We can only imagine being able to go shopping in a fairy’s home. For a wedding dress, High Vibe Bride is the whimsical place to be. The boutique looks like a regular house but with teal trim and stone. There are pebbles and colorful pots with plants near the door. The inside is filled with beautiful dresses, and shoppers will find a charming purple and blue mural of fairy wings to take photos in front of, giving them that touch of whimsy when finding the perfect dress.
Janay Joy, the owner, also understands that not every bridal shop is for every bride. “We are really different, in that we start with a scheduled Discovery Call with each bride,” said Janay. “We truly want to discover if we are a great mutual fit.” High Vibe Bride thrives in intimacy and intentionality and describes their brides as a match made in heaven. They also keep their dresses under $2,000, and Janay makes sure to listen to what type of dresses brides are asking for. Of course, she also buys dresses she loves, too, making the shop full of fanciful finds.
Janay’s passion for wedding dresses and giving brides their moment comes from her years of experience. She started making bridal gowns at the age of 18, when her neighbor asked her to make a butter yellow wedding dress and seven pale blue bridesmaids dresses. “I did so much in the industry, I think I have performed every single role there is,” Janay said. “I learned so much about how to craft my own offerings, and that suited my more sensitive personality than a big bridal store model.”
Part of that personality is shown by how much Janay loves color and bold dresses, and she has outfitted her shop accordingly. As the industry has grown, there are less rules and guidelines about what a wedding dress must be. “The days of saying there is one kind of wedding dress and there is one kind of special occasion dress are over,” said Janay. “We are pulling together styles from both collections for adventurous brides.” There are also ways to add uniqueness to a dress, without straying too far from the off-white or ivory. A popular customization Janay offers is colorful lace appliqués. Even adding multiple colors of florals to an ivory or cream background adds romance to a dress. Janay describes such a dress as a fairy garden, and her favorite texture is jacquard.
Her brides typically just want to reflect their personal style. There has been a trend of brides doing a second fashion look for the reception. Everyone knows about having a “Little Black Dress,” but brides have started changing into a “Little White Dress.” Janay loves the idea of changing into a more comfortable dancing shoe or even going barefoot. She has also seen brides add style with little touches. She recently had a request to add little butterflies in for a bride, and another asked for a bee lace appliqué to represent something meaningful to the couple.
Those types of customizations are High Vibe Bride’s forte, and Janay said brides who value that type of customization are thrilled to have found High Vibe. While bolder dresses and colors are trending, or becoming more welcomed, statement veils and headpieces haven’t followed. “Remember the ‘90s, when the huge, blingy, matching necklace, earring, and bracelet set were in? That is not happening now,” said Janay. “Today, it’s more like a wispy scarf around the neck, and some sheer, ruched gloves. Texture over rhinestones.”
To amplify the intimate feel, Janay’s work at the store is by appointment only and there are only a couple of appointments per day. Janay wanted to create a tranquil environment, so there isn’t any loud music, and she listens to all the feedback from the bride. “I also have a process I walk brides through, mainly so that the bride gets to share her feelings about each dress first. This really helps to cut down on the amount of people pleasing,” Janay said. “If someone projects their opinion before the bride has a moment to tune into herself, she is navigating someone else’s opinion before hers has even percolated.” The entire goal is to create an experience that is all about the bride!
Janay imagines the anything goes philosophy for wedding dresses will continue to dominate the bridal world over the next few years. Although she loves bold dresses, there is one trend she is ready to retire… glittery dresses. But if her brides still want it, she will continue to buy it. Janay relies on her small team and wants her shop to continue to be one of the most affordable bridal boutiques in Our Town. She credits a lot of that to her work ethic and desire to go above and beyond for her clients. “I always advise brides to bring supportive and positive people with them,” Janay said. “You don’t owe anyone a seat at your bridal shopping experience. We want this dress purchasing adventure to be as magical as possible for the bride.”
Featured in the May 2, 2026 issue of The Independent.
By Olivia Mahl
