She Magazine FEBRUARY 2017 | Page 119

Now , before you go thinking that I ’ m claiming to have even a hint of psychic abilities , allow me to explain . First , although half-way into my thirties when it happened for me , I , too , am a business owner who is living out the incredible blessing of making a living by way of my calling . There are not a lot of things more fulfilling than being able to get up each day and to go to work , doing something you love deeply and passionately . Doing so allows a woman - and a man , too , I ’ m sure - to operate from a wellspring inside that puts a smile on one ’ s face even on the most stressful of days . Then , on the best of days , when you get to see the fruits of your cherished labor in their best light , the joy that comes from accomplishing that which you were created to do shines forth like the glow of our South Carolina sun atop a sparkling blue ocean .
Though I have been told quite a few times about what happens when we assume things and have seen the results first-hand , I would soon learn that this time , at least , I had assumed correctly . In the process of our interview , the quick assessment that I had made in the few seconds that it took to walk through the door of London and Lace echoed as being accurate repeatedly throughout our time together that first day . By the end of our third conversation , I understood the depth of what Lisa ’ s dream of owning her own wedding dress boutique means to her , which , outside of her faith and her family , is everything .
Throughout our time together in preparation for my writing this article , I felt such a kindred spirit with Lisa and came away with a deep appreciation for the way in which she approaches the entire concept of her business . From the care and attention to detail that has gone into the beautiful aesthetics of London and Lace , to the time that she puts into making sure every bride finds the dress of her dreams , nothing happens by chance . Lisa is deliberate and thoughtful in every decision , every step of the way . Simply put , Lisa Kyzer is in love with her work . There ’ s more . I believe that to the degree to which we have deep understanding and true knowledge of the thing into which we are pouring ourselves lies the potential level of our success .
At the end of the day , when the curtain falls on a bride ’ s wedding day , when the last bite of cake is eaten , when the light dissipates from the last flash of the camera , and when the feet of the last dancers are still , love remains . Love is behind every detail . Love inspires and carries every last moment of the wedding day , from the minor and the seemingly inconsequential placement of trashcans to that grandest of all grand detail , the glorious wedding gown . As I came to realize through my getting to know Lisa and her business , the great love that Lisa has for her husband is , perhaps , overlooked by the naked eye , but it is a crucial element to her being so great at what she does . Lisa gets this “ thing called love .” She understands the kind of love that brings a bride through her door and how important it is to the bride that her day be perfect . Most of all , Lisa understands the role that the wedding dress plays in the most special day of a woman ’ s life - her wedding day .
The wedding dress is the crowning glory of every bride , and Lisa understands much more than just the obvious size , shape , and style aspects of the search for the perfect dress . She approaches each bride ’ s quest for the dress with a “ knowing ,” accepting the challenge with honor and gratitude for being privy to such an intimate and beautiful time in the life of that woman .
As it turns out , Lisa ’ s desire to own a wedding dress boutique goes far back ... quite far back , indeed . As a little girl and for as long as she can remember , Lisa would imagine herself designing gowns for runways or brides . She would create little fashion shows with her dolls and change their gowns to make them more closely fit her vision . The decision to go into the bridal industry 11 years ago was very natural for Lisa . Dreaming of wedding gowns was where she discovered her place and her comfort . Lisa explains it this way , “ The moment a bride discovers ‘ the dress ’ for her wedding – the one that makes her eyes sparkle and the one in which she feels the prettiest – that moment is pure love for me . There is nothing else like it .”
Lisa was born in Columbia , South Carolina , and
grew up in Irmo and Chapin . After she finished school , she began traveling , looking for a good place to plant roots . She fell in love with the West Coast as well as the mountains and the beaches of the East Coast . Admitting to having a bit of a self-proclaimed “ gypsy heart ,” Lisa also enjoyed the big cities and small towns along the way . After her son was born , she decided to invest herself fully in the bridal industry . Working her way up from the ground floor as an eager employee at other shops , she held positions in sales , consulting , managing , and planning weddings . As much as she enjoyed each role that she played and appreciated the experience she gained , Lisa always knew that one day she would have her own boutique and create her own bridal designs .
Everything she learned in the industry helped her in the creation of her own boutique ’ s strong foundation , which was built on her faith and her love for people . “ Kindness had to be at the forefront . I wanted to create a space that made everyone feel loved , and it had to go beyond the doors and out to the people who actually made the gowns ,” Lisa shared . She went on to explain that in the fashion and bridal industry , the harsh treatment of the people making the gowns and the use of formaldehyde is widely seen . This bothered Lisa greatly , and she vowed to “ be the change ” and to make sure her gowns were not outsourced to certain countries . London and Lace offers gowns from all over the United States . They are not only designed but also created with love by the designer . This is great for brides for many reasons . All sorts of custom work can be provided to make each gown unique , and each bride feels wonderfully special when she knows the amount of love and care that was involved in making every seam , every stitch .
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SHEMAGAZINE . COM FEBRUARY 2017 119