BY AJ TRAGER
Brittany Blase, owner of B. Ella Bridal. BTL Photo: AJ Trager
PLYMOUTH – Fifteen models will walk down the Ultimate LGBT Wedding & Anniversary Expo runway March 21 donning elegant dresses paired with creative hair and make up, all thanks to longtime vendor B. Ella Bridal.
Brittany Blase comes from a background in sales and was in the design program during her time in art school. Blase spent a few years in Los Angeles training to be a voice actor; however, the pull of Michigan was too great. Shortly after returning to Michigan and with the help of her mother, Blase decided to start a family business dedicated to helping dress the women that walked through her door.
In the past, Blase has worked for David's Bridal, Demetrios and other couture style salons. In late 2003, she and her mother took ownership of a salon in Ann Arbor and turned it around in 2004. Two years later Blase opened a second location in Northville which was later consolidated with the Ann Arbor location in 2012 and moved to Plymouth.
"I wanted to go into costume design when I was in high achool. My mom suggested that I try to sell dresses instead of designing things that people may want to buy so that I know what the public wants. And since I've always been in sales, it was a natural fit. Selling is faster paced and I can help more people. I can still do the creative process but in a more user friendly way for me," Blase said.
The storefront of B. Ella Bridal is elegant with mannequins positioned to show off some stock. The racks are lined with hundreds of dresses of all colors, from traditional white with pearl rhinestones to other shades adorned with sequins.
Over the course of a year, Blase and her team dress more than 300 brides for their big day. With the average wedding's bridesmaids numbering between four and six, Blase has helped to fit thousands of women throughout the metro Detroit area.
"It's hard for us to know how many same-sex couples we've helped because I don't feel too many people announce it," Blase said.
In the past year she has fit three or four same-sex brides but expects that number to be much higher.
"I'm for love, and in this country you should be able to do whatever it is that you want to do. It (same-sex marriage) is the modern civil rights," Blase discussed. "Closed-minded people offend me, so anything that I can do to open minds and facilitate comfortable change — change to what is right — that's what I want to do. If you need a dress for a wedding or something, I can be your fairy godmother. I'm here for you."
Blase describes herself as empathetic to a fault and has been an ally to the LGBT community her entire life. She truly believes that any couple should be able to get married and exercise their civil rights in a way that they see fit.
"There is so much involvement in the community that people don't think about. They don't think that designers are usually gay men; they don't think about wedding planners or florists," Blase said. "And it's strange to think that it's okay for them to help out a heterosexual wedding, but it's not okay for them to have one themselves. It just doesn't seem right to me."
B. Ella Bridal has been a part of the LGBT Wedding Expo since its start five years ago.
"When we started, it was just a little event over at the Marriott in Livonia and we had a little table and we brought dresses and we dressed some ladies to walk around. Now that it is in an expanded venue, it feels like a much bigger show. It's been an opportunity to expand our business and to feel like you're doing some good. You feel like you're supporting an underdog. And it's such a fun show!"
Blase will do a runway show, similar to what they presented at last year's expo. This year's fashion show will include hair and make up provided by Blase's friend Mindi who owns Charmed Salon in Plymouth. Designs for the runway show will be simpatico, says Blase, who really enjoys the creativity and collaboration in joining her dresses with Mindi's salon experience. Blase says that Mindi is a problem solving hair dresser and she is a "problem solving dress sales person."
"There is a far less serious vibe than there is in a traditional show. I feel like there is a little bit of a renegade aspect to it this year because of the political stance in the country right now," she adds. "There is almost like a fun, punkier feeling about it this year."
Blase has assisted with non-traditional themes, like Halloween-themed weddings and pagan weddings, and says pink is really popular right now. She thinks women are starting to get braver in their dress choices and believes that with the crash of the economy and the progression of gay marriages, that marriage is becoming even more personal for loving couples — moving away from the platinum wedding and the "Say Yes To The Dress" feel.
"I definitely have to get to know my customers, and my empathy to a fault definitely helps with that. I am not a high pressure sales person; I try to ascertain what your needs are, facilitate what your needs are and make it easier for you," Blase described. "I am honest and straight forward, and I will tell you if a dress is not good. As much as it is your decision, I will not let you leave in something that I would be embarrassed to say we put on your body."
This year, Blase intends to showcase more "costumey" things than she did last year. The shop tends to have unusual items, according to Blase, sometimes having black colored dresses or dresses that come with a tulle cape. If a dress comes in blue, and Blase prefers it in that color, she'll order it in blue instead of the more traditional white. She seeks out interesting looks to provide a diverse offering for brides-to-be.
"The fun part about the renegade aspect this year is, until it (same-sex marriage) is widely accepted, and someone slaps the tradition on it, same-sex weddings are whatever you want it to be. If you want to wear a green dress that makes you look like a mermaid, I'll find you that dress!"
