People of the OCQ: Fern

As we walk up to the picturesque hedge pathway to the 100-year-old heritage home in the Old City Quarter, we notice the sign The Bride’s Closet hanging over the porch. As soon as we enter, the warmth of the pale blue walls and fir floors accent the rows of beautiful gowns overflowing throughout the rooms. Fern, the owner, greets us and welcomes everyone to look through the bridal dresses before sitting down family into the viewing room. My sister comes out in the first dress and Fern asks what she likes and doesn’t like about it. After hearing the answers, she runs into the other room to pull out a few dresses. 

“It's an amazing challenge to be honest,” Fern says. “I listen to the comments they make, what they like and don’t like, and it clicks in my head and I’ll go get a particular dress. Like, okay, I have this one that ticks all of the boxes.” 

With almost thirty years in business, Fern has become a master of her craft. She has been sewing since she was six years old. Fern got into the bridal industry when she began doing alterations for Linda, who owned a consignment bridal dress shop out of her home in Qualicum. 

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“I had made a custom dress, so I took the dress to Linda to put on consignment. She said if I could make a dress, then I could alter, so she used to send me her brides dresses to get altered,” remembers Fern. “One day I got a phone call asking if I am interested in purchasing her business. Ten days later, I was running the business in my house.”

Fern sold consignment for a few years before transitioning to selling new dresses only. She still does alterations. Although she appreciates the environmental impact of consigning, she said being able to offer collections gives brides the flexibility to find their perfect dress. 

The Bride’s Closet moved to the Dorchester for a few years before moving to 279 Selby Street in the Old City Quarter, where its home has been for the last twenty years. It was serendipitous timing of when they purchased this heritage building.

“We walked by the sale sign on this property, then went to the museum for an exhibit of wedding gowns through the ages. The original owner of the building, her daughter’s dress was in the display and we read a bit of history on it,” remembers Fern. “It explained that the mom had built the home after her husband died and the home was called Fernville, which was written into the tiles set on the sidewalk. It all kind of lined up.”

That was in 2003. Since then, hundreds of brides have walked through these doors greeted by Fern. 

“I have a bride actually coming back in next week who I had seen for her first marriage. I don’t get repeats very often, but brides will bring their friends and recommend me,” she says."

“I get to know a lot of people really quite well. I've had brides come back to introduce me to their babies, which is pretty cool,” she explains, just glowing at that thought.

Being in the industry for almost thirty years, Fern has seen trends come and go, and come back again. She says the boho look is making a comeback, a style that she wore on her wedding day decades ago. 

“I graduated on the twenty-third of June and got married six days later,” she recalls. “I made my wedding gown, my prom dress and my going away suit all for under fifty bucks. The bridal dress was white velvet with big, long, drapey sleeves that dragged on the floor. I guess about as boho as you can go.”

Fern says the best part of what she does is being able to connect a bride with the dress she will walk down the aisle in. 

“It's just very satisfying to help someone in that special time of their lives. It’s an honour.”

Located on 279 Selby Street, the Bride’s Closet is open by appointment only, Monday through Saturday from 9:30am until 5pm.