Strut Bridal

In March 2009, long before Strut Bridal Salon was open, co-owner Ann embarked upon the typical bridal odyssey—a quest to find the perfect plus size wedding dress. She searched high and low to find a contemporary wedding gown to fit and flatter her curves. She wanted something to make her feel pretty on her wedding day. But nothing fit. Samples were too small. She went from store to store, dragging her sister-in-law behind, trying to stuff herself into too-small wedding gowns. And at the end of that tiring weekend, she grumbled to her older brother, Bob, “I’m the size of an average US woman. Why doesn’t someone open a bridal salon where women like me can actually try on dresses?!” And he replied, probably tired of her whining, “Yes, why don’t you?” He, being the nerdy (he’d call it numbers-oriented but opinions vary) big brother, sent her a start-up budget before she got to work the very next morning. And then he revised it and resent it. Before 8am (see why we say nerdy?!). And thus the partnership began.