Say yes to your wedding dress in CHS. We recently had the chance to sit down with Tierney Simpson Jutzi, owner of The Bridal House of Charleston (BHC). Jutzi tells us about her team, what the bridal shop has to offer, and what makes them special.
City Editor Callie here. Listen, I get it: wedding planning can be stressful. But the team at BHC puts the fun in finding your perfect dress, plus you’re treated like royalty when you walk through their doors.
About Bridal House of Charleston
What makes you different from other bridal shops in the area?
The Bridal House of Charleston has a sense of tradition and a level of customer service that is second to none. We treat every bride who walks through our doors with the utmost respect and are 100% committed to providing the absolute best shopping experience. This store has served generations of beautiful brides, and we are honored every time a new customer is referred to us. Even brides who didn’t purchase through The Bridal House often send us referrals, which I take as a tremendous compliment and testament to the service we provide.
How long has the store been in the area?
We are Charleston’s oldest bridal boutique and have been in business for 37 years. I took over in 2015.
Meet the team.
- Tierney Jutzi, Owner: A graduate of the College of Charleston, I have lived in Charleston for 22 years and dedicated over a decade to my career in bridal. I was fortunate to learn under some wonderful mentors and had the opportunity to purchase the Bridal House in 2015. I wouldn’t trade the 8.5 years of insanely hard work and the joy of getting to know my brides for anything. I live in Avondale with my husband, Joe, who teaches Anatomy + Physiology at West Ashley High School, my fabulous 4-year-old daughter, Kennedy, our Springer Spaniel, Doc, and our Pittie, Sweet Pea.
- Anne Reid, Store Manager: Anne has been in bridal for eight years and is the most passionate, kind, knowledgeable manager anyone will ever meet. A native Charlestonian, Anne has moved around for various career pursuits and found her way back to the Lowcountry. Her background includes design work and studies at Parsons School of Design. Anne also published a collection of her styling work at the Bridal House of Charleston. Anne makes every bride feel like her best self, and her enthusiasm is completely genuine. She lives with her boyfriend and beloved fish on James Island.
- Naomi Rogers, Senior Stylist: Naomi is our resident cheerleader and brings an extensive background in fashion, retail, media, and photography production to our team. She has styled for major publications, including British Vogue, and worked with high fashion labels, including Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren, and Prada. Naomi came to Charleston from England, by way of Boston, and lives with her husband, teenage daughter, and dog in I’On. Her oldest daughter, Stella, is studying at University in London.
- Peyton Ross, Senior Stylist: Peyton has been with us for a little over a year and has already proven herself a committed and talented stylist. A Missouri native, she graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she excelled in her Fashion degree. Our brides love Peyton’s colorful style, larger-than-life personality, and quick wit. She lives in West Ashley with her giant Goldendoodle, Murphy, and is enjoying everything Charleston has to offer.
What is your favorite thing about BHC?
Everything. I’m sure that sounds like a generic response, but I really do love my business. The wedding business is not for everyone, but I love the fact that every day is different, and I get to connect with generations of brides. Even on the most challenging days, I’m honored to play a small part in someone’s big day. Making our brides look and, most importantly, feel beautiful is a joy.
Details of dress shopping
Is it important to shop for your dress where you live?
Absolutely. We are firm believers in supporting the local businesses that support us and shopping local is vital to Charleston’s economy. Shopping at a local salon also makes it much easier for the bride in terms of fittings, finding accessories, and taking advantage of our expertise.
Do you accommodate destination brides?
We actually have a significant number of destination brides and do everything in our power to accommodate travel schedules, fittings, and shipping, and to serve as a resource throughout the process.
What types of budgets can you accommodate?
Most of our special order gowns range from $1,500 to $6,000, but the majority are priced between $1,800 and $3,000. We also try to accommodate brides with budgets under $1,500 with our off-the-rack options.
Can you talk about buying off-the-rack vs special-order dresses?
Each season (generally twice per year), we invest in several new styles from our designers, all of which are exclusive to our store in the Charleston area. We sample these styles in a wide range of sizes and options and then special order these styles for each bride who purchases. Depending on the style, we also offer customizations (like train extensions, adding buttons, modifying necklines, etc.) to suit each bride’s unique taste. When a bride comes in on a shorter timeline or lower price point, we often sell our samples off-the-rack to accommodate them.
What is a trunk show + how often do they happen?
During a trunk show, we bring in new styles from our various designers so that our brides have the opportunity to purchase these styles before they are available in stores. These events usually last two-three days and we offer them several times a year.
In your opinion what dress or dress style says Charleston?
What a question. With the varied demographics of our area and the vast array of local venues available, I’m happy to say that there is no one definition of the average Charleston bride’s style. She’s traditionally chic with a modern twist. She wants her dress to reflect her unique personality but also wants a look that is timeless. Whatever her style and taste, we are confident that one of our 300+ dresses will be “The One” that makes the bride want to say “I Do” to her something new.
