Hear from Fellow Female Entrepreneurs—Maggie Louise

Next up in our series featuring previous Sela Vie clients making waves across industries as female entrepreneurs is Molly Farrell of Maggie Louise.

Bespoke bridal for the beloved.

For more than a decade, Maggie Louise has been fully devoted to the bespoke bridal experience, pairing world-renowned, designer wedding gowns with an oasis of warmth and welcome. Brides with a penchant for upscale looks and tailored experiences feel cherished and at home at Maggie Louise—the premiere full-service, destination bridal boutique of the South, award-winning and recognized by Southern Living as top of the industry.

United in ownership with the conviction that the little things, when done with great love, have the power to leave an everlasting mark, Molly and her husband, Eric, set out to fill Maggie Louise to the brim with good cheer, top-notch bridal fashion, and devoted team unlike any other.

Last year, Sela Vie completed a new custom-designed Squarespace website, complete with visual brand components plus messaging and copywriting. Check it out here, and hear below from Molly about how she built a thriving name-brand company from the ground up:

How did you get started as a brand new bridal boutique?

“My first job at sixteen was working with a local photographer and I was there for over 8 years before starting Maggie Louise. It was in that time capturing weddings that I fell in love with the wedding dress and the story it told about the woman wearing it. Additionally, I loved assisting the bride and being a support system through the day. Whether I was bustling her gown, refilling her glass, or reapplying lip gloss — I was fulfilled being the brides bonus best friend throughout her special day. ”Fast forward to the end of college, as many of my friends began to embark on engagement season and searching for the gown of their dreams, the idea of Maggie Louise came to life and combined my two passions: the wedding dress and the ability to walk alongside brides as they prepare to walk into life’s greatest adventure. ”After graduation I began to put the plans on paper and dove deep into research. I was passionate about not only offering an exceptional, intimate experience to all of my brides, but also quality garments that were timeless, yet fashion-forward, feminine, and set-apart. With a few years of planning under my belt (and a lot of prayer), I took a leap of faith and opened the doors of Maggie Louise in September of 2012 at twenty-four years old.”

What marketing tools/services have you invested in (if any), and what worked and/or didn't work?

“I realized early on that the relationships I built with my brides and their families was by far the most rewarding investment I could make. For the first ten years, word-of-mouth referrals were (and continue to be) the most reliable marketing endeavor for our boutique. During the early years, I did all the social media and website design, but opted out of paid advertising because the pay off just wasn’t there.

“As our business grew so did our desire to shift our look a little and differentiate ourselves even more. We have out-sourced the design element of things, especially website copy and design, over the last year — insert praises for Sela Vie!! — and that has been such a gift.”

What's it like running a business with your husband?

“To the surprise of most who ask this question, it is nothing short of amazing. I’ve had Maggie Louise for 11 years now and Eric was by my side from the very beginning, but has been working alongside me full-time for 8 years.

“It is truly such a gift to share this journey with the person you love and trust most — I would undoubtedly be lost without him. He is mission minded, grounded, methodical, calculated, and intentional. He runs a pivotal part of our business, which allows me to do what I love and feel called to do, which is spend my time with brides.

“Since we don’t ever “miss” each other in the sense of being apart, we have had to learn the importance of carving out space to just be together, have fun together, and enjoy this life we are building.”

What sets Maggie Louise apart from other bridal boutiques and how did you land on your strategy for differentiating yourself from the competition?

“I wholeheartedly believe the people here are what make Maggie Louise stand apart from other bridal boutiques around the world. We offer an intimate experience and extensive inventory of world-renown designer gowns, but above all else, my team is full of the most genuine, passionate, humble, and hard working people I’ve ever met.

“Our mission here is simple, but sincere: love others. It’s the heartbeat of this place and my crew is uncompromising in this. It is such a blessing to watch them live out this calling in the ways that they serve the brides that walk through our doors.”

What is a typical day like for you between being a mom, a team leader, and running a store?

“You know, no days are ever the same but the one thing about all my days is they are typically filled to the brim. Sitting to write the answer to this question and I laughed because despite how hard it feels to describe my typical day, the main feeling it evokes in me is truly gratitude.

“I aim to start my day taking care of myself, whether that means working out before the babies rise or getting more sleep (I’m learning to listen to what my body needs) and/or spending some time with Jesus. I still work full-time at the boutique, so mornings can feel a little chaotic but once I get the kids and myself out the door that is where I head. I typically get there around 9am and have a handful of appointments with brides and meetings scheduled throughout the day. Every day looks different, but our new boutique is a really peaceful place to be no matter what the schedule looks like and I’m surrounded by people I adore all day long. We close the shop around 4pm everyday and then I head home to my crew. I either cook dinner for our little tribe or we grab a bite at our favorite Mexican joint (which my kids have lovingly coined the “chip house”). We either play games, go for walks, or all pile on the couch for popcorn and a movie. Then it’s baths, prep for the day ahead, and off to bed we go. So although relentlessly busy, it’s somewhat simple and goodness — it is so beautiful.”