Written by Megin Potter | Photos by Susan Blackburn Photography
Written by Megin Potter | Photos by Susan Blackburn Photography
Climb the stairs in the foyer of this beautiful Victorian-era brick building and indulge in the romance of Something Bleu Bridal - a captivating combination of the latest fashions and a unique setting.
Feel transported by the fine architectural details, intricate woodwork, and alluring spaces in this circa 1890 building, at 75 Woodlawn Avenue, just a block off Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs.
After you pull your eyes away from the three ornate fireplaces in the Grant Plaza’s enchanting front ballroom, let them fall upon the racks of gorgeous gowns - dazzling with this season’s hottest styles - absolutely blooming with pearls, big bows, and large floral patterns.
“They are here, touch them, try them on. We want this to be a super welcoming and enjoyable experience,” said Brandi Solomon, Something Bleu Bridal’s new owner.
What Dreams are Made of
Starting out in the bridal business when she was just 15 years old, Brandi said having the opportunity to run the long-established shop is a dream come true for her and her clients.
“I love the face a girl makes when she’s found the perfect dress; she has tears in her eyes – it’s a dream come true and that’s just the best feeling.”
A designer sales representative accustomed to traveling from Maine to Washington D.C., Brandi is taking what she learned from those years on the road and applying it to the shop, which was originally founded by Denise Eliopulos as the Bird of Paradise but underwent a change of ownership in 2018 when Marissa Mackay took over. Marissa, who had been a Something Bleu bride in 2010, now has two young children, ages 2 and 4, and was looking to make a career change. Brandi first looked at the space in September 2023, and after several months of mentoring from Marissa, officially took over ownership in January 2024.
“I definitely have huge shoes to fill but I’m up for the challenge. I bring the standards and quality of my personal experience in my attentiveness to the bride,” said Brandi.
Historic Charm, Modern Convenience
When a bride came in for a wedding that was just two weeks away, Brandi simply said, “We’ll find you a dress. We’ll figure it out. We don’t say, ‘no’ to anyone.”
Although most brides don’t have quite such a tight timeline, Brandi said the trend now is for brides to shop later, and to spend less. In response, Something Bleu Bridal is now carrying dresses that appeal to every price range. They also work with designers willing to rush, and can recommend three seamstresses who reliably deliver, even in a crunch.
Something Bleu Bridal remained open during their transition, and despite the change in ownership, has retained the same staff. Brandi is preserving the interesting character of this historic structure, applying fresh paint, and adding attractive furniture to create a clean, contemporary look.
Here, there is now something for everyone from their collection of elegant mother-of-the-bride dresses from three different designers, and wedding gowns by eight designers, in sample sizes up to 24/26.
“I’ve seen it all and picked the brains of other shop owners to see what worked or didn’t. Something Bleu Bridal is on par with other stores in Saratoga and the location is perfect. We have a lot of brides who come for the track, from downstate and Long Island. There are a lot of stores down there but they like the quaintness of Saratoga and want that more personalized experience that we can give them.”
For information on Something Bleu Bridal, visit them on their updated website, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. Also, look for new Something Bleu Bridal video content, now on Tik Tok.
