Owner Jacqui Wadsworth, bottom left, with sister Elizabeth Ethridge, top left, and daughter Grace Alexander, right, at The Gilded Gown at Knoxville Center Mall. (Photo: Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel )
The decline of the mall has not impacted their business at all. In fact, they’re growing, owner Jacqui Wadsworth said.
“This opportunity (to expand) has come to us because we’re in this mall,” she said. “There was room right next door to move in.”
Prom dresses come in all sizes
Wadsworth opened the store in 2008 in South Knoxville and moved into the mall in 2014. Since 2015, business has almost quadrupled, she said.
Now there’s a more comfortable space for both brides and formal wear shoppers.
“Our bridal business has grown so much, we had no fitting rooms left for our prom clients,” Wadsworth said.
The prom side stocks about 1,200 dresses in sizes 000-36. Prom shopping season starts in mid-January and ends in mid-April.
“We have just as many size 24s as we do 2s,” Wadsworth said. “So everybody can come here and have a lifetime shopping experience.”
Wadsworth said she hopes to keep the prom storefront open year-round, and will add additional formal wear if that happens. The move allowed them to add about 200 prom dresses to the floor and there’s space for fitting rooms and a seating area.
Prom dress trends this year include lots of sparkle, beading, metallics, champagne colors, florals and sleek silhouettes. Prom dresses range from $159-$699.
Wadsworth said they are hiring additional associates and will have about 20 employees soon.
The Gilded Gown owner Jacqui Wadsworth talks about the store’s expansion in Knoxville Center Mall. Brianna Paciorka, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee
More space for wedding dress shopping
The store carries about 1,000 bridal gowns in stock at all times, from size 000 to 32.
Dresses range from $500-$3,500, but most fall into the $699-$1,499 range, Wadsworth said. Clients come from seven states.
Because formal wear has moved next door, it’s created a more spacious area for brides to try on dresses and lots of room for the bridal parties. They’ve also added two additional runways for brides to model their selections.
“I like to think the experience we give them sets the tone for the wedding day,” Wadsworth said.
Bridal trends this season include boho, ball gowns, lace and sparkle.
The store also has plenty of accessories, from headpieces to veils, sashes and clutches. Accessories are half-price with the purchase of a dress.
Walk-ins are welcome and brides can take home a dress the same day.
Our gorgeous bride Hillary and her handsome groom Rajiv were featured in the Fall issue of Pink Bride:
We are tickled pink to be featured In BRIDES Magazine, May 2018:
What a pleasure to be featured in Vows Magazine’s March/April 2018 Issue:
We were SO honored to be named the Stand Out Retailer in Vows Magazine in 2016:
We love getting published along with our talented co-vendors. Please enjoy the following links to press featuring The Gilded Gown!!!
Also Featured On:
Borrowed and Blue featured The Gilded Gown in their Vintage Americana Styled Shoot here.
We are thrilled to be included on Aisle Society. Please read more here, photographed by Red Boat Photography.
Read more about our bride Jane’s Elegant Retro Wedding here on Bridal Pulse, photographed by JoPhoto:
We were thrilled to be included in the latest Borrowed & Blue “Lavender & Orchid Styled Shoot” here:
Lovely Staci had her beach wedding published by BridalPulse here:
One of our brides, who selected a gorgeous, non-traditional gown for her ceremony, was featured on BridalPulse here:
We are thrilled to be included in this beautiful Seaside FL wedding recently published in Bridal Pulse here:
One of our beautiful Gilded Gown Brides was featured in BridalPulse here:
She was also featured in another spread at BridalPulse, detailing her journey to find her dream dress (which she found at The Gilded Gown!). We think she and her dress are beyond stunning! To see more please click here.
The Bride Link recently featured The Gilded Gown in a Rustic, Industrial Farm Style Winter Wedding here.
Whimsical Wonderland Weddings recently featured The Gilded Gown in an Ethereal Boho Wedding Shoot here.
The super-cool indie site In Search of the Alternative showcased The Gilded Gown in a Glam Halloween Wedding here! And Up Up & Away Weddings also gave us a shout out here!
Adorn Magazine recently featured The Gilded Gown in a gorgeous mountain shoot: Blue Mist Wedding Inspiration in the Smoky Mountains
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The Gilded Gown was featured in a Botanical Garden Styled Shoot published by Borrowed & Blue on 06/30/2016. Here is a link to the feature: http://www.borrowedandblue.
Several Gilded Gown dresses were featured in a Bohemian Botanical Garden Styled Shoot at Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum published on the site BORROWED & BLUE this summer
http://www.borrowedandblue.com/knoxville/weddings/bohemian-botanical-garden-styled-shoot
Smitten Magazine published our Gothic Glam Wedding Inspiration shoot on 10/30/15: http://smitten-mag.com/gothic-glam-inspiration/
Swooned Magazine featured The Gilded Gown in a Woodland Whimsy Boho Shoot on 10/01/15:
http://www.swoonedmagazine.com/blog/post/woodland_whimsy__a_bohemian_spirited_shoot_in_tennessee
The Southeastern Bride featured The Gilded Gown in their Black & White Tennessee Styled Wedding By Eden Bliss Weddings on 12/4/15:
http://www.thesoutheasternbride.com/2015/12/black-white-tennessee-styled-wedding.html
A Low Country Wedding featured The Gilded Gown in Hilton Head Wedding on 8/10/14: https://erin-vogel-s5w4.squarespace.com/blog/hilton-head-wedding-inspiration-at-stoney-baynard-ruins
The Gilded Gown was featured in A Windriver Golf Course Wedding Shoot on 3/30/15 https://www.thebridelink.com/knoxville-weddings/blog/tag/windriver-golfcourse/
The Bride Link showcased The Gilded Gown on 5/7/14:
Also featured on these sites: