Meet Your Bridal Consultants
Your Consultants are here to make your visit to Charlotte's a fun-filled and stress-free event.
Jeri 
Manager
What is your favorite part about helping brides and working for Charlotte’s Weddings? How long have you worked here?
I love helping brides solve their wedding dilemmas. Whether it be helping them find a dress they feel beautiful in or figuring out how to get "the dress" of their dreams in time for a fast approaching wedding, my job allows me to be creative and help other people. I've worked at Charlotte's Weddings for ten years. I work with wonderful supportive women. The shop offers me a flexible schedule that allows me to work and raise my son.
My favorite moments have been created by my customers. I have tons of brides who I've loved working with, three of which epitomize my favorites. The first is a bride I helped years ago. She was tall and plus size. At the start of the appointment she told me what she was looking for in a gown and then sadly told me what her dream dress would look like if she had the body to wear it. We found her dream dress. It was a dress that was flattering to her body and most importantly a dress she felt beautiful in. As she stood looking in the mirror crying, she told me she had never felt so beautiful. It is amazing to help women feel good about themselves and I think that's why this bride has stuck with me for so long.
The second bride I helped this year. Despite all our efforts, her gown came in wrong from the designer and it was my job to figure out how to fix the problem. I scheduled and appointment with her to view her in her gown and go over her concerns about her gown. When she arrived, she was hopping mad and brought her parents who were there to defend their daughter. Although I was shaking (it's never fun to help an unhappy customer), I could see and understand all of her concerns. To make a long story short, this bride and I worked together (and with the designer) to correct the issues with her gown and get her to the altar. When she came to pick up the gown from steam and press, she came bearing a gift and thank you card. We make mistakes, as do the designers we carry, and when we do it feels wonderful to make it right. I appreciated the trust this customer put in me to make it right.
The last bride that really has created favorite moments for me also got married this last year. She had an amazingly positive attitude and friendly demeanor. She was a super busy career woman, but still made time to smell the roses. She was excited about her wedding and so in love with her guy. She was great to her friends and bridesmaids and they were great to her. One of my favorite parts about my job is working with wonderful women.
What kind of advice would you give brides about dress shopping?
Buy your gown from the store you most enjoyed visiting. You'll be working with the people at that store a lot and you should feel comfortable with them.
There may just be one soul mate for all of us to marry, but there's more than one gown that can be "the dress." Don't worry if you don't burst into tears and just know it's right. Some of us don't have that moment.
Limit the number of guests you bring to initial appointments. Once you've defined what you're looking for and have a few favorite gowns, then bring the whole family.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working at Charlotte’s?
When I'm not working I spend time with my family. During the week I love to go on outings with my son (4) and my niece (5). I love to decorate, craft, garden, scrapbook and play soccer when I have time. I also have a wonderful network of friends and neighbors that I love to spend time with.
Suzanne
Assistant Manager
What is your favorite part about helping brides and working for Charlotte's Weddings? How long have you worked here?
I love meeting and working with so many different types of people. Getting to work with a bride to choose her gown, meeting her friends and family, and being part of such a special time in someone's life makes this job so rewarding.
Do you have a favorite moment/story from working at Charlotte's?
There is not one particular moment/story that stands out from all the rest. There are too many to mention! I would say that most, if not all, of my stories involve earning the trust of my brides and building a relationship that helps to settle nerves and leads to that special moment when the bride realizes she is wearing "the" dress!
What kind of advice would you give your brides about dress shopping?
Go with your instincts. It's a great idea to look at web sites, and magazines to get a feel for what you like, but when it gets down to trying things on, go with what you love and what you feel beautiful in.
What do you like to do when you aren't working at Charlotte's?
Spend time with my family and friends, going to the beach, cooking and enjoying Portland culture.
Vicky
Bridal Consultant
What is your favorite part about helping brides and working for Charlotte’s Weddings? How long have you worked here?
I have worked at Charlotte’s for almost 2 years. What I love about helping brides is seeing their wedding dreams come true. It is such a great feeling to help a bride find just the right gown. There is an unmistakable glow in a bride’s eyes when she finds the perfect gown and can imagine walking down the aisle feeling beautiful.
Do you have a favorite moment/story from working at Charlotte’s?
On several occasions I have had brides come in who are very shy and not looking forward to dress shopping. I love it when, by the end of the appointment, they feel like the most beautiful girl and are so excited to have everybody see them on their big day.
What kind of advice would you give brides about dress shopping?
I would do some research online first. Looking online helps narrow what appeals to you the most. Another piece of advice would be to keep an open mind and try on new things. There have been so many times when a bride has fallen in love with a gown she would have never thought of trying on.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working at Charlotte’s?
