The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/19934
Something new Forget something borrowed or some- thing blue, Leilani’s bridal shop and event- planning just opened on Main Street in Oneonta to offer fresh merchandise for brides and anyone planning a special occasion. Photos by Alexandrea Biermann Stepping into Leilani’s, you’re transported from the hustle of Main Street to a bridal oasis. Brown and crème-colored walls give a feeling of warmth, while fresh flowers are thoughtfully placed throughout the store adding a sense of sophistication. Hardwood floors and a modern seating area add to the ambiance of Leilani’s. Racks of pajamas, lingerie, special occasion and bridesmaid dresses are placed on the open sales floor. Shoes are showcased on shelves and bridal purses hang on the wall in close proximity. An area of the store is dedicated to jewelry and attendant gifts, which are displayed in glass cases. Bridal gowns can be found lining the wall of the back corner of the store. Leilani’s features a private room, which can be booked by parties to try on merchandise while sipping on sparkling beverages as a photographer documents the experience. After a year of careful research and plan- ning, father and daughter duo, Louis Shear and Stephanie Miller, opened a new bridal shop, Leilani’s, earlier this month. Miller’s hus- band proposed the name, Lei- lani’s — Hawai- ian for heavenly flower — after a month filled with business name rejections by New York state. Before opening Leilani’s, Shear worked for six years as a jeweler. His daughter, Stepha- nie, worked for a non-profit organization and planned events in her spare time for family and friends. “Weddings, birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties, engagement parties; I did one divorce party,” Miller said. Over the last 10 years, while working with soon-to-be brides to find the perfect dress, Miller said she often felt something missing from the experiences they had: “You want the experi- ence to be different, fun, more memorable than what it was.” With the desire for a different bridal experi- ence, the support of family and friends and the combination of Shear and Miller’s expertise, Leilani’s was founded. Leilani’s strives to give each customer a memo- rable occasion. Miller’s eyes perked up when talking about her sincere passion for customer service. “We want it to be about them,” she said. Leilani’s offers event planning, with connec- tions to Albany, Syracuse, Binghamton and every- where in between. The price of wedding planning services gen- erally starts at $1,000, but can be negotiated depending on the needs of the client. Aside from offering event-planning services, Leilani’s sells virtually everything needed for a bride’s big day: wedding gowns, shoes, customiz- able veils and garters and lingerie. Wedding gowns range from size 0 to 24 and cost $300 to $3,000. A wide range of sizes and prices are also offered in shoes. In addition to engagement rings, wedding bands and special occasion jewelry, services such as ring cleanings and ring resizing are available, and engraving services will soon be offered as well. Shear and Miller stressed their devotion to helping customers find exactly what they’re looking for even if it requires a special order. The owners hope Leilani’s will grow into its space over time with the addition of more merchandise and new employees. Leilani’s also plans to feature artwork from lo- cal artists and students in the store. The shop is at 205 Main St. in Oneonta. Hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday by appointment. Tuesday and Thursday evening appointments, known as “Sparkling Appointments” in which sparkling beverages are served while customers try on merchandise, are also available. Appointments can be made by calling (607) 441-5115. _ Alexandrea Biermann Nov. 18, 2010 O-Town Scene 7