Let your vision come to life with a dreamy dress shopping experience offered by Valerie at Blue Pearl Bridal & Occasion. This charming boutique, located in Cameron Park, CA, currently operates by private appointment only! It is the best space for picking out the perfect wedding dress for your big day.
Spotlight Summary
Join me for a chat with Valerie Lyons, owner of Blue Pearl Bridal & Occasion. Specializing in wedding and prom/homecoming gowns, Valerie also offers a wide selection of dresses for mothers of the bride and groom. She shares insights on popular wedding trends, tips for enjoying the bridal shopping experience, and advice for fellow small business owners. Let’s dive in—and say yes to a dress!
Vendor Spotlight: Blue Pearl Bridal & Occasion
Q: Welcome here! Please begin with telling us who you are, what you do & where we can find you!
A: I’m Valerie Lyons, owner of Blue Pearl Bridal and Occasion. Blue Pearl is a bridal boutique that also offers dresses for mother-of-the-bride and groom, prom/homecoming and bridesmaids. My goal is to make dress shopping as fun, comfortable and memorable as possible. We are located at 3460 Robin Ln, Suite 12, Cameron Park, CA 95682. You can find me on Instagram @bluepearlbridal, Facebook under Blue Pearl Bridal & Occasion or at my website, www.bluepearlbridal.com.
Q: What are you seeing as far as wedding dress trends?
A: Some brides want all of it: the sparkle, the volume, all the glam. And there are others seeking no sparkle, something simple. Boho has been popular in our area. I’ve seen a lot of 90s trends coming back, like the big sleeves or a basque waist. As far as color, ivory is the baseline which is very flattering for most skin tones. But then there are fun colors too with the champagnes or nude linings that appear blush.
Dresses that transition from ceremony to reception are really in. Like full overskirts with volume that you can remove to reveal a beaded sheath, mini dress or even a jumpsuit for the reception. Or detachable sleeves are exciting. It is fun seeing how some people are either really daring and want to do the latest things, or there’s other ones that are still looking for a really classic bridal look.
Q: How about prom dress trends?
A: In just the past year, since I purchased my initial inventory, I’ve come to realize how important it is to have a well-balanced mix of styles. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with young ladies loving bright colors, tulle and sequins! I was afraid the trends were going to be overly grown-up styles. It is the best when they find something that’s fun and reflects their personality.
Pro Tip: Another feature I offer is a prom registry. Once you’ve found the perfect dress, I’ll register it so that no one else from your school has the same one!
Q: When brides show you their dream dress, where are they pulling inspiration from?
A: Still mostly Pinterest. I also prompt them before their appointment with an optional interview asking questions like “what are you looking for, what kind of back, what kind of material, etc.” And I love it when people come in with an open mind.
Q: Are people still wearing veils for their wedding day?
A: It is about 50/50 I would say. If they are opting for a veil, most people are wearing veils just for the ceremony. And a lot of veils are really simple, too. No blushers (the layer of the veil that covers the face) and it’s hard to even find veils with a blusher these days. Many of these dresses are so ornate and that may turn brides away from a veil because they don’t want to “overdo it”. Or because they don’t want to cover up the gorgeous details of their dress.
Q: Do brides seem to have any reservations about selecting a more modern bridal style?
A: I don’t hear a lot of concern anymore about, like “what’s grandma gonna think about this?” or whatever. And it’s not necessarily just about deep cleavage or something like that. Brides seem to be comfortable with sheer panels, or totally open backs to their dresses. I think it’s amazing—it offers something for everyone and gives each person the chance to feel truly special on their big day.
Q: What is something special about trying on wedding dresses in-person versus online shopping?
A: You may have an idea in your head of what you think you’re gonna like, but then you put it on. And you don’t love it, or it’s not your style. When people book with me, I encourage them to try on a variety of styles. For example, even if someone thinks they don’t want a puffy dress, I might suggest they give it a try—this is their moment, and there’s no better time than now. And there’s a lot of people that say, “I didn’t think I would like this at all, but I do!” Or if you have a group with you that you trust, let your guests select something for you to try on and you may surprise yourself.
I allow people to take their time in their appointments. It’s less about churning people through and more about creating a memory. To me, let’s make the whole experience feel beautiful and comfortable here, so when you find the perfect dress that fits your vision, you’re walking down the aisle glowing and happy and confident.
