Kaela Moore’s journey into the bridal industry was born from a personal experience that many brides can relate to: the search for an affordable, yet beautiful, wedding gown. “During my own wedding planning journey, I discovered there was a need in the bridal market for a vendor to sell affordable designer wedding gowns,” Kaela recalls. Unable to afford high-end gowns herself, Kaela envisioned a space where brides could find elegant, designer gowns at prices that wouldn’t break their budget. In 2019, just a year after her wedding, she brought that vision to life by founding Treasured Brides.
Kaela started modestly, selling accessories and veils on Etsy. Over the course of three years, her business steadily grew, allowing her to expand to a multi-vendor storefront in 2023 at Painted Tree Marketplace. By 2024, she took the leap of faith and opened her own brick-and-mortar bridal shop, a milestone that reflected her unwavering commitment to providing brides with affordable, designer-quality gowns. “We sell amazing designer dresses including Madi Lane, Evie Young, Enozani, Blue, Beautiful, Modeca, and many more. Our price range for wedding gowns is $399 to $699, which is remarkable considering these gowns would typically retail for over $2,500,” Kaela explains. It’s this affordability, paired with quality, that sets Treasured Brides apart from traditional bridal boutiques.
Marketing, however, posed one of the biggest challenges for Kaela. “It’s extremely hard to market a new business and get your name out there,” she admits. But she pushed forward, creatively engaging with her customers through Pop-Up Shops—an exciting and unique twist to bridal shopping. These Pop-Up events allow Treasured Brides to meet brides where they are, creating an immersive experience for brides-to-be in new locations. “On August 31st, 2024, we hosted our first Pop-Up Shop in Charlotte, and it was an amazing success,” Kaela shares. These events are only the beginning, with plans to expand across North and South Carolina, and even into Georgia, Florida, and Virginia.
One of Kaela’s proudest moments in her entrepreneurial journey came the day after that first Pop-Up Shop. After having to move out of her brick-and-mortar location unexpectedly, she initially felt defeated. “I felt as though my dream had been snatched away from me,” she reflects. But the success of the Pop-Up Shop restored her faith. “I sold more than I’ve ever sold before. It was a true meaning of ‘delayed, not denied.’” This resilience is at the heart of Treasured Brides, and it’s what continues to drive Kaela and her business forward.
Kaela credits much of her success to the support she’s received along the way, including from Carolina Community Impact (CCI). “CCI worked with me from before the loan, during and after the loan process. They really cared about the success of my business beyond giving me the loan,” she says. With CCI advocating for her, Kaela was able to weather the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, always keeping her vision clear. She even expresses how CCI’s initial guidance and resources is still very valuable to this day, “While my loan application was processing, Roxanne gave me a spreadsheet to use to help manage some of my finances. I still use that spreadsheet now. It’s so helpful.”
Looking ahead, Kaela’s goals for Treasured Brides are as ambitious as they are exciting. She envisions growing the Pop-Up shops into weekend-long events, featuring multiple vendors and expanding into cities across the Southeast. As she continues to build her brand, Kaela offers advice to fellow entrepreneurs: “Never lose sight of your vision. Nothing worth having comes easy. If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not growing.”
Treasured Brides has only just begun its journey, but with Kaela’s vision and determination, the future looks bright for this unique bridal boutique. Stay connected with Treasured Brides on their website at treasuredbrides.com and through social media to follow their continued success and upcoming events.
