Lily Saratoga closed for several months last spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but unlike many in the wedding business, the bridal shop has been able to reopen.

Things do look different. Gone are the days where a large entourage would accompany the bride-to-be. Lily Saratoga is limiting brides to just two guests. Appointments need to be made ahead of time, everyone needs to wear a mask, and consultants pick out the dresses based upon the bride’s suggestions. The bride and her crew are no longer able to look on the shelves themselves.

What You Need To Know

  • Lily Saratoga is taking precautions to make sure bridal shopping is safe

  • Everyone must wear a mask during bridal appointments

  • All dresses are steam cleaned after they're tried on

“They’ve had to trust us a little bit more, I think, than prior to COVID, but it’s been working out really well,” says Laura Mullen, owner of Lily Saratoga.

Mullen bought the bridal shop several years ago and says before reopening, she needed to completely change the way her business operates.

Mullen and her staff steam cleans each dress after it’s tried on, in effort to limit any possible exposure. The process adds an additional 15-30 minutes to an appointment.

“People like to touch the hips on the dress. If there are pockets, we steam in the pocket,” says Mullen.

Mullen says the most important thing is to make sure the bride still feels special and gets the dress of her dreams.