Kamryn Hesington gracie ' s bridal
Liz Stoner normans bridal
page 92 X metropolitan weddings
X WINTER / SPRING 2025
Kamryn Hesington gracie ' s bridal
From a young age , Kamryn was obsessed with all things bridal . As a child she would sketch wedding gowns and “ plan ” weddings . She started working at Gracie ’ s part-time while in college , working her way up and finally taking a leap of faith and purchasing the business in 2021 . Now with 6 years of experience under her belt , and a team of qualified and expert consultants , Kamryn and crew love being a part of this special memory for brides . “ I just love seeing the look on their faces when they find the one . That is the best part of my job !” At Gracie ' s Bridal , they feel like finding your perfect dress should be a personal and memorable experience . They know having the right stylist and a beautiful setting are important parts to that special moment !
Kamryn gets excited when she sees all the latest trends in wedding gowns . “ I personally am in love with all the bows and basque waists ! We are also seeing lots of sleek looks .” Gracie ’ s carries wedding dresses from size 0 - 34 , ensuring all women of any size can find their dream dress .
Gracie ’ s Bridal is one of the few area boutiques that also carry Motherof-the-Bride and Mother-of-the-Groom dresses . As for these dresses , she is seeing lots of champagne , black , and sage gowns trending right now . But moms don ’ t have to be pinned down to one old , frumpy style . Kamryn says beaded tops paired with flowy skirts or simple looks with one fun detail like a ruffle strap are becoming popular right now .
When you are ready to find your dream dress , Kamryn advises brides to be prepared to have fun ! “ This is such a special day to find the dress that you will get married in . It should be stress free and you should go with your gut !” Do come with a budget in mind . Nothing is worse than falling in love with a dress that you can ’ t afford . Know your budget and be honest with your consultant about it . At Gracie ’ s , we work hard to find every bride a beautiful dress that they love and that fits within their set parameters . If you can , order your dress 9-12 months in advance . Most designers take 4-6 months to custom make your gown , plus you will need an additional 2 months in alterations . Don ’ t have that much time ? Gracie ’ s can still help you find the perfect gown for your timeline .
So sit back and dream . Your dream dress can be found at Gracie ’ s bridal . They prioritize having the perfect dress for every bride , no matter the style , budget , or size . With half of our store being size 0-14 and half being 16-32W , Gracie ’ s specializes in size inclusivity . Every bride deserves their dream wedding dress experience !
FAVORITE ACCESSORY : Bows ! “ I am all about the bows this season ! The more bows the better ! Whether it ’ s on the dress or in your hair , it ’ s such a fun and classic touch ! I am also always a fan of veils ! The bigger the better in my opinion ! You have one chance to wear a veil ! Go for it !”
Liz Stoner normans bridal
Experience . Expertise . Knowledge . Selection . Customer service . After 44 years of being in the bridal business , this is how most people describe Normans Bridal and their incredible staff . Liz Stoner is a second generation owner of Normans Bridal . Along with her mother , Brenda , you will always find one of these two owners at their bridal salon , smiling and enjoying making midwest Missouri area brides ' dreams a reality .
Liz loves coming to work every day . She has amazing coworkers who love their job as much as she does and she says , “ when working with brides , you are a part of their memories forever ! Plus it is really fun to see all the new styles come in twice a year . It is like Christmas !”
While we live in the midwest , Liz is seeing trends that lean towards sleek , simple and modern . The latest trends seem to be brocade fabrics , corset bodices and basque waist lines . Having been in the industry for so long , she says , “ while many of the trends are not ‘ new ,’ but they are coming back in style again .”
Normans offers a huge selection of dresses for brides to choose from in their 9,000 square foot store and have sizes from 4-32 in stock to try on . From their latest collections to an “ Off the Rack ” clearance area , there is a dress that can fit anyone ’ s budget .
Like most bridal professionals , Liz cautions brides from bringing too many people with her to shop for the perfect dress . “ Bring people who are supportive and share your vision . I hate to see brides overwhelmed and upset because the people they brought are so outspoken with their own points of view rather than having the bride ' s best interests in mind .” The ideal time to shop for a wedding dress is 7-12 months ahead of your big day . Don ’ t wait until it is too late , but if you do , you can find something in Normans ’ “ Off the Rack ” area ! But one of the biggest mistakes Liz sees is when brides come in with a set idea of what they want . “ Be willing to try on different styles . Our staff are experts at finding the perfect dress for every body type .” Be prepared to purchase your dress when you are trying them on . If you are not ready to purchase , you will not get the real emotions and real feelings of “ this is the dress for me !”
When you want to be treated like family , because weddings are their passion , shop at Normans , a locally owned family boutique with 44 years of experience at making brides dreams come true .
FAVORITE ACCESSORY : A veil ! “ Ladies who have never seen themselves look like a bride before , and put it on when they have found the perfect dress , that is when the happy tears start to flow ! Nothing says ‘ I am the bride ’ like a veil !”