Boulevard Bride

Several of the stylists at Boulevard Bride grew up in the same towns as the girls they now fit. The boutique's About page makes that a point of pride, and it is the detail that sets the prom side of this Lake Saint Louis shop apart.

Three out of five of our stylists grew up right here in this community and walked the same halls as the prom kids we're now helping into their dresses.

Lake Saint Louis sits inside the Wentzville School District, whose Liberty, Holt, Timberland and North Point high schools draw from the surrounding towns, and Fort Zumwalt West in O'Fallon is close by. The shop's prom arm goes by Boulevard Prom, and it runs on a calendar built around those schools' dance seasons.

The local roots go past the stylists. The store manager, by the About page's account, keeps an encyclopedic knowledge of the inventory and remembers clients long after their appointments, down to the guys who rented suits two years earlier and come back for a friend's event. The owner and staff live in the area, shop the same stores and cheer at the same games, so a prom appointment here tends to feel like a visit with neighbors rather than a sales pitch.

From a photo booth to The Meadows

Owner Jenn Glosemeyer was a full-time nurse before she was a shop owner. Her story on the store's About page starts with a single photo booth she rented out at wedding receptions, reinvesting every dollar until she could buy Boulevard Bride, then a small boutique with two dressing rooms, in 2013. In June 2018 the shop moved into a larger showroom with six private bridal suites and four dedicated prom dressing rooms. Rejournals listed Boulevard Bride among the new tenants signing leases at The Meadows of Lake St. Louis that same year, and the open-air center has been home ever since.

Boulevard is women-owned and community-rooted, and its About page stresses that everyone is welcome. The same page counts more than 2,000 happy brides. The mothers' collection includes Jovani gowns off the rack, but prom gets its own rooms, its own stylists' time and its own season.

The Boulevard Prom calendar

The prom page is laid out as a schedule, which is exactly what a family planning around a spring dance needs.

1. July

   Homecoming drop starts, with new styles arriving through the homecoming window

2. December through March

   Prom drop, with new styles arriving weekly once December begins

3. April 1

   Cutting date, the last day to order a dress with guaranteed delivery before prom season

Prom samples run 000 to 26, with special orders beyond that on some designers, and gowns run from $250 to $700 and up.

Boulevard Prom also sells part of its collection online. Orders over $150 ship free, and a dress bought online can be picked up in the store the same day, which suits a senior who spots a style on her phone during study hall.

Accessories and jewelry have their own section on the prom page, so earrings and a clutch can be chosen with the gown. The boutique also runs monthly in-store events, promotions and pop-ups, listed on its events page and in its social media captions, and email subscribers often hear about them first.

Tuxedos for the other half of the photo

The groom side of the shop handles tuxedo rentals for proms as well as weddings.

Pairing the dress and tux appointments saves a step. Alterations are handled by independent local seamstresses, and the store posts a list of the ones its clients have used.

For families anywhere in St. Charles County, Missouri, the drive along Highway 40 to The Meadows is part of a normal weekend errand loop.

Boulevard Prom in Lake Saint Louis, quick answers

When is the last day to order a prom dress?

April 1 is the cutting date for guaranteed delivery before prom. After that, the store cannot promise a special order will arrive in time.

Can I put a dress on hold while I think it over?

No. Prom styles are secured only by purchasing them, though payment plans are available.