Cathy Karniss, owner of Country Bridal, prepares to cut a ribbon during a grand opening ceremony on Friday afternoon. Karniss and her husband, Tony, used to run another bridal shop before they decided to focus on a boutique store after the recession began.
Brides-to-be have another option in Centralia following the Friday grand opening of Country Bridal, which offers affordable dresses for brides, bridesmaids and flower girls.
The business is both a new venture and return to form for owners Cathy and Tony Karniss, who operate the Sparkles and Spurs boutique next door and who used to run a bridal store before the economy took a nosedive during the recession.
Now they’re back with Country Bridal, which was recently remodeled by Tony Karniss.
“I just knew that it was the best time to get back in,” Cathy Karniss said.
The name reflects their catering to the community, and they hope to offer unique dresses, like ones with camoflauge patterns and customized cowgirl boots.
Cathy Karniss said they also stock a wide variety of items ranging from veils, shoes, boots and flower girl dresses, and if they don’t have a particular item in, they can order it.
“We just have everything,” Cathy Karniss said.
The price is also right, with some dresses priced in under $300 and higher-end dresses rarely running more than $1,000.
But Cathy Karniss said these dresses are all quality garments that can be altered by an in-store seamstress.
“If it’s going to be $500, $600 it will be something they can’t get anywhere else,” she said.
Karla Vaughan is the store’s assistant and said her favorite part is getting to meet the brides as they come in.
She said “Happily Ever After Starts Here” is their motto.
“Every time they come in, it’s a unique story,” she said. “It’s like a happy business, it’s a happy time in their life.”
Country Bridal will be at the South Sound Wedding Show today, which begins at 10 a.m. going through 3:30 p.m. at St. Martin’s University in Lacey.
They will also be appearing at the LOFT in Chehalis on Feb. 18 for a bridal show. The Chehalis Wedding Show will begin at 10 a.m. and run through 4 p.m. and is located at 547 NW Pacific Ave.
