Today we’d like to introduce you to Adina Ringler.
Adina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started selling wedding dresses after I got married in 2013. Finding my wedding dress was probably one of the most exciting and most stressful parts of planning our wedding. My husband and I were on a pretty tight budget, but I still wanted to have that “dream dress” moment. I purchased a sample wedding dress from a bridal salon, and while it was beautiful and in my price range, it ended up not being “the one,” so I decided to list it for sale online. It sold very quickly, and I realized that there must be many other brides-to-be searching for gorgeous and affordable wedding dresses!
On my search for my wedding dress, I literally scoured the sample racks of every bridal salon in town. With a lot of persistence, I was finally able to find a dress I fell in love with, and I managed to stay within my budget. After my wedding, I got in touch with the bridal salon where I purchased my dress and I asked the owner if I could help sell some of their sample dresses online. They agreed and gave me a few dresses to sell on consignment. My relationship with the salon grew and I decided to start my own website – www.adinasbridal.com – to list the dresses I was selling.
My business started out really small – I only had a few dresses for sale and a really simple website. I was working full-time at a corporate job, so working on Adina’s Bridal really felt like a hobby. But I quickly fell in love with the wedding industry and in my heart of hearts, I knew I wanted to quit my day job and devote my time to growing this business.
Fast forward to 2014 when my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I became determined to grow my little business so I could stay at home with my daughter. I looked for ways to expand my inventory and began selling wedding dresses that have been discontinued from major retailers, such as J. Crew and BHLDN, in addition to the sample wedding gowns. Word spread about how I was selling affordable gowns, and brides started contacting me with requests to help them find their dream dress.
My daughter is now 2.5 years old and I can’t believe how much my daughter and my business have grown in such a short time! I feel so fortunate that I run a business I am proud of and passionate about and I am able to stay home with my daughter. I considered opening a storefront, but decided against it because I wanted to keep my overhead expenses low. Selling dresses online allows me to stay true to my mission of helping brides find their dream wedding dress – without breaking the bank! I have a room in my house dedicated as my ‘bridal salon’ so brides can make an appointment with me to try on dresses. I have had many brides tell me that they love the relaxed feeling of finding their dress from Adina’s Bridal. One bride told me that it felt like trying on designer wedding gowns at their best friend’s house!
Every item I sell has my seal of approval, which means it’s gorgeous, chic, in great condition and is a great deal. I personally select all of the dresses that I sell and I try to have something for every style – from traditional wedding gowns to more avant-garde dresses. I also sell Event / Bridesmaid Dresses, Shoes, Accessories, and Lingerie. I absolutely adore weddings and it’s such a fun and rewarding experience to help a bride find the perfect dress for her special day. I never felt more beautiful than I did on my wedding day and will always remember the look on my husband’s face as I walked down the aisle. I feel so blessed that I get to help other women feel this same way.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges for me is finding the balance between being a mom and being a business owner. Sometimes I feel like I’m rocking both worlds – sometimes I feel like I’m failing miserably. Trying to find a balance is something I struggle with on a daily basis. My husband and I are also discussing the possibility of baby #2 and I just don’t know how I will juggle it all. But at the end of the day, it all just works. Some days are hectic and crazy, some days blissful and chill, and some days just fly by and I feel like I got nothing accomplished. But knock on wood – my business is growing, my daughter is thriving, and I somehow manage to maintain my sanity (most of the time!).
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Adina’s Bridal – what should we know?
Adina’s Bridal specializes on Brides who are on a budget and brides who are not looking for a cookie cutter wedding dress. I have a ton of simple and elegant J. Crew gowns, boho and vintage-style BHLDN gowns, and unique designer sample gowns. What I am most proud of is helping brides get their dream dress without breaking the bank. It’s hard planning a wedding and maintaining a budget. Costs add up sooooo quickly. It’s the best feeling when a bride finds her perfect gown, and when I tell her the price, she does a little happy dance because she can’t believe how affordable it is! It’s just a good feeling being a part of a bride’s special day – a day she will always remember for the rest of her life. And when she thinks of her dress, she will remember me. How cool is that?! I don’t have employs or a showroom or a fancy salon. I run my business from my home and it’s a super casual and laid back setting. One bride said it was like trying on beautiful gowns in her best friend’s house. I don’t put any pressure on brides to buy and I don’t limit my appointments to only 45 min like most salons do. I encourage my brides to try on all different style dresses, just to have fun and see how they look on. Wedding dress shopping is supposed to be FUN – not stressful. That is something I definitely emphasize in all of my appointments. And when a bride gets that feeling where a little tear forms in their eye, or they get goosebumps, or they are left speechless, then you know they found their perfect dress. It’s such a fun and happy occasion!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I definitely think passion and determination are the most important aspects in my success. I was determined to make this business work. I loved it from the start and once I had my daughter, I knew this was path I wanted to follow. Quitting a stable 9-5 job was hard. I gave up a lot of security and that was really scary for me. But I knew that was a life I didn’t want anymore. I was miserable and I didn’t want my daughter to equate work with unhappiness – and I didn’t want to continue putting my energy into something that wasn’t bringing me joy. So, I took a risk and just did it. My business has evolved in ways I could have never imagined when I first started. And who knows where it will be 5 years from now. But that’s OK. Because through this process I have learned to believe in myself and trust my instincts and I know the future will be bright.
Pricing:
- ALL wedding gowns are under $1,000!
- Most wedding gowns are between $200 – $600
- Bridesmaid / Event Dresses are between $50 – $250
Contact Info:
- Website: www.adinasbridal.com
- Phone: 818-446-9648
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adinasbridal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdinasBridal
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdinasBridal
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/adinas-bridal-northridge
- Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/adinas-bridal-porter-ranch/25c9546e867e4ad7.html
Image Credit:
Savan photography
Emi Fujii Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
