Photo by TJ Turner
After a decade of experience working in several local bridal boutiques, Annie Corbin and Kate Applebaum have distilled their collective experience into their own store. Annika Bridal is a welcome addition to the intersection of 50th and France in Edina, which has been lacking in high-end bridal retailers since the closings of Monique Lhuillier and Priscilla of Boston a few years ago.
Named as a nod to Minnesota’s Scandinavian heritage and also a combination of the co-owners’ names, Annika Bridal has a Nordic-inspired aesthetic, with details such as a dried flower installation, wallpaper featuring traditional Swedish patterns, and light wood floors. “We wanted to offer an experience for our brides that wasn’t just pink and white,” says Applebaum.
What also sets Annika apart is its selection of gowns, many of which—such as Reem Acra, Marchesa, and Galia Lahav—are exclusive to the Midwest. The pair keeps the Minnesota bride in mind while taking some calculated risks. “We’ll look at a dress and say, ‘We love it, but will it sell in our market?’” says Corbin. Adds Applebaum, “At the same time, we want to let the Minnesota bride be a little bit more fashionable instead of playing it safe with your typical strapless lace dress.”
Corbin and Applebaum are very hands-on proprietors—they also take appointments and are on the sales floor on a regular basis. “We love the moment when a bride finds her dress,” says Corbin. “We love it so much we had to open our own store.”
View more photos of Annika Bridal on the TC Style blog.
3940 W. 50th St., Edina, 952-303-6801, annikabridal.com
