Detail in the Design Custom Boots for Your Perfect Day
By SHELBI LEMEILLEUR
PHOTO BY JAY HARDY
These boots are made for walkin ’
… down the aisle ! Wearing boots is a Texas wedding trend with brides , groomsmen , and guests all likely to don cowboy leather footwear . The next step up in the trend is to have custom boots created for your special affair . The Mule Barn Boutique in College Station caters to this trend , and owner Nancy Gilmore notes that custom boots can add a distinctly personal touch to a wedding .
“ We make everything about that boot according to the wishes of the customer ,” Gilmore says . “ They can make it as creative as they imagine .”
Some brides choose to create boots just for themselves , while others clad the bridesmaids , groom , and groomsmen in matching boots , too . Gilmore says wedding parties can choose different materials and colors to match the wedding theme , or keep it simple with tooling and stitching to create a custom look . Brides interested in custom boots should expect a minimum of three months for delivery after the order is placed .
“ It ’ s something great for bridal shots , I think , to have a beautiful pair of boots with their colors and dates ,” says Gilmore .
30 INSITE September 2017
Wearing boots is a Texas wedding trend with brides , groomsmen , and guests all just as likely to don cowboy custom kicks
If custom kicks aren ’ t your wedding fancy , Mule Barn is still the place for unique . Gilmore personally designs most of the boots Mule Barn sells through Anderson
Bean , Rios of Mercedes , and Black Jack . “ We can fit people ,” Gilmore says . “ By that I mean we can do a custom boot where they would draw their foot – that costs extra of course – but they would make a boot for them to fit that drawing .” The drawing is then saved and can be used again in the future for any other custom designs desired .
Gilmore has found that many people don ’ t buy boots off the shelf anymore because they are often uncomfortable . Mule Barn has nine trained professionals between their two locations . All go through a rigorous training process before they assist customers with custom fit and design .
Mule Barn uses a company out of El Paso that makes hand-made , hand-tooled boots . It usually takes two to three months to finish a custom order , which is much quicker than most other companies . Cost for the most basic custom design is $ 425 and goes up as you change leathers , inlays , stitching , and so on . Custom measures are an additional $ 150 .
For a custom boot consultation , visit Mule Barn at either their Madisonville or College Station location . i