Kismet Bridal Studio: A New Wedding Dress Salon That Caters To The Bride’s Imagination

“There’s only so much that COVID can hold you back,” says Nichole Favre, general manager at Kismet Bridal Studio in Pittsifield, Massachusetts. And she can back that statement up: the bridal salon opened in the middle of COVID but hasn’t suffered because of it. Credit goes to a couple of factors: the shop’s central location, its inventory of gowns from independent bridal designers, and the brides’ ability to customize a gown to create a one-of-a-kind wedding dress.

“We’re breaking rules and reinventing bridal,” Favre says. The “we “along with Favre includes the store’s owner, Catherine Engelman, who lives in Austin, Texas. She had a successful bridal shop there, but closed it to open Kismet. Originally from Troy, New York, Engelman hopes to move her family back to this area; until then, the shop is Favre’s baby. A Chatham native, Favre had worked with Engelman in Austin and moved back to run Kismet, doing everything from working with the designers and maintaining the website to, of course, counseling brides-to-be in their search for the perfect wedding dress.

Viewers of “Say Yes to the Dress” will be familiar with some of the big names in bridal design: Pnina Tournai, Lazaro, Monique Lhuillier, designers you won’t find at Kismet. In fact, you probably haven’t heard of most of the designers, and that’s (excuse the pun) by design. Kismet’s differentiation is that it works with small-business bridal designers from all over the world who offer original silhouettes and a range of customization not often available at the big box wedding stores. Engelman and Favre seek out and find these small-business creators at bridal markets and bring their designs to Pittsfield. Some of the designers may be just starting out, and Favre says they look forward to growing with them. Case in point:  When they discovered Alena Leena Bridal by Cape Town, South Africa designer Alyona Kostyk, it was a small, hidden gem, but has since become more prominent among the independent bridal collections. Those who are curious about a designer’s background and design aesthetic can check out the individual designer pages on Kismet’s website.

The samples in store reflect a haute-fashion approach executed with exquisite craftsmanship, often adorned with hand-sewn sequins and handmade laces. All of the gowns are special orders, offering the bride the opportunity to put her own finishing touches to the dress. Prices average from $1,700 to $2,700, with a couture collection up to $6,000. (Sorry, bridesmaids, moms and prom dress seekers: Don’t expect to find gowns for anyone other than the bride; the only special occasion these dresses are fit for is one’s own wedding.)

“We tend to be the store for the bride who can’t find her dress anywhere else,” Favre says, who suspects that Kismet’s unconventional approach may be one reason she hasn’t had to contend with any bridezillas. “I’ve loved every bride that I’ve worked with.” Shopping is by appointment only, with one bride (and her posse) in store at a time. All of the dresses are featured on the website —a COVID project that kept Favre busy — and the “dressing room” tab allows the shopper to select the styles she wants to try on. Favre will have the gowns ready for her when she shows up for her appointment. Kismet also works with accessory and veil designers and there are plenty of sparkly jewels, belts and veils in store to create the perfect package.

“My goal is to make sure each bride is super comfortable and confident in her decision,” Favre says. “We provide a personalized and private experience.”

While it may seem surprising to find a haute couture bridal salon open in Pittsfield, Engelman and Favre were intentional about their decision. They felt it was a central location that could be accessed by brides in Connecticut, Vermont and New York. Plus, Favre says, don’t forget about the local market. Engagements typically occur around the holidays, just when couples come home and voila — where’s the nearest bridal store? Its position on busy East Street with a picture window you can’t help but notice — along with social media and world of mouth — has kept customer traffic at a steady flow.

Favre herself is engaged (her gown is waiting upstairs), but her wedding date hasn’t been finalized, because, well, COVID. Noting that the timeline from selecting a silhouette to delivery is about nine months, she has some advice to other brides in the market, especially for those whose wedding dates may be in flux: Buy early.