Q: What wedding dress sizes do you offer in-store to try on?
A: From the moment I opened my store, I knew I wanted to be as inclusive as possible of all sizes and shapes. I have samples that start at a bridal size 8 (American size 4 or 6) and go all the way to a 32W. I also carry curve-specific dresses that feature a double corset inside for extra support. My advice is don’t pay attention to the number. Let’s pay attention to how you feel and how you look.
Q: When should a bride start shopping for their wedding dress, and when should they buy their wedding dress?
A: I think as a rule a lot of times you hear nine months at least beforehand to start the shopping. To me, I think six months beforehand to place the order is a good rule. Make sure your dress’s ship date from the designer is at least three months before your wedding day. To me, the dress is one of the bigger things and you’ve got a million other things on your list that are being finalized. Have your dress done, you know?
Q: What if someone’s on a tight timeline and needs a dress in three months or less?
A: I work with a few major designers who are among the largest suppliers in the country. They keep an inventory of their most popular styles pre-made and ready to ship quickly. I have real-time access to their stock and can filter by size and style to see what’s available in time for your big day.
I also partner with an L.A.-based supplier (who handles many of our prom dresses) that can get styles to the store in just 3–4 days—perfect for those working with a tight timeline. While these resources are great to have, I don’t recommend waiting too long—last-minute availability is limited, so ordering sooner gives you more options.
There’s a section in my store for off-the-rack sample dresses that can go home with you today. They’ve been tried on and should probably be cleaned, or may need a few repairs, before they make their debut on your wedding day. But there are also a few that just happened to be discontinued shortly after I purchased them. Those are practically new—maybe tried on once or twice. So there are definitely great options here if you need a dress fast!
Q: What is the process after the shopping appointment and someone says “Yes to their dress”?
A: Before placing your order, I confirm the designer’s estimated ship dates to ensure your dress will arrive in time. Many designers will generally ship within three to four months. The estimated ship date is a worst-case-scenario and many dresses arrive sooner than that. Once I place your order with the designer, a seamstress is assigned to begin working on your dress, which usually takes about 12 weeks. These gowns are largely, if not entirely, handmade with careful attention to detail. After your dress arrives, you can begin the alteration process if needed. Depending on the scope of the alterations, this can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Q: What do you mean by wedding dress alterations?
A: Minor alterations could be shortening the straps, adding a bustle (a gathering of a long train so it’s shorter during the social part of the festivities), sewing in bra cups, etc. Dress length is often something you can order to match your measurements—or at least get pretty close to what you need. Major alterations could be taking in the waist, lowering the back, a complete redesign of sleeves or neckline, etc.
Q: What is the typical timeframe for alterations?
A: For major alterations, you’ll need to allow at least two months, which includes multiple fitting appointments. Minor alterations, however, can often be completed within a few weeks. I work with an incredible seamstress named Lupe, who has nearly 20 years of experience in bridal alterations. She’s wonderfully efficient, which can help shorten the timeline for my clients who choose to work with both of us.
Q: What size would you recommend people order?
A: Order for the size you are in at your appointment. There’s a lot of brides that want to wait until the last minute to order because they’re working on losing 10-15 pounds. I completely get that—honestly, I think most of us feel that way at some point. But life happens, and changing your body isn’t easy! Order your current size and plan for some alterations if/when your body does change.
Q: Has a bride ever come to you for a ‘dress redemption’ after ordering online from another retailer and being disappointed when it arrived?
A: Yes. However, let me begin by saying there is nothing wrong with finding your wedding dress online. If it’s your dress, then it’s your dress! And it doesn’t matter where they purchase it, whether that be Amazon or Lulu’s or wherever.
But there are the occasions where someone has shopped online, and they were underwhelmed or it didn’t work out. The bride either didn’t like the way the dress fit, and they’re realizing that there’s more to a wedding dress when they are crafted with quality fabrics and structure in mind. Or that what they’ve been ordering online isn’t as bridal as they’re hoping.
I feel like it could also be less about what they bought online, and more about missing the shopping experience, which is totally understandable. When people get here, I want them to settle in, maybe get out their beverages of choice, and feel welcome. Get comfortable before jumping and getting excited about the experience! Because there is always the first dress they try on, they come through the curtains of the changing room and it’s like, *gasp* “First time in a wedding dress!” And that’s a big deal. Does it feel the same when you pull a dress out of a bag or a box, alone at home? Maybe it is but also, maybe it’s not. To me, these experiences, like cake tasting or shopping for the wedding venue, are all part of the process and the dress shopping can be the most fun of the process.