I love to spend time with my family. I am an outdoorsy person and enjoy going fishing with my son and boyfriend. I’m a big Blazer fan and love going to games. On rainy days I enjoy staying home with my son and reading books to him.
Laurie
Shipping and Receiving
What is your favorite part about helping brides and working for Charlotte’s Weddings? How long have you worked here?
I’ve worked at Charlottes for 5 years and love getting to know the brides and their vision for their wedding day. It’s really fun to see them find the dress of their dreams. I love being creative and helping brides realize their creative vision.
Do you have a favorite moment/story from working at Charlotte’s?
I had a bride who was very apprehensive about coming in to try on dresses because she was concerned that nothing would fit. We ended up creating a custom dress that flattered her figure in every way and she looked beautiful. When she tried her dress on for the first time it brought her to happy tears, turning a negative experience into a great one!
What kind of advice would you give brides about dress shopping?
Give yourself plenty of time. You’ll have more choices and options and will be happier and more relaxed about the entire experience if you give yourself plenty of time.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working at Charlotte’s?
I like to create a great atmosphere for myself and my family at home. Anything creative! I spend a lot of time with my children and doing service for my church.
Melissa
Bridal Consultant, Tuxedos Manager
What is your favorite part about helping brides and working for Charlotte's Weddings? How long have you worked here?
My favorite part of helping a bride is the "wow" moment. That's the moment when a bride first sees herself in the dress that she loves. Often, a friend or mother will tear up too. I love that!
Do you have a favorite moment/story from working at Charlotte's?
I once had a bride and her family start singing to me during our appointment. I was stunned. Here's five women and a four year old boy explaining how dinosaurs "flatten the earth" through song.
What kind of advice would you give your brides about dress shopping?
Be open to the possibilities. There are many styles that look great on that you may not have considered. Give your consultant a chance to surprise you.
What do you like to do when you aren't working at Charlotte's?
I'm usually playing with my kids, or if it's quiet, I'm designing knitting patterns.
Lauren
Bridal Consultant
What is your favorite part about helping brides and working for Charlotte’s Weddings? How long have you worked here?
I've worked at Charlotte's for a little over two years and have had the opportunity to help many brides find the gown of their dreams. My favorite part about working for Charlotte's is taking a bride through all the steps needed to make her feel at ease when purchasing her gown. Finding the perfect gown is the most important purchase to many brides I encounter and I get the job of making the process as fun, easy and relaxing as it can be. It's a thrill and I enjoy every minute of it.
Do you have a favorite moment/story from working at Charlotte’s?
I have so many great memories from brides that I've worked with, so it's really difficult to choose just one. I would have to say the most memorable moment I have in recent memory was when a bride came in on a prior occasion and picked out a gown to try on. When we had the chance to put it on, she instantly fell in love and didn't want to try on any more. She was ecstatic. Not only did she find her dream gown on the first try, but it was a great price and it fit her like a glove. She took it out of the store that day and was able to check it off her list.
What kind of advice would you give brides about dress shopping?
I tell my brides to just relax and have fun. Bring your friends and family and make a day out of trying on gowns. Ultimately the decision is up to the bride, but it helps to have the opinions of the ones you love and trust. Also, if you find the gown you love, you should go for it. It's one big thing to check off your list and the gown style can play a big role in the decor of the rest of your wedding.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working at Charlotte’s?
My time is typically consumed trying to finish my last year of engineering school. When I'm not studying, however, I love playing soccer and tennis, riding my bike, hanging out with my fellow engineering students, gardening and loving my two rabbit children.
Corinne
Bridal Consultant
What is your favorite part about helping brides and working for Charlotte's Weddings? How long have you worked here?
I've worked at Charlotte's for about 2 1/2 months. My favorite aspect of helping brides is that I get to meet them at one of the most exciting points in their lives. They're planning their weddings and whether they've been dreaming about this day since they were six or never thought they'd ever get married, it's a big moment that I get to help with! I love it when brides come into their appointments with enthusiasm, geared up to see what I have to show them and willing to try on anything I bring in the room.
Do you have a favorite moment/story from working at Charlotte's?
I have a couple of favorite moments from working at Charlotte's. One was an appointment with one girl, she'd been to two or three other stores and was tired of striking out over and over. The second dress we put on her, she lit up. Her mom and soon to be mother-in-law immediately yelled, "that's so you!" On their way out, she said that she'd been dreading this appointment and ended up not only finding her gown, but also having a great time. My other favorite moment was a bride who'd just gotten engaged and was starting out on all her wedding planning. She was so happy to be in the store, trying on dresses. Every time I walked into the room, she went "ooh, I like those." We found a dress that she loved and she started flirting with the dress on the hanger. When she winked at the dress and said, "Hey hot mama, how you doin'?" I totally lost it giggling. In both situations, I'm proud that I was able to help brides find gorgeous dresses and that they had a good time doing it. That's what I'm here for!
