The inside of Gainesville’s newest bridal boutique feels more like a living room than a showroom. A fireplace anchors the space, patterned wallpapers add color, and racks of gowns in every size line the walls.
The Fleuridian, which opened in late September, hosted an open house Thursday, featuring sugar cookies stamped with The Fleuridian’s logo, cupcakes iced with buttercream flowers, a scavenger hunt throughout the space and a bouquet-making activity for guests. Co-owners and longtime friends Kate Magill and Sloane Henry, who met at the UF Levin College of Law in 2017, organized the kickoff.
Magill, 35, built her career in law and politics in Washington, D.C., before moving back to Gainesville earlier this year.
Henry, 35, fell in love with the wedding industry while working French Quarter weddings in New Orleans, drawn to the artistry and collaboration of musicians, florists and planners. She later put herself through law school in Gainesville while working at David’s Bridal, then, while job-hunting in Washington, D.C., joined Anthropologie’s BHLDN. After four years practicing law, she returned to Gainesville ready for a new venture.
When Henry sent Magill a slideshow pitching a bridal boutique, the two realized they had the complementary skills to make it happen.
“She showed me the PowerPoint, and I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it. Everyone else is doing what they want, so let’s open up a bridal shop,’” Magill said.
Magill handles the business operations, while Henry oversees the creative side and gown selection. Together, they shaped the boutique around the idea of inclusivity and comfort.
Every designer at The Fleuridian offers gowns in sizes 0 to 32, and the shop keeps samples in multiple sizes so brides can accurately see how dresses will look.
“We don’t feel like you should have to go to a separate salon that is plus size,” Henry said.
Inclusivity extends beyond sizing. The boutique offers jumpsuits and two-piece sets for brides who want alternatives to traditional gowns, creating a space that welcomes queer and gender-nonconforming clients as well, Henry said.
The Fleuridian differs from other boutiques by only hosting one bridal appointment at a time. Brides and their guests have the entire boutique to themselves during a fitting.
“She is the only bride in the store,” Henry said. “She’s the only person that matters during that appointment.”
The shop’s designer lineup includes Tara LaTour, known for colorful and patterned gowns; Truvelle, with its botanical designs; Jenny Yoo and Watters, two of Henry’s favorites from her BHLDN days; and Ivearry, a label known for sparkle and glamour.
The Fleuridian came together with help from family and friends, who assisted in renovating rooms, painting walls and installing mirrors. Henry’s younger sister, 32-year-old Leland Henry, manages the shop’s social media while working full time at the UF Foundation, the university’s fundraising and fund management partner.
In addition to promoting the boutique online, Leland helps at bridal expos, shadows appointments and supports day-to-day needs at the shop. Her involvement has given her a front-row seat to the boutique’s early achievements.
“Selling our first dress was a big milestone,” she said. “You build this space, and you don’t know if anyone will come. So it’s like, OK, there is a need for this in town, and people are interested.”
The shop’s name also reflects its story. “Fleur” means flower in French, a reference to Sloane Henry’s years in New Orleans, where she first became involved in weddings. The name echoes “Floridian,” grounding the boutique in its home state.
The co-owners said their goal is to create a space where brides feel celebrated rather than pressured.
“I want them to feel comfortable and at home,” Magill said. “I don’t want them to feel like they’re being sold something.”
Contact Aaliyah Evertz at aevertz@alligator.org. Follow her on X @aaliyahevertz1.
Aaliyah is a general assignment reporter for The Avenue. She's a second-year journalism student in her first semester at The Alligator. In her free time, she loves to bake, read and also write for Her Campus UFL.
