Five Questions with local business owner Laura Mullen
Laura Mullen is the owner of local businesses Lily Saratoga and the new Styled by Lily Saratoga, both located in Saratoga Springs. More information is available online at www.lilysaratoga.com and www.styledbylilysaratoga.com.
1. What is Styled by Lily? Styled by Lily Saratoga is a boutique that caters to bridesmaids and mother of the bride/ groom. We’re located in a new building on the corner of Church and Lawrence.
2. Why did you decide to start this business?
I own Lily Saratoga, a bridal boutique with wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses and accessories. After a physical expansion and renovation in 2019, we found ourselves still feeling crowded in our current space in Franklin Square. Simultaneously, a friend had let me know about a new retail space available around the corner from our original location. I decided to expand the business by separating out bridesmaids and bridal, and moving bridesmaids down the street. The move was a winwin all around as it allowed us to cater to more brides at Lily’s, expand our sizing selection for bridesmaids, and introduce mother-of-the bride/groom, a niche I feel has been missing in our market.
3. What can guests expect when they visit your bridal party boutique?
Lily Saratoga is located in a former Victorian Era hotel, with lots of architectural and quaint details. I knew it would be tough to replicate that, so I decided to change directions when creating “Styled.” Styled has a more modern-elegant vibe. The walls are soft and neutral, to allow the colorful dresses to be the center of attention. We have an amazing feature wall that was created with the help of our new neighbors, Samantha Nass Floral Design Shoppe, perfect for taking pictures with your bridal party!
When designing the space, I wanted to create a more intimate area for the mothers, and a space for bridesmaids that could be opened up for a larger bridal party experience. The mother of the bride area has a private fitting room and viewing area with space for four guests. The bridesmaid suite is divided in two by a curtain, which can be opened for parties of 10. Each side has two fitting rooms and seating for five people.
4. What’s popular this wedding season?
Neutrals and shades of green have been very popular for bridesmaids! We’re still seeing the mix-and-match trend going strong. Many of our mothers have been loving simple, clean silhouettes with some structural details.
5. What is your ultimate goal for Styled by Lily?
I would love to have more “ready-to-wear” styles in store. Currently, we have been following the traditional bridal shop model of carrying mostly made-to-order dresses, which can take anywhere from two to five months to arrive. With more ready-to-wear dresses, we would also be able to cater to wedding guests and gala attendees.