As I stepped into the elegant bridal salon, excitement and nervousness coursed through my veins. But, I was prepared for the potential skepticism I might face as a 55-year-old Latinx woman. Little did I know, the saleswomen would soon learn a valuable lesson.
The salon’s opulent decor and stunning gowns took my breath away. However, the saleswomen’s condescending attitude quickly dampened my enthusiasm. Their subtle glances and hushed tones made it clear they underestimated me.
One saleswoman, a tall blonde, approached me with a forced smile. “Can I help you?” she asked, her tone dripping with insincerity.
“I’d love to try on some dresses,” I replied, specifying my interest in lace.
Her eyebrows shot up, and she cautioned, “These dresses are delicate. You should be careful.” The subtext was clear: they didn’t think I belonged.
I stood firm, requesting to try on a specific lace gown. The blonde’s smile faltered, and she snobbishly mentioned the $10,000 price tag.
Just then, John, the manager, intervened, his presence commanding attention. “What’s the situation here?” he asked, his gaze piercing.
The blonde hesitated before John revealed the shocking truth: I was Ms. Morales, the salon’s new owner, soon to be Mrs. Shepherd.
The saleswomen’s faces fell, their arrogance replaced by fear.
John reprimanded them, “You treat customers like this?” I intervened, sparing them from immediate termination.
Instead, I assigned the blonde, Ashley, as my personal assistant for the next month. “You’ll learn the true nature of this business,” I said. “We’re not just selling dresses; we’re making brides’ dreams come true.”
Matilda, the brunette, would focus on learning about wedding gowns and fashion trends.
As the reality of their situation sunk in, Ashley trembled, asking, “What now?”
“Now, you get me champagne and ask what kind of dress I want,” I replied with a smile.
Matilda carefully selected a lace gown, and for the first time, I saw genuine interest in their eyes.
“Think it will suit me?” I asked Matilda.
“You’ll look beautiful in anything, ma’am,” she replied, suggesting a sweetheart neckline to accentuate my shoulders.
I smiled, knowing I had my work cut out for me with these two. But, it was time they learned to truly serve every bride, regardless of appearance or background.
Now, it was time to find my perfect wedding gown.
How would you have handled this situation?
