Rachel Kowalski/The Pleiad

After an internet shopping experience gone bad, Robin Walters wasn’t happy with any of the eight wedding dresses she ordered.

"Nothing on the internet is really what it seems, even if it says ‘with tags,’ that doesn’t mean anything, and nothing is returnable," Walters said. "Finally, after not finding anything, I ended up with eight wedding dresses—none of which I liked."

After deciding to put her 15 year law practice on hold to spend more time with her disabled daughter, Walters and her husband Randy Smith took a chance on the wedding market and opened Bellissma Bridal Boutique in downtown Albion.

Noting her dress problems of the past, the couple hopes to help other brides find quality dresses at an acceptable price.

"We mainly do weddings, but also have a lot of prom, formal and tuxedo wear," Walters said.

This is Walters’ first time in the bridal industry but not her first experience with discount wedding dresses.

After preparing for her marriage to Smith three years ago, Walters worked hard to stay on budget and became more experienced with several dress designers.

After only one year of business, Bellisima received the Albion Chamber of Commerce’s Retailer of the Year award.

The success of the business has allowed Bellisima to move to a larger storefront.

The original 2,000 square-foot storefront, located on Superior Street, began with close-out dresses from a Toledo bridal store.

Bellisima has recently moved into the former Masonic temple located on Center Street. The new location consists of four different rooms: a main bridal showroom, specialty room for bridal accessories, discount room—which holds over 100 wedding dresses for under $99.00 and over 400 formal and prom dresses for under $59.00—and a ballroom upstairs where the store recently held its second annual fashion show.

"We even have event planners in the same building, so everything you need is right here," Walters said.

Many of Bellisima’s dresses will have their Albion campus debut at Kappa Alpha Theta’s first annual KAT walk later this spring.

However, many of the dresses have already caught the eyes of students.

"The dresses there are defiantly something I would wear to formal," said Erica Schuster, Royal Oak junior. "I’m glad that now I have the option to find something in Albion instead of going home."