For Richmondville resident Jeanne Cyr, her wedding doubled as business inspiration.
The 38-year-old launched The Thrifty Bride, a bridal- and formalwear thrift store at 1223 state Route 7, Richmondville on Dec. 1.
“I got married in September, and then my husband was like, ‘When are you going to get all the decorations out of the garage?’ and I was like, ‘What do you want me to do with it?’,” she said. “I tried listing it on Facebook (marketplace), but doing that individual is a nightmare. Then, I saw there’s tons of other people doing that same thing, so I said, ‘You know what? There’s nothing around here — Middleburg, Schoharie, Cobleskill — to get a wedding dress.’ You have to order from Amazon or Facebook marketplace or drive all the way to Albany for David’s Bridal. I’d heard they were filing for bankruptcy again, so I was like, ‘Wow, there’s really going to be no place to go.’ So, I took all our wedding money and I bought wedding lots — wedding decorations, dresses, everything.”
Cyr said her approach makes modern-life sense.
“We have two kids, a house and it’s unrealistic to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on one day, so I was like, ‘I’m going to open a bridal shop but do it as a thrift shop,’” she said. “I have probably 30 wedding dresses, and some of them are like $800 or $900 or $1,500 dresses, and I’m not doing any of them over $500. And any of them that need repairs — if they’re missing a button or some gems or if a seam has come apart — we repair and have them all cleaned.
“It’s formalwear too — prom gowns, bridesmaid dresses,” Cyr continued. “I’m also doing all my formal gowns (with) nothing over $90. I have brand-new gowns with tags for $200, and I’m doing them for $80 because, again, my focus is to keep it affordable. This is something in our community, so people can shop around here because, not only are dresses expensive, there’s gas, and it’s 45 minutes to Albany, so it’s saving time, money, gas, all of that. It’s just to make it easier for people; my motto is ‘beauty on a budget.’”
Customers, Cyr said, represent a mix.
“I’ve had a couple brides come in, I’ve had a girl come in and buy a gown for the firemen’s ball … I had a lady come in who was going to a Christmas concert, and it’s been all different ages,” she said. “And it seems like all over — Cobleskill, Middleburg, Schoharie.
“I’ve had an overwhelming response on Facebook,” Cyr continued. “I just opened and, every single day, I’m getting comments or messages or something. A lot of people have been asking about consignment, but I’m not doing that; I’m buying wedding dresses from people, or they’ve been donated.”
Cyr, who worked previously for “a company based in New Jersey that does all of Walmart’s flowers,” said she hopes to remain focused on the wedding industry while expanding her money-saving idea.
“My next thing is, if this really takes off, I want to open an actual wedding venue,” she said. “Because it was the exact same thing: when we went to get married, they want thousands and thousands of dollars — $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 for a venue — and that’s crazy. So, I’d like to branch off that way if this goes well. And I’m sure, (come) springtime, things are going to really ramp up for summer weddings.
“We’re also doing custom T-shirts and wedding signs,” Cyr continued. “And my friend sews and does alterations, so you can go here, get you decorations, your card box, your signs and you can get your dress and alterations and get everything done in one spot.”
The Thrifty Bride is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, find “The Thrifty Bride” on Facebook.