Olympia’s Weddings with Joy has new owner

Courtney Foreman is the new owner of Weddings with Joy, the Olympia bridal shop that had a rocky summer after several brides and bridesmaids became alarmed at the thought of not getting their dresses.

In the end, those problems were ironed out, which left landlord Angela Bossard in the position of needing a new owner.

After talking to Loren Allerdings, the owner of United Postal Express of Olympia, he thought he just might have the right person to run the business: his daughter, Courtney Foreman.

With a background in banking, Foreman, 28, took a look at the books and decided to do it, officially becoming the owner Sept. 1.

As for what happened in the past, Foreman said she’s not looking back.

“All we can do is move forward,” she said.

And that she has, diving into renovations at the 1,400-square-foot location on Pacific Avenue, including painting the interior and recarpeting the dressing rooms. She also plans to paint the exterior of the building and redo the interior lighting.

Foreman, along with Bossard, who has agreed to mentor her during the early days of her ownership, just returned from a bridal show at the Tacoma Dome.

How does running a business compare to working at a bank?

“It’s 100 percent harder,” Foreman said, but she added that she’s always wanted to run her own wedding venue.

She’s learned from her father, watching him run businesses over the years, plus Bossard is always a phone call away to answer questions.

“I’m sure she will bring fun and exciting things to the business,” Bossard said.

As for advice for Foreman, Bossard reminded her about the importance of taking care of the customers, because those customers who buy their homecoming dresses at the shop will one day return as future brides.

Up next for Foreman and Bossard is a trip to Chicago to attend the National Bridal Market. That’s where Foreman will buy her wedding gowns for the spring and summer wedding season for 2016. Delivery of those gowns is expected before the end of the year.

Weddings with Joy was launched in the early 1980s by Joy Loffler. Loffler sold the business to Bossard in 1998 and Bossard sold it to a former employee in 2014. That employee ditched the business over the summer, leaving Bossard in the position of having to sort through a mess of outstanding orders.

Loffler, too, reminded Foreman to treat every customer as important and to hire good people. She said Foreman will see customers at their best and worst — the job sometimes requires that you be a therapist — but she needs to be there for them, Loffler said.

“I wish her great success,” she said.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Olympia’s Weddings with Joy has new owner."