08/23/2026
This is kind of a pinch me moment. I was interviewed by Alix Strauss for the The New York Times about something that has become incredibly personal to me, about making the bridal experience more accessible for neurodivergent brides, those with sensory needs, and those with disabilities.
This all started with my son. Learning how his brain experiences the world made me start looking at my own world differently, too. And because I’ve spent most of my life in a bridal shop, I started seeing our industry through that same lens.
I noticed things I had never really questioned before. The bright lights. The music. So many different textures and smells. Hundreds of dresses. Lots of people talking and giving opinions. The pressure to make a huge decision and sometimes even the pressure to react a certain way when you find your dress.
And I kept thinking, why does the bride have to adapt to the bridal experience? Why can’t we adapt the experience to her? Once I started seeing those barriers, I couldn’t unsee them.
We definitely don’t have everything figured out, and I’m still learning all the time. But I’m really proud of the changes we’ve made at Bridal Chateau and incredibly grateful that this conversation has reached this level.
Seeing my name and our little family bridal shop in The New York Times is completely surreal. 🥹
I hope this article gets more people in our industry, or any business really, asking one simple question:
What can we change to make someone else’s experience a little easier? 🤍
Article written by Alix Strauss
Photos taken by Jalen Wright
