Today we’d like to introduce you to Emelyne Peck
Hi Emelyne, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
While planning my own wedding, I discovered that I hated wedding dress shopping! Everything I had always dreamed of was far above my price range. I was planning on a tight budget, and I felt like I had to compromise on what I wanted in order to stay within my allowance. After my wedding, I decided to offer my dress for rent to other brides. I never wanted another bride to feel like she had to compromise on the most important dress of her life. My dress deserved to be worn and loved again! It was serving no purpose hanging in the closet. Thus, Laurels & Lace was born—my aim is to give brides an affordable way to wear the dress of their dreams.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting a new business, especially something like a bridal rental company, definitely comes with its fair share of challenges. Building trust with clients was my first hurdle. Since brides are renting something so personal and significant, trust is huge. You have to build confidence that the dress will be in great condition, fit well, and meet their expectations. Positive reviews and word-of-mouth can go a long way, but in the beginning, it can take time to get that trust from customers. I’d say my next hurdle was marketing and visibility. Getting the word out about my business was tough when I had just started out. The bridal industry is competitive, and finding ways to stand out—whether through social media, wedding fairs, or partnerships with other vendors—required a lot of time and effort. My last real challenge was figuring out pricing and profit margins. I want to be affordable enough to attract brides, but also charge enough to cover costs and make a profit.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I offer wedding dresses rentals. I currently have about 200 dresses of varying styles in sizes 0 – 20. I specialize in stocking modest wedding dresses. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints (LDS) and I have made it a priority to stock wedding dresses that cover LDS garments. Not only does it save my brides money in alterations but it allows them to see the dress with the alterations already completed. When you try on a dress in the shop that doesn’t cover garments, it’s hard to picture what it will look like with the modesty alterations made. This takes the guess work out! You don’t need to be religious to rent a dress at Laurels & Lace by any means, but I am proud to only offer modest dresses for rent.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most people probably don’t know that I have a Masters degree in statistics! I started this business for fun (and I do have a LOT of fun), but I am passionate about learning how data can drive decision making. I worked at a Data Analyst for years after graduating, but I took a step back to be home with my baby when my husband and I started our family. While I still maintain a love for the field of statistics, helping brides find their perfect wedding dress has been so fulfilling and brings me a lot of joy.
Pricing:
- Most of my dresses rent for $400 or $450.
- I also charge one dry cleaning fee of $85.
Contact Info:
