When Kathy Niesen invests time and effort helping area brides organize their weddings and doesn't hear from them again, its like one of her children has left home.
"They sort of become family when you're working with them," said Niesen. "Then, they don't come back."
"We go through everything with them," Niesen said.
Niesen, 59, former owner of Kathy's Hallmark, has carved a unique niche in the ever-burgeoning wedding planning industry. She owns Kathy's Wedding Showcase, 101 Bank St., which is designed as a one-stop shop for brides.
Kathy's joins other Grass Valley wedding businesses, including Vanity Faire and Lynette's Tux-n-Tailor/Lynette's Bridal Boutique.
Vanity Faire recently added traditional bride and bridesmaid dresses to its offerings through a store catalog. The store continues to offer nontraditional wedding dresses that it's had since the store began 10 years ago, said shop owner Sherri Soares.
It wasn't until the past week that Kathy's Wedding Showcase, which opened its doors in July, had a broad spectrum of vendors offering services through the store.
The expanded services and last month's wedding fair at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City bolstered business, Niesen said.
"We're just jumping out of our shoes," said Niesen late last week.
The shop's 23 vendors include: photographers, disc jockeys, a bridal fitness business, wedding cake groups, wedding gown services and gifts for bridesmaids and groomsman. Niesen's goal is to eventually have more than 100 vendors offer services through her shop.
Beyond the one-stop concept, Niesen said she's offering what a wedding consultant or planner would offer without charging.
"I'm like a booking agent for them," Niesen said. Most professional consultants could charge between $1,500 and $10,000, she said.
Niesen makes her money by charging the vendors fees for locating in her shop and she does wedding invitations herself.
"I don't want them to fill in the blanks (on their wedding invitations)," Niesen said. She said she wants the brides to come up with invitations tailored to the couple personally.
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Hi Kathy
A colleague forwarded this article to me and I am really impressed with your business endeavor. I would really like to be a part of it, as well. I am just getting my feet wet in the wedding industry and excited to be networking with some quality professionals. It seems to me that your idea is brilliant. Why not have a one-stop-shop and charge the vendors for recommendations, not the bride for planning? If I'm understanding it right... Do you charge the vendor only if they get a booking, like you get a percentage of the fee they charge to the bride? Please view my websites to see the wedding services I am offering: http://www.creativeflutemusic.com and http://www.tutoringconnections.com/creative_connections_presen/
You can also call me at (916) 202-7237
Thanks and I hope I have an opportunity to work with you. Francine Voudouris. Creative Connections Flute Music and Videography
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