Today we’d like to introduce you to Ramona Southard.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I went to law school and started practicing but quickly realized that it was not for me. I felt creatively stifled and unchallenged and got to the point where I was dreading going into work. Because my husband is amazing and supportive, he encouraged me to figure out what I wanted to do and what sort of career change I wanted to pursue.
After many months of research and analyzing, and above all prayer, we stumbled upon an existing bridal salon for sale in our area. We quickly realized that we would change everything about it, so then decided to just take the plunge and open up our very own from scratch. The rest is truly history, as the last six years have been a perfect mix of the days flying by yet also lasting forever! But I would not change how we began, and where we are now, for anything. Owning our own business, and building it together from ground zero has been one of the greatest accomplishments of our marriage!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It is never a smooth road when you start something, and I believe any business owner would attest to this. But the bumps in the road are what has propelled us forward and what has brought some of the most significant changes in our business. We started off not knowing anything about bridal, and quickly immersed ourselves in everything weddings! My poor husband has the greatest knowledge about bridal than most men out there combined! But the best way to learn something is by going through it yourself and making mistakes. Our journey has been a perfect combination of extreme highs and lows, and everything else in between.
Please tell us about Love and Lace Bridal.
We are a non-traditional bridal salon catering to the bride that is quirky, unique and not afraid to think outside the box. She is unapologetically different and owns that about herself! We are known for supporting our brides in their unique vision for their wedding gown, and for pushing boundaries in being self-expressive. A wedding gown is an outward manifestation of a bride’s personality, and we LOVE it when she chooses something that feels like her! It is our mission to support her, to encourage her and most importantly to empower her to stand true to her vision for herself.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I am not a big believer in living with regret or not owning your decisions. I also think that everything we go through teaches us a lesson and gives us an opportunity to grow and learn. Plus, there is something so raw and organic about jumping into something unaware and ignorant. So many of the most beautiful events in life are best experienced with a little bit of mystery and blissful ignorance (i.e., parenthood, haha). Therefore, if I truly knew exactly what this business would entail and all the highs/lows, I would be more hesitant about jumping in. But because I was so naive about it, it allowed me to just take the plunge and see what happens! So I did, and I would not change a thing!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.loveandlacebridalsalon.com
- Instagram: @loveandlacebridalsalon @loveandlacebridalsalonlosangeles
Image Credit:
Lauren Scotti Photography, Emily Saenz Photography, Danielle Nicole Photography
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