Our Story

The Bridal Suite first opened in Federal Hill as a once-wed or bridal consignment shop by a business savvy woman, Roberta Sachs, whose family has owned multiple small and successful businesses, local or otherwise. Months after setting up and opening the quaint boutique, she literally gave the business away to Hispanic minority business partners Carla Rivas and Nolvia Benavides.

Hired to do a makeup demonstration in Federal Hill, a third (soon to be) owner parked out front of the small shop. Rushing, she hadn’t noticed the moniker “The Bridal Suite,” until she was packing up her car to head home for the evening. The significance of that name came from a dream she shared with her mother. Literally, weeks prior she told her mother about a reoccurring dream of a dress shop. She remembered the way it looked, especially the name, “The Bridal Suite.” Her mother, a seamstress, always supportive, encouraged her to chase her dreams. Her father was skeptic. He thought she was having a crisis.

Recently, she had cancelled her fourth engagement (yep, 4). After heartbreak, and failing to seek help from its trauma, she shut herself up in her favorite pastime, writing. She had written a “fictional” love story about an emotional heartbreak. It was the main character in her story, Farrah Covington, who was the inspiration of the bridal theme. She and her fictional character shared a love for fashion, the arts, and the idea of happily ever after.

Back to the night she found The Bridal Suite, with no money or a plan, she called the shop and left a message. “Hi. I’m standing outside of your shop. I know its closed and I’m not getting married. I wanted to know if you are hiring or maybe interested in selling your business.”

The next day a woman with a beautiful accent returned the call. Carla described business as slow. They had only been open for a few months when her father became very ill. He lived in California and she was contemplating closing the business to care for him. She was relived to pass on the lease and other responsibilities of the business. A final time, The Bridal Suite exchanged hands.

There were struggles, lots of growth and development. It was easy to dream of a business. However, running it, as a single mother of a newborn and three year old, with no prior experience, was challenging. Fashion design courses, navigating college, trials, and many errors, made that naïve heartbroken girl a bona fide entrepreneur.

After many changes to the original business concept, The Bridal Suite has expanded into Baltimore Bridal Suite. The new location will keep consignment bridal gowns available to brides, but the services now include, Vintage wedding dresses, Ready-to-Wed (off the rack designer dress samples), alterations, redesign (upcycling dress parts to create something new), custom gowns (Farrah Covington Bridal line), makeup, and special occasion styling services.

The current owner / once broken hearted girl, Jodie Fair, went on to receive an MFA for Creative Writing & Publishing Arts while running the business. In addition to running the dress shop, she is an Adjunct Writing Professor at the University of Baltimore. Before and during her transition into a business owner, she has received certifications in both Cosmetology and Fashion Design. As an undergrad at Coppin State University, she majored in Urban Art Production with a minor in Music. Jodie interned for Audrey Herman’s Spotlighter’s Theatre in Costume and Set Design.

Jodie has published a book of short stories entitled “and Other Sprints,” featuring one of the wedding dresses from the bridal suite on the cover. Her debut novel, “His Story Her Journey,” will be released in Spring of 2024. It is the story of Farrah Covington, whom the bridal couture line is named after.

With a sewing machine, a skillset in the arts, and a story of heartbreak, Baltimore Bridal Suite… Glamour and a Dress has manifested.

A wedding or special occasion requires attention to detail. Like any other quality production, presentation is everything! Your love story should be priority, and it is Jodie’s mission to help facilitate this with each client.

Our suite story has many layers, triumphs, setups, and setbacks. The one consistent thread is a leading lady, who has heart, passion, courage, drive, and a dream!