The bridal boutique Something White hosted a fabulous - yet intimate-feeling - soiree on Thurs., July 8, to celebrate the store's grand opening.
Owners Karin Kurtz and Rebecca Somnitz were on hand to give personal tours, offer tasty snacks - an impressive spread including everything from sangria to fresh fruit to cupcakes by Cake Couture - and generally welcome everyone to their new shop.
The store itself is housed in a gorgeously decorated portion of a building originally constructed in the 1800s. The building, which first served as a home, then a series of offices, has a vintage characteristic that adds to the charm of this respite for the weary bride-to-be, ready to find that perfect dress for her big day. And that's exactly the goal of Kurtz and Somnitz: to help brides without putting any pressure on them.
Something White sells a variety of wedding-day accessories, including vintage handkerchiefs, jewelry, purses, veils and, of course, bridesmaid dresses, but its strongest offering lies in the variety of wedding gowns sold in the store. The owners strive to find dresses from designers otherwise not sold in Northeast Ohio; some can't even be found in the entire state of Ohio.
Since most dresses available to brides tend to be strapless, Something White offers more options with straps and sleeves, Kurtz said. Of course, plenty of strapless gowns are available as well. "We try to find gowns that are a little chicer" than most found in the area, Kurtz explained.
Somnitz is proud of the designers the store carries - boasting such names as Caroline DeVillo Couture, Fancy New York and The Steven Birnbaum Collection - brands than she and Kurtz hand-picked in a rather enjoyable process. "I can look at dresses and designers all day long," she said.
Kurtz and Somnitz, friends from high school, began the planning stage of opening their store over a year and a half ago while living in Chicago. Their passion for the business hasn't waned, and it has manifested in the whimsical and elegant store that is Something White.
"[Looking around the store] makes you want to plan a wedding," gushed Marisa Cotugno of Davide Cotugno Executive Tailors. With the warm reception the store received at its grand opening, it's obvious she's not alone in that thought.
