Brinkley, AR- It's the most important garment a woman will wear in her life and Low's has been helping women decide for decades.

"That's the first thing he sees when you walk down the aisle, so it's a pretty big deal," said soon-to-be bride, Rachel Carter from Bentonville as she was trying to search for the perfect dress.

More than 30 years, Low's has helped women like Carter find the perfect dress.

Low's owner, Dorcas Prince said a wedding gown is more than a dress ‘it's a dream'. Housed in an old hotel that was built in 1913, it is on the National Registrar of Historic places.

"There was lots of railroad traffic through Brinkley and it was a bustling place back in 1913," said Prince. Her mother, Margo Low, started selling in 1977 with 6 dresses over the family pharmacy.

"It just grew and grew and grew and they took over the building next store and it grew so more," said Prince. Now, in the old hotel, the store has nearly 3,000 gowns in stock.

The romantic, elegant, and extravagant comes in tulle, silk, satin and lace. Brides' size 0 all the way up to 25 can find a gown. The prices start at $200 and go has high as $7,000. Women come from across the South, Nation, and as far as New Zealand to catch a peek at their selection.

While trying on gowns Carter told me her engagement story, "We were sitting down by the water one night, and he had a bunch of memorabilia from when we started dating, and at the end was the ring and he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him."

With diamond ring on her hand, she brought in her entourage of family to help her shop.

Her mother, Michelle Carter said, "She found the right person that's the important thing."

Rachel's grandmother said, "This isn't our first wedding, but it is our first grand-daughter, so it's special."

After trying on 12 dresses, she said it was lucky number 3 that was love at first sight.

"I want to feel like the perfect bride and I feel like I will in the dress that I got," said Carter as she walks away and Low's helps create another happy ending.

KATV Channel 7
Article by Stephanie Simoni
February 2011