Five years ago, after business partners Jenny Pinto and Meghan Lawlor settled on a name for their shop, Lillian Lottie Couture opened its doors. Drawing inspiration from family, the two named their bridal boutique after very important people in their lives, their maternal grandmothers. Today, the shop services Scottsdale and Phoenix brides-to-be, their grooms, and bridal parties, helping them find the perfect gowns, suits and accessories for their special day.
A visit to Lillian Lottie Couture is treated as a special occasion. Megan and Jenny are dedicated to making a connection with each bride, catering to their special requests to customize and create a dream dress. Each bride, and whomever they decide to bring to an appointment, are welcome to stay at the shop as long as necessary to find that feeling of joy when “the dress” has been discovered. Searching through what seems like an endless sea of white, brides are given the opportunity to select the perfect gown with their ideal silhouette, gorgeous fabric and just the right amount of detail.
“Helping a girl who doesn’t get to feel as special in her day-to-day life be the center of attention for a few hours, is the best part of my job,” said Megan. “You only get married once, and each bride deserves an amazing bridal shopping experience.”
For Meghan, the first steps to bridal boutique ownership began as a student graduating with a second degree in fashion design from Miami International University of Art and Design. After graduation she relocated abroad, attending the Paris Fashion Institute. With her design and merchandising background, coupled with her new knowledge of couture style and design execution, she began her fashion career at a couture house in Florida. An interest in the niche bridal market came when her twin sister became engaged, and Megan offered to make her gown, bridesmaid dresses, veil and accessories. After her sister’s big day, Megan realized she had the necessary tools and experience to make an impact in the market of customized wedding gowns.
The success of Lillian Lottie Couture has led the duo to expand their boutique, soon to a new location. Each gown in-store is a sample, which allows the bride to select the look of her future dress, then order it custom fit to her body. This gives her the chance to add to the dress or make changes to truly create a one-of-a-kind gown. Every woman’s dream.
For all brides-to-be, the almost engaged and the wedding day dreamers, Megan’s top tip for dress shopping is to scale back on the number of gowns you try on, saying it can be too confusing. “There are thousands and thousands of gowns, with new ones arriving each week. If you love the gown and it is the right price, stop there, buy it, and stand confident about your purchase.”
A recent trip to bridal market in Chicago gave Megan and Jenny a preview of the new bridal trends for next season. The two say ballgowns are the new popular silhouette, and a detail to look out for – gowns with beautiful sequin-adorned lace. A fan of avant garde designs, Megan looks to designers to surprise her with new collections filled with over the top accessories, ruffles and beading. Some may call them “monsters of gowns”, but those truly make her fall in love!
You can visit Lillian Lottie Couture at 8100 E. Indian School Rd. #110 in Scottsdale.
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