Country Bumpkin Boutique

People ask how such a glamorous shop ended up with a name like Country Bumpkin. Owner Shelia Carr answers it herself on the About page. When she opened the store in 1992, she had a yellow Labrador named Country Bumpkin who kept her company through the long hours of starting a business, and she named the shop after him. These days she and her husband, Terry, have a dog named Lucy Rhea to carry on the legacy.

The store itself has come a long way since 1992. It began as a small clothing and consignment shop and has been strictly retail for more than 20 years. Today the site calls it the "Prom, Pageant, and Bridal Headquarters," and the prom and pageant side is where most of the depth is.

More than 50 designers, and a long prom list

We take great pride in the diverse range of inventory available in our store. Every dress is carefully chosen, from its color to its size, to ensure a unique selection.

Carr wrote that note for the About page, and the numbers behind it are big. The boutique carries more than 50 designers, many of them exclusively, and the site lists it as an elite retailer for each one. The prom and pageant list alone runs to seventeen names, with a shorter list for younger competitors.

Sizing is a real strength. Women's collections run from 0 to 40, and the FAQ makes a point of saying the store carries true plus sizes. Youth sizes go from 3 months up to girls' 16.

The store's FAQ lays out two ways to get a dress.

The same FAQ covers the money side of buying one.

• Most gowns run between $199 and $2,000, with the typical dress landing between $300 and $700.
• Layaway is available with half down, paid off within 30 days, with up to three extra months for $10 a month if you need more time.
• All sales are final, so try everything on before you commit.

Alterations are available in-house on dresses bought at the store. The seamstress is self-employed and works by appointment, so book your fitting with her directly, and note that a dress has to be paid in full before alterations start.

South Willow Avenue and the Upper Cumberland prom map

Country Bumpkin sits on South Willow Avenue, one of Cookeville's main commercial streets, and it pulls from well beyond the city. Cookeville High School is the big local prom, with Upperman High in Baxter and Monterey High up on the plateau rounding out Putnam County. Livingston Academy, White County High in Sparta, and Stone Memorial and Cumberland County high schools in Crossville are in the neighboring counties. For families across the Upper Cumberland of Middle Tennessee, it is a chance to see that many prom labels in one room.

The store's pitch for prom is that it handles the whole night, working with local businesses for tuxedo rentals, hair and makeup, shoes and jewelry.

• Tuxedos

  Jim's Formal Wear tuxedos for dates

• Shoes

  Benjamin Walk and Deblossom heels for prom and pageant looks

• Pageant training

  Every level, from local titles to national

Walk-ins are welcome for every event, with a request that shoppers bring no more than two guests. Appointments are recommended during the week, and the FAQ says weekend appointments are required for brides.

Pageant girls get extra attention here, and the shop's motto is printed right on the homepage: "We have the gown to help you capture the crown!" Bridal has its own designer list, but for most families in the region the name means prom season and pageant weekends.

Layaway, rentals and sizing at Country Bumpkin

Does Country Bumpkin offer layaway on prom dresses?

Yes. A dress from the showroom can go on layaway with a deposit of half the price, to be paid within 30 days. Extensions of up to three more months are available for $10 a month.

Do they rent dresses?

No. The FAQ is direct about it: the shop sells dresses and does not rent them, buy back used items or take consignments.

What sizes does the store carry?

Women's styles run from size 0 to 40, including true plus sizes, and youth styles run from 3 months to girls' 16.