How did you end up at Smarter Bridal?
I'd like to think I was a Smarter Bride before my time! I married the love of my life over 20 years ago and even back then I was already thinking about how to save a nickel or two on my dream wedding. I now have an amazing life outside Austin, Texas with my two daughters, husband, and bestie Kristie, founder of Smarter Bridal, just a few blocks away!

What advice would you give brides looking to keep costs down?
My best advice for keeping costs down on your dream wedding is knowing the right people and calling in favors where possible. My husband David and I got married at a gorgeous outdoor Greek-style amphitheater on the California coast and we paid next to nothing. My grandfather had taught at this university location and we were able to use his alumni status to get a drastic discount. We also had our reception on the ocean at a naval base, so having military family connections helped us secure this hard-to-come-by booking.

What are you up to when not multitasking at Smarter Bridal?
When I am not helping brides find their perfect wedding dresses, I am busy teaching third graders. I have been a teacher for 17 years and I love it! Third grade is such a fun age and they keep me young at heart. Speaking of young at heart, I go completely crazy for Disney! My family and I love to travel and we always make sure Disney is part of our annual family plans. Our latest trip was a Disney cruise and I was able to enjoy many mojitos under the Bahamian sun!

Tell us why you started Smarter Bridal (which was formerly mintBRIDAL.com)
After my own wedding dress shopping fiasco, I knew I couldn’t be the only one looking for a more enjoyable and affordable wedding dress experience. My super hero of a husband encouraged me to have a go at the business. So I jumped in and sure enough there were many brides out there just like me, all looking for an alternative to the overpriced alternatives.

What do you love most about Smarter Bridal?
I really love getting to know each bride and working with them to make sure they get their dream wedding dress. There is so much joy and satisfaction from that.

Why the gap between mintBRIDAL.com and Smarter Bridal?
Honestly I was overwhelmed with the success. Having two toddlers (they were 2 and 3 at the time) only added to the the amount of work and responsibility on my plate. There were other challenges such as hostility and intimidation from some of the competition that felt I was attracting business away from them despite me being purely focused on my own plans. So I chose to focus on family for a while.


What advice would you give brides looking to keep costs down?
My key advice is to spend money where it really matters for you and avoid getting caught up with trends or tradition. Do what you and your partner feel will make your special day feel truly special to you. My husband and I wanted a small wedding and an awesome honeymoon. I still regret us not simply taking off to some dreamy sunny island and making the experience 100% about us.

What are you up to when you are not running Smarter Bridal?
Nothing beats spending time with my family which consists of Ryan, my husband, our Irish Twins that are 10 and 9 (with the fiery red hair to match) and our sweet dog Twix. We all enjoy a family night with a movie and games. We also love to travel, checking out new places, trying new restaurants and different cuisines. We are always up for a fun adventure! I am always up for a girls night out...it's never a dull moment when Talitha and I get the chance to let our hair down and have some wine!