Dress Dilemma Turns Into Bridal Business

Brides-to-be know that one of the climactic aspects of wedding planning is finding the perfect dress. But with thousands of styles and designers to choose from, it almost seems like an impossible task. Elaborate styles – think Kate Middleton’s elegant dress with a long train and lace sleeves – adorn racks at various boutiques, but one shop in Chinatown is bringing things back to basics.

Love & Lace, which opened last month, is the brainchild of Janna Frash, who struggled to find a simple dress for her wedding last year.

“I went to all of the major bridal stores in Honolulu,” she recalls. Had she had the time to check the designer Stores in Takapuna or alike stores elsewhere, she might have found what she was looking for. But that was not the case in point for her. She didn’t seem to have the time. However, thanks to that, the idea to open Love & Lace sprouted, then!

“Most brides have a vision of what they want their dress to look like. For me, I just wanted a very simple spaghetti strap gown, no embellishments or anything” says Janna Frash.

Right now, the boutique has a small collection of gowns by San Francisco’s Amy Kuschel and Sarah Seven, and Australia’s Sarah Janks, as well as bridal accessories from Untamed Petals featuring works by New York’s Amanda Judge. All styles are hand-picked by Frash, who often chooses garments that suit Hawaii weather, and all dresses (ranging in price from $1,600 to $3,200) are exclusive to Love & Lace.

The selection might be small, but Frash aims to curate a wide variety of styles.

“Some don’t have any decor at all, no lace and no beading,” explains Frash, “and I have some with tasteful lace and very (sparse) beading.”

Love & Lace marks the start of Frash’s first entrepreneurial voyage – an experience that she admits has been challenging so far.

“The wedding industry in Hawaii is smaller than people think,” she explains. She has learned to always be ready for anything, and says a positive attitude goes a long way in helping things run smoothly.

Though only in business for a month, Frash already has isolated her favorite part of her Love & Lace journey: getting to know the brides.

The experience that Love & Lace seeks to provide, Frash says, is almost like trying on clothes at your friend’s house.

“There’s no pressure, no stress,” she explains. “My main goal is to have fun and pretend that you’re just trying on clothes. If they do find a dress, that’s awesome. I just want them to have a good experience because there are so many other factors to weddings. I want this to be the least stressful part for brides.”

Love & Lace is located at 1127 Bethel Street #11 in Chinatown (above Fighting Eel) and is open by appointment only – book online at loveandlacehawaii.com. To keep up with the boutique, follow it on Facebook (facebook.com/loveandlacehawaii) and Instagram (@loveandlacehi).

SPREAD SOME HOLIDAY ALOHA

We have great news for all of you last-minute shoppers out there. My Aloha Post is offering a deal on holiday boxes for friends and family on outer islands, as well as in Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the UK. The company invites locals to send a bit of paradise to loved ones for a discounted price of $35.

Boxes contain pikake green tea from Hula Hula Tea, an anthurium ice cream cone sunglass/eyeglass case from Kauai Dry Goods, a starfish “From the Ocean Comes Life” tea towel from Noho Designs and a dozen Christmas gift tags from Wrappily. Also just for the holiday season, My Aloha Post will offer limited-collection boxes such as its Take it Easy Box ($35), Tropical Dreams Box ($40) and Carpe Diem Box ($50).

For more information, visit myalohapost.com/product/hawaii-for-the-holidays.