A bridal brand that began in Denver is branching out to Atlanta.
a&bé x anna bé bridal is planned for a space in Buckhead at 3072 Early Street NW. The Atlanta store will be a new concept for the company – the first time that both brands are available under one roof.
“We describe them as sisters in the sense that they share the same values,” owner and founder Anna Walsh told What Now Atlanta. “They come from the same family, so they share those same core values: great design, great experience, you’re just gonna find two different collections.”
a&bé is bit more modern and fashion-forward, while anna bé skews slightly more traditional and classic. Both iterations of the boutique aim to create a friendly and warm atmosphere for dress-shopping, with a curated collection of high-quality offerings. The experience is suited to the individual bride, ranging from a no-fuss, laidback experience to more fanfare and excitement. (Think tailored playlists.)
Originally working at a branding and marketing agency, Walsh started anna bé almost two decades ago, diving headfirst into the idea that stemmed from her own experience. She had trouble finding a wedding dress she liked, and the shopping experience wasn’t ideal.
“Our first store took five months,” she said. “When I think back, I’m like, what are we doing? It was a five-month conception time, from a little nugget of an idea to actually opening day. We just dove in. We’re like, okay, we don’t know what we don’t know. We’ll just figure it out on the fly. But what we wanted to do was really bring a new experience.”
anna bé opened in 2006, followed by the first a&be about seven years later. Across the two brands, they now have 13 stores across nine states, including Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas and more. The brand is also expanding further into the East Coast, with an a&bé x anna bé bridal shop planned for Boston.
Atlanta made sense for the next location.
“We’re always looking for where there’s an opportunity,” Walsh said. “Sometimes we hear from some of our designers who are saying, ‘Anna, have you ever thought about this market?’ I hadn’t actually spent a lot of time in Atlanta until I started looking for real estate, but then just kind of fell in love with the city.”
It took awhile to find the perfect space, but they eventually landed one in the heart of Buckhead at the Pearson’s Corner, a shopping center next to The Salty Donut and Velvet Taco. It is expected to open in early 2025. Appointments will be available to book online.
Walsh is looking forward to bringing their signature experience to the Atlanta market.
“We’re excited about the designers we’re bringing,” she said. “We’re bringing in some designers you haven’t previously found in Atlanta. But more than that, it’s our experience. Brides just fall in love with our brand. We get DMs all the time like, ‘When are you gonna be in our market?’ And I think it’s the way in which we approach it – to make it really authentic and fun and friendly and that stress-free experience.”
Follow on Instagram @aandbexannabe.atlanta for updates.
