“I never try on any of the dresses.” This statement coming from a single woman usually comes as no surprise.  But from Stacy Fork, owner of The Gown Shop, it is. In a world where she is surrounded by a copious amount of white, lacy, full, creme and silk wedding dresses daily, it is unusual that she doesn’t even have a clear favorite.

A simple glass door on the third floor of the building where The Gown Shop is located quietly announces the store.

When you step in, you are immediately blown away.  Not by the elegant pedestal, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling curtains in the center of the room, or the glittery chandelier hanging from the ceiling, but by the dresses.  A row of beautiful gowns, from creme to white to ivory, with traditional full princess skirts as well as new styles, such as the tea-length skirt.

“A lot of lace has been popping up a lot, in my [Ann Arbor] girls specifically,” said Fork, running her fingers down a beautiful lacy dress. “Ann Arbor girls love the lace. You have a lot of people who are doing the vintage, almost farm-looking lace, and I feel you also have some of the classic [dresses] too.” Fork speaks affectionately about her brides, and her personal style bodes well here.

During the average appointment at The Gown Shop, “prior to the appointments I typically … ask the brides a lot of questions. If brides are looking for something that is heavily beaded or bedazzled its just not the look that I have here,” said Fork. She will end up steering the bride to another store.

As for the importance of  what she does, “I feel that everybody.. looks at [marriage] as very sacred thing… And so, to pick that … wedding gown, they’re gonna be getting married in, it’s a big deal,” said Fork.  Her store is the way it is, with its calm atmosphere and understated glamour, for that reason.  She wants the bride and the people the bride brings to just “sit back and enjoy the experience.”

As far as the design of her store, “I wanted this to be very comfortable, but very girly [too],” said Fork. “I had this whole designed look that is very like shabby glam, so you know I liked the big chandelier,” she said, pointing toward the massive crystal light that hung above a heavily adorned accessory table.

Many people know about the notorious “bridezilla,” referenced and played out in TLC’s TV show, “Say Yes to the Dress.” Fork, on the other hand, said that her brides don’t go to these extremes. “I don’t really have a lot of bridezilla moments here. No I actually kind of joke a lot and… I say my Ann Arbor girls, they’re very bridechilla, everyone’s pretty calm.

Even as a business owner, Fork does not value just making another sale over making sure the experience of the bride is as good as it can be. “The whole shopping for a bridal gown is an experience. It’s not like you’re going out and buying a new pair of shoes or a new pair of jeans,” she said.

When asked if she was a perfectionist, Fork responded with, “slightly.” But then, laughing changed her answer to “Very much so, actually.” This is mostly because she does everything by herself most of the time. “I am very hands-on with everything,” she said, and recalled how she directs her few interns– her only extra help– with The Gown Shop. Overall though, her personality is friendly and relaxed.

After being open for only ten months (opened February 1st, 2011), Fork states that, “every month’s kinda been better than the last and you know, a lot of exposure, and obviously being in downtown Ann Arbor [is good advertising].” Already, The Gown Shop has innumerable soaring reviews on bridal websites and from brides themselves.

Fork would love for this to be a stop for many brides. She also has a desire to grow as a business by opening another store and connecting more with wedding planners, florists, and wedding cake bakeries.