Blue Sky Bridal opens in Phinney Ridge

Blue Sky Bridal, an eco-friendly bridal boutique, has opened in Phinney Ridge. Located on the bottom floor of an apartment building at 311 N. 77th St., Blue Sky sells some new, but mostly gently-used, wedding gowns, veils, shoes and jewelry. (They do not sell bridesmaid or mother of the bride dresses.)
Jen West started Blue Sky Bridal in May 2007 as a part-time venture, then got more serious last year when having trouble finding an affordable dress for her own wedding. The shop has “been a bit nomadic,” moving several times, but now landing permanently in Phinney, West says.
“We wanted something a little more laid back, a little less stressful, a little more fun,” she says. (The “we” refers to her friend, Beth Sweeney, who is not a co-owner but who has helped Jen shape her vision for Blue Sky.)

Right inside the front door is a bench to sit and take off your shoes and put on comfy slippers, plus a basket of white cotton gloves you must put on before touching the gowns. “I don’t like going to dress shops and seeing the sample dresses all filthy,” West explains.

Prices range from $100 for simple beach wedding dresses to $3,000 for couture gowns (think Vera Wang and Oleg Cassini), and are 40-75 percent off new retail prices. Most gowns are priced under $1,000. Sizes range from 0-18 (she sometimes has larger sizes, too).
Blue Sky is always looking for more gowns to consign, and splits the proceeds 50-50. If you buy a dress from Blue Sky and then re-consign it after your wedding, you’ll get 60 percent of the proceeds. Consigned dresses should be less than four years old (although she will occasionally make an exception for a vintage/antique dress or couture gown) and dry cleaned. Email her a photo before bringing your dress in.
Here’s a custom-made, kimono-inspired dress at Blue Sky Bridal.

The shop has partnered with Lapels dry cleaners in Crown Hill for discounted dry cleaning services before you consign your dress. West chose Lapels because it has a more eco-friendly cleaning process.
Since Blue Sky Bridal has only been open about two weeks, it doesn’t have signage up yet, except for a small sign in the front window. Walk-ins are welcome, but Saturdays are almost always filled by appointment. That’s Blue Sky in the bottom of this building.

West says she chose the name Blue Sky Bridal for two reasons. “It seemed to really encompass what you want in a wedding in Seattle,” she said, adding that it implies “green” credentials without hitting you over the head with the concept. Her website offers an extensive list of other eco-friendly companies, and ideas to cut down on wedding waste.