Founder LOHO Bride

Q: First thing- what does LOHO in Loho Bride stand for?

A: LOHO stands for league of her own. The wedding industry tends to label what kind of bride you are and I wanted our brand to inspire brides to feel confident in defining themselves. 

Q: What was your first job? What did you before creating Loho Bride? 

A: My first job was teaching ice skating at the age of 12. I was too young to be formally paid, so I got paid in rink time and my parents would reimburse me for their value. I was taught at a very young age that money didn’t grow on trees; my brother and I always had jobs. Before LOHO, I worked in tech. I always knew it wasn’t where I belonged, but the skillset I gained from having that background has proven to be invaluable. 

Q: In this retail climate, we all see stores closing left and right- but your shop does incredibly well- what sets LOHO apart? 

A: I started LOHO when I was 27 and I wanted to prove that our generation craves personalized experiences, and the bridal shops at the time just weren’t providing that level of detail. We strive to really learn about our brides beforehand so we can tailor the fitting to feeling comfortable for them. We want the bride to be seen as individuals rather than just a number. That, in combination with curating a line of original designers that are hard to find and not overly saturated, is what I believe keeps us relevant. 

Q: Having a good idea is one thing, but making it happen is what's so hard to achieve. What tips do you have for someone wanting to launch a company?

A: Seek like-minded mentors. We all had/have them and it’s almost something I believe you should pay forward to women after you. You may get some Nos at first, but keep knocking on doors because the right person will finally say yes and becoming a sponge around them will be so crucial. Also — keep your day job until you have financing secured. Making the “jump” looks different for each individual; don’t let Instagram paint a false reality of entrepreneurship. 

Q: What led you to create LOHO? What was it about the bridal industry that appealed to you? 

A: I say I created LOHO for women who didn’t dream about getting married, but who needed a safe place to go if they were to ever get engaged. Like many entrepreneurs, I felt there was a true gap in the market and at that time, there weren’t any bridal stores that I felt represented my taste and ideals. From a personal level, I love meeting and working with women, so doing so during such a beautiful time in one’s life makes LOHO cut so much deeper than just straight retail. 

Q: Beyond your store, you are such an integral part of your brand. How do you balance your personal life while maintaining a relatable online presence?

A: When I find out, I’ll let you know! My husband would say I’m horrible at balancing, so I don’t know if I’m the right person to be giving advice on the subject. To be 100% transparent, I really struggle with staying focused... I can jump around a lot, or I’ll go down the rabbit hole on one thing with blinders on. Last year I started blocking out my calendar (even for emailing) so that I keep on task and don’t stray. I keep an ongoing list on my phone that I love checking off. I aim to queue our Instagram for the week every Monday so I can quickly fire them throughout the week. I use Gmail color-coded labels and folders like a real psycho! In short, I think knowing your strengths and weaknesses is crucial and putting a process in place to almost protect you from yourself is necessary. When I can free my mind from these things and set boundaries, it tends to bleed into my personal life, making me much happier! It will always be a work in progress. 



Q: SF vs LA?

A: Right now, LA! It’s really complimenting the lifestyle we want in this phase of our lives. SF will always have a place in my heart though and thankfully our family and LOHO Loft keeps us up there often. 

Q: Describe an accomplishment that was really important to you.

A: Recently it was being able to host a bride that I would consider a style icon and who I most definitely would put on my top list of women I would kill to dress one day. 

A little context: 2019 was what I have been calling, a “F**k it year.” I really followed my gut and made riskier buys — I stopped listening to who “we should be carrying” and tried to really hone in on who our bride is and what she’s going to appreciate. Instead of trying to impress an array of brides, I really wanted to show our core girl that we were going to double down. 

So, when this dream bride complimented our brand and buying, I had to really stop and smell the roses; I knew I made the right call in staying true to my aesthetic. Anyway, those full-circle moments of meeting the girl you created your brand for always make me emotional and proud of what we’ve been able to achieve through LOHO. 

Q: If you had a motto, what would it be? Or maybe you have one and I just don't know it?

A: I stole this one from my dear friend & designer of Cortana, but I’ve always tried to keep it in mind — don’t get too ahead of yourself & enjoy the journey.