Today we’d like to introduce you to Jossa Henson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
First Look Bridal started as both an answered prayer and an idea born during a walk in Houston.
I entered the bridal industry in 2019 in Houston and quickly fell in love with it! I knew I would work with bridal gowns the rest of my life, but I could have never dreamed it would involve owning our own bridal boutique.
When my husband and I knew we were meant to move to Plano, the idea for a bridal boutique followed quickly. As a bride from Plano myself, I knew what could be added to the current market that would make First Look Bridal stand out. The name itself was decided on a whole year before the boutique ever opened!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t know if smooth is the right word, but it has been well-traveled and well worth it!
The largest hurdle to opening a business is what my mother likes to call the easiest solution- money. I entered the bridal industry in 2019, and COVID-19 began in early 2020. Until late 2021, COVID still created problems for small businesses around the world. It was difficult to prove that the concept of a bridal boutique in Plano would work, especially when other small businesses were having a hard time staying open against COVID, regulations around operating, and so many global events proving extravagant weddings not to be an immediate need. However, an answered prayer provided us with the money needed to start, and we haven’t looked back since!
The second greatest struggle is one that people who watch “Say Yes to The Dress” like to ask all the time about- what about bridezillas??
This often makes me chuckle, mostly because I don’t really believe the whole ‘bridezilla’ thing. Most brides who walk in are really just nervous about putting on a gown that will represent their favorite day ever! There can often be a lot of stress, pressure, and anxiety about throwing a party for so many people. When the boutique was in the process of opening, I took this information and tried to make the space reflect an environment of peace and joy. We operate with private to semi-private appointments, and no bride will have to see anyone else in a wedding gown but themselves. We also provide bubbly beverages to toast, after-work appointments that start at 5:30 PM on weekdays, and 5 appointment times on Saturdays!
As you know, we’re big fans of First Look Bridal. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
What should you know about us?
We are a bridal boutique in Plano that focuses on making the gown shopping experience a memory to last a lifetime! We offer private and semi-private appointments, complimentary champagne, designers that make all sizes 00-30, and exclusive designers that can only be found at First Look Bridal. We make the experience unlike any other by providing the bride with the needs to make her comfortable. If they want to FaceTime their family overseas, we will pull out laptop chargers and tables to set a laptop on! Don’t drink alcohol? We keep sparkling cider in stock at the boutique. Have children you want to bring? We absolutely love kids, and they are always invited! Something unique to the stage of life the boutique is in now is that it is entirely run by me and my husband.
What are we most proud of brand-wise?
We get a lot of compliments on our name, which always makes me happy! We loved the name First Look Bridal so much that it was actually decided on a whole year before we ever opened our doors! The name “First Look Bridal” has a few play-on-words. The first is the new trend in bridal called the first look. It is an event that happens on the day of the wedding where the bride and groom will see each other before the ceremony and share a ‘first look’ at each other. This is often captured in photographs and videos! A practical reason for this is to alleviate nerves before walking down the aisle, take photos before the wedding to allow more time with guests, and some amazing photos!
The name also plays on the idea that finding your gown and trying it on for the first time at our boutique will be your ‘first look’ at being a bride! Many brides explain that once they find their gown, they can start envisioning themselves walking down the aisle in that exact gown!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
We are actually in the middle of renovating the store currently to allow an additional fitting room! Something special about First Look Bridal currently is that the appointment is private, meaning when the bride and her party are there, there are no other parties. While this is incredibly unique, the building is nearly 2,400 square feet, which is huge for one party! We are renovating the building to allow for two appointments at a time, but we are dividing the building into two halves so that neither party will be disrupted. This allows each appointment to still remain private, but will give us the means to continue to grow- the more brides we serve, the more gowns and veils we can provide as options to Plano!
I see First Look Bridal in 5-10 years similar to what it is now, but with a larger reach. While I do not foresee multiple locations, I imagine growing our product available to brides to include things like jewelry, bridesmaid gowns, and flower girl gowns! We already have an awesome collaboration with Yellow Rose Lace with custom garters, and I only see collaborations growing.
Pricing:
- Gowns- range from $1300-$3000
- Average Gown- $1650
- Veils- $50-$700
- Average Veil- $200
Contact Info:
- Website: www.firstlookbridaltx.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/firstlookbridaltx
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/firstlookbridaltx
Image Credits
@aliciapaige_photography
@samj.studios
@monicacassellphotography
@katylynnphotography
