Fashion director Tyrel Abbott has often been called “the Wedding Whisperer” by his customers, thanks to his ability to pick the perfect wedding dress.
He puts his talent to work at the Bridal House, a bridal boutique in Edmonton.
Abbott is a hairdresser by trade, but after being offered a job on the spot, he is one of Alberta’s few male bridal consultants.
He chats with Today’s Bride magazine about his love for fashion, his experience as a bridal consultant and his advice for brides-to-be.
Today’s Bride: What sparked your passion for fashion?
Tyrel Abbott: I grew up with a lot of very well-dressed women in my life. When I was young, my mom always dressed me very well and we were always put together when we left the house. It was instilled in me from very early on.
TB: What do you do as the director of fashion?
TA: When I’m there, I am a part of every appointment going on during the day. I introduce myself and talk to the bride so I can narrow in on a style. Sometimes we might need accessories to complete the look, so I help with that. Or if I see a consultant that’s struggling or having an issue in an appointment, I try to step in and help circumvent the problem.
TB: How do you go about finding the perfect dress for a bride-to-be?
TA: I think a lot of it is in the consultation and finding out how she wants to look on her day. Some brides want to look romantic and some brides want to look sexy. If I know the silhouette she’s after, we pull a couple dresses and go from there. And I think a lot of it is taste.
TB: What unique perspective do you bring to nervous brides-to-be?
TA: A calming perspective. When you’re surrounded by women who have either a) been married or b) have yet to be married – there’s a lot of emotion that runs with that. I think with being a guy – not ever having to wear a wedding dress – my opinion has a different weight. I look at myself as the advocate for the bride. I’m always on the bride’s side.
TB: What advice do you have for stressed-out brides looking for the perfect dress?
TA: 1) You need to have an idea of what you want. You don’t need to know what dress you want to try on, but you need to know how you want to look. “How do you want to look on that day?” Tell your consultant because that lets them pick the right dress.
2) You can always come back the next day. Brides are pressured to do everything right now, right now, right now and I don’t think that’s the right answer. If you have any doubt, take some time to think about it.
3) And the biggest thing that I can tell you is: if you find the right dress, then stop looking. So many brides find the dress that they love and they think it’s perfect but they have two more places to go or they want to try on two more dresses. Even though they’re in love with this dress, they try one more dress on and it completely confuses them.
TB: Anything else you would like to add?
TA: When it comes to the entourage you bring, you need to bring people whose opinions you trust and who will be supportive. I see a lot of people in entourages that have their own agenda when they come in and that’s not necessarily of benefit to the bride. This is a very special experience; it needs to be with people that are going to be on your side and in your corner.
Photo courtesy of Catapault Marketing
