson said.

Dresses should be ordered about 12 to 14 weeks before the wedding, but Johnson said if girls can order the dresses 16 weeks before, that is even better.

Dresses range from $180 to $400, with an average price of $220.

Bella Bridesmaid is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and by appointment on Sunday and Monday.

Johnson said she likes to work by appointment every day so she can give everyone attention.

For information, call 547-2355 or visit www.bellabridesmaid.com.

Contact Henderson View reporter Lauren Romano at lromano@viewnews.com or 477-3839.