Meet Jan Patterson of Miami / South Florida

Originally Posted by VOYAGEMIA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jan Patterson.

Hi Jan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story started way back in 2004. The woman who I had purchased my gown from many years prior called me out of the blue and told me she had an opportunity. A friend of hers was selling a store and she thought I would be perfect for it. I met the current store manager who wanted to be my partner, asked my husband at the time what he thought, we mortgaged our home and the rest is history. Our first storefront was 1,800sqft, our second was 5,000. That site expanded to 6,500 and held us until our location today that sits at 15,000sqft. In 2016 we opened a second smaller location in Coral Springs, geared towards catering to a very different kind of bride than the one we serve at our large location. After this many years as I reflect back it seems like every 3 years I make a major move/shift in the business. I thrive on ideas, learning and change, which I would say is how I arrived at where I am today.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Hahahaha I was in business during the recession in 2008 and Covid. After surviving those, everything else seems like a blip on the radar. If I had to pick one thing outside of that staffing since COVID would be the greatest struggle. We have a really fabulous team but finding them is no easy task!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
For more than 20 years, I have had the privilege of building Boca Raton Bridal into a brand that women know they can trust. While I am incredibly proud of the beautiful designers we carry, the size of our collection, and the growth of the business, what I am most proud of is our reputation and the relationships we have built along the way.

What sets us apart is our heart and the place from which we operate. We are not driven by the sale or by money. We are driven by our clients and by the responsibility we feel to take care of them during such an important and emotional time in their lives.

We specialize in creating a highly personal bridal and special-occasion shopping experience. Our team takes the time to understand each client—her style, her personality, her concerns, and how she wants to feel. We combine that personal connection with years of experience, honest guidance, and an extensive collection of couture bridal gowns and eveningwear to find the perfect piece for her.

Over the years, I believe people may initially come to us because of our selection or our reputation, but what they remember is how we made them feel. That is the brand I have always wanted to build, and it is by far the accomplishment I am most proud of.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are so many people that have supported me and mentored me along the way. My beloved business partner who retired back in 2016 was with me in our early days of growing and learning and really grinding it out. My ex husband for believing in me and allowing me to mortgage our home. My salon manager who has been by my side for the last 10 years laughing and crying right along with me. My mother who is my accountant and who gives me the absolute freedom to never worry my books aren’t perfect. From a designer perspective Ann of Essense of Australia and Judy of Eve of Milady are the two that I know I can call anytime for advice and perspective. Last but not least all of my Patterson boys at home that never give me a hard time for loving what I do and spending lots of time doing it!