Q: Would you say people are feeling like it’s too stressful to do all these experiences before the wedding?
A: That could be a part of it, for sure. Lately I have had a handful of brides waiting until later in the process to come in a shop for their dress. We are talking about three months before their wedding day. Which is okay, there are options but not as many options. And some of these brides felt overwhelmed be that from the idea of shopping in general, or maybe the social pressure of finding “the dress” for your wedding day.
Q: How long have you been in the wedding business?
A: I am excited to say we are almost at the one year mark! I have been in the business since August 2024, so not quite one year as of this interview but close. It was probably around early 2023 when I started tossing around some business ideas.
Q: What made you want to open a bridal boutique?
A: I spent about 15 years in the corporate world, mostly in tech. I loved my job, but the pandemic left me burned out. I took a break, but when the tech industry tanked, I knew I had to pivot.
Talking with my husband, he asked if I really wanted to keep the corporate lifestyle. I realized I didn’t. When he asked what I’d do instead, I joked about opening a wine bar or a wedding shop. He encouraged me to just go for it—and I was surprised he was serious! And I feel super thankful that we were in a place where we were able to even consider something fun like this.
There were many ideas we were considering at the time. I began researching whether the idea was feasible locally. With my corporate background, I felt confident I could run a business. I took everything I knew—costs, profit and loss, timelines—and put it all on paper to make the plan real.
In the end, I always came back to retail and weddings. I enjoy working with people and love our community. Plus, I love being part of people’s happiest moments.
There is not a ton a bridal in El Dorado County, and my competitors just down the hill have been in business a long time. I want to offer one more option for brides to shop locally in a space that offers a welcoming, personal experience with a small town feel.
Q: What was something that was helpful when starting your business?
A: Once I was content with the business plan, I reached out to the Northern California SBDC with some questions. I was then connected with one of the most incredible women I have ever met, Panda Morgan. Panda services the Sierra branch of the NorCal SBDC, and she started to meet with me once a month to provide guidance for those very fundamental, basic questions. She helped me with a million things, like connecting me with a business lender through the State of California. The state subsidizes mentoring services for people that are starting up businesses and people just don’t know about it.
Panda and I still meet now, though it is more like once a quarter and she has been a wealth of knowledge. Her thing is, “When people want help, I’m happy to help. If they’re committed, I’m committed.” It was refreshing to find state resources that are actually helpful and easy to navigate.
Q: What else have you learned while opening the boutique?
A: It’s been fun to be on the flip side of working with the designers as the buyer. When I was in the tech industry, I was on the other side of the relationship working with Costco and BestBuy as the retail channel manager. But now I get to be the one shopping for the products I want displayed in the store. And that comes with its own negative side effects because the bridal industry is really expensive. I buy all my samples, and then I have to buy a certain number every year. The first few years while the business picks-up are hard, and I don’t expect to make much money during that time. I knew that going in and I can’t blame myself, it’s just part of it.
Q: What is next for Blue Pearl Bridal & Occasion?
A: Well, I love my location now in Cameron Park. It’s accessible for those looking to make a day of dress shopping and coming from Placerville or down the hill in El Dorado Hills, Folsom, or even Sacramento. But as I grow my business and gain a reputation in the area, I would love to move into a larger space! And once I’m in a larger space I want to expand into bridesmaid dresses and tuxes to offer a full-service experience. Right now, I’m excited to keep meeting new brides and offering the best possible bridal shopping experience in the area!
Conclusion
Thank you for joining me on getting to know Valerie and learning more about the dress shopping experience hosted by Blue Pearl Bridal & Occasion for weddings and events. Please visit her website for more information and to reach out with any questions you might have!
I hope there is something you were able to take away from this Vendor Spotlight with Blue Pearl Bridal & Occasion. Remember to Pin this post for when you are ready for next steps.
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Wow, these dresses are absolutely stunning!
How beautiful! Absolutely love small businesses and boutique shops <3
Beautiful dresses! Wow these are gorgeous.
Best go to website for alllll of the wedding planning info!