What kind of advice would you give your brides about dress shopping?
The biggest advice I would give to brides is to listen to yourself. While it's always good to bring your mom or a friend to bounce ideas of off and get a second opinion, ultimately you're the one wearing it. Also, If you don't have that moment "where you just know it's THE dress," don't worry. That's normal too, not everyone is able to make a decision that instantaneously. Don't let anyone talk you into a style, shape, or fabric that you don't love, or make you second guess yourself if you don't immediately burst into tears. Trust your instincts and the way you feel in the dress.
What do you like to do when you aren't working at Charlotte's?
When I'm not working at Charlotte's, I'm working on breaking into the Portland theatre world as an actor/dancer. I also love to read (huge book nerd), watch movies, go running, and play at the ocean. I drink too much coffee and eat too many french fries and ice cream. I enjoy getting to hang out with friends, and spend quality time with my husband and dog, Nestle.
Oneida
Bridal Consultant/Tuxedos
What is your favorite part about helping brides and working for Charlotte's Weddings? How long have you worked here?
My favorite part about helping brides is hearing about their plans, learning about thir style, and having that one on one relationship.To help a bride pick out the most important gown of their lives is so rewarding, not to mention helping the entire wedding party. To see the reaction of a bride when she puts on "the" gown for the first time, is so memorable, and exciting. When I see the whole wedding coming together from beginning to end it is very gratifying. Starting new relationships with different people and their families. Also having the ability to be creative and play dress up!! It is truly rewarding to see a bride feel beautiful, and find happiness. I've been with Charlotte's for a total of 3yrs and 6months. I started in 2003 and moved states in 2006, realizing that I needed to come back.
Do you have a favorite moment/story from working at Charlotte's?
One of my favorite moments was when I came back to Charlotte's and helped a particular bride. She had set up an appointment and I happened to be her consultant, and we started her appointment as usual. We talked about her wedding and what she was looking for in a bridal gown. So I went to hunt for the perfect gown. When I came back in to the room, she turned to me and said, "I think I remember you." I was very confused, and she said, "you helped my sister find her wedding dress too." I was shocked. I definitely remembered her sister and her. I was excited and honored she had remembered me and that I was able to help her find her "perfect" gown.
What kind of advice would you give your brides about dress shopping?
The best advice I have to all you beautiful brides is be open to all options. Try everything on!! Look through magazines, and online. Get a feel for what's out there. Don't hold back just try, try, try!! UNTIL....... you find the one that makes you feel beautiful, and you get that gut feeling. Once you have purchased your gown, stop looking. Move on to the next big thing.
What do you like to do when you aren't working at Charlotte's?
When I'm not at work and depending on the season, I like to be outside. Hanging out with my friends. On those awesome Portland rainy days I like to sew and be creative. In the winter I like to snow board and in the summer I like to go hiking, and to the coast. I also like sports. Going to an awesome Winter Hawks game, and can't forget about the Blazers, is so much fun!
Rachel
Bridal Consultant
What is your favorite part about helping brides and working for Charlotte's Weddings? How long have you worked here?
I started working for Charlotte’s in November of 2009 and since then I have discovered that I pretty much love everything about working with brides. I love being a part of their wedding journey and especially helping them find one of the most important pieces of their dream day….their dress! There is just something amazing about being there for the moment when a bride looks at herself in the mirror and says “This is my dress!”
Do you have a favorite moment/story from working at Charlotte's?
By far, my most favorite moment thus far has actually been with a bride’s Mom. My first appointment with this particular bride was so much fun…..she brought her Mom and a couple other friends and family members with her and they were all so excited and thrilled to be there. I really connected with this bride and we had a great time trying on dresses and creating her wedding look. At the end of the appointment, as we were finishing up the order, the bride’s Mom pulled me aside, gave me a big hug and just thanked me over and over again for giving her daughter a wonderful dress shopping experience. She had been looking forward to that day for a very long time and she said it was everything she had ever hoped for! It was a teary moment for both of us and one that I will never forget!
What kind of advice would you give your brides about dress shopping?
Do some preliminary homework before you start your shopping. Look online and at magazine pictures to get an idea about the various styles you like as well as the overall “look” you want to create for your wedding day. Share your findings with your consultant so they know where to start when pulling gowns for you, but also be open to trying on gowns that stretch your imagination. Bring a couple friends or family members with you to be there for this wonderful moment in your life, but stay true to yourself and remember that your dress is truly that…..yours! You will know when you have found “the one”!
What do you like to do when you aren't working at Charlotte's?
Spend time with my husband and two amazing children! I am completely in love with my little family and I take advantage of every chance I get to spend with them.
