There is a dress for everyone
and it is our honor to help that dress find you.
As a premier wedding destination, St. Augustine attracts over 3,000 brides each year. Many spend countless hours planning and meeting prospective vendors while in the Nation’s Oldest City, however, one important piece of the wedding puzzle was missing.
That changed in April 2020 when we opened the doors to our private showroom for the first time. Although we rechristened the store as Adele Louise Bridal in September 2026, our goal remains the same: to offer local and destination brides a luxury boutique wedding dress experience in the heart of St. Augustine.
At Adele Louise Bridal, classic, timeless elegance with a modern twist welcomes patrons in hues of pink and gold. Chandeliers sparkle alongside a bubbly toast poured once a bride has found “the one.” But the real diamond is the personal experience our owner, Kristen, gives to every bride before they even walk through the door. She envisions every visit to be as special as each individual bride, starting with communication over the phone before the appointment to get to know each and every bride on a personal level.
Accessibility for brides of all budgets and backgrounds is a key factor of Adele Louise Bridal, as well as high-quality service and products offered. A variety of well-known brands are available, including Calla Blanche, Justin Alexander, and Sincerity, along with a specially curated collection of gowns from small, independent designers. Veils, jewelry, hairpieces, belts, and custom jackets are also available.
Meet Kristen
Raised in St. Augustine, founder Kristen O’Connell noticed a need for a bridal boutique in her hometown. “It was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to have a boutique of some sort, and it was through my own personal shopping experience that I became obsessed with the world of bridal,” O’Connell says.
“Whether you are buying a $1,000 dress or a $10,000 dress, I want walking into the boutique to be a first-class experience. It’s more than shopping for a dress. This is a moment in your life that you want to do over and over. A bride’s facial expression and body language changes when the magical moment happens. I love seeing the unspoken language between friends and family. There’s the smile when they know it’s ‘the dress’.”
“Our families, chosen and born, are so important,” Kristen explains. “The original name for the boutique was my former married name. While it was an important chapter in my life, it was tragically temporal, and Adele Louise Bridal signifies a refresh and rebirth. It is a nod to my own family. Adele and Louise are my grandmothers’ middle names. One of them is my self-proclaimed biggest cheerleader, supporting me with every step. While the other is no longer with us, her spirit will always be around. Additionally, my sisters share these middle names. This is ancestral. This will never be taken away.”
When she isn’t at the boutique, O’Connell is a practicing veterinarian and loves spending time with her beloved pups Mousse, Macaroon, Minnow, Mullet, and Marlin – the last of which is known to make cameo appearances at the showroom! She loves exercising, spending time outdoors, tending to her chickens, and traveling to cities like Charleston, Savannah, Las Vegas, and everywhere in between, especially if it's tropical.
O’Connell reminds each bride that everything with the wedding is about you and your partner.
“What makes you happy is the most important, because you can’t make everyone else happy!
My job is to listen and to encourage you to be who you are on your wedding day.”
Meet Marlin
Every great boutique needs a great greeter, and at Adele Louise Bridal, that job belongs to Marlin. Marlin is a 9-year-old Malshi with soulful eyes, a heart made for cuddling, and an unofficial (but very official-feeling) title: shop dog and mascot of Adele Louise Bridal.
His story starts the way the best ones do, but we’ll let him tell it…
I was just six months old when I was rescued by my mom while she was working at the emergency vet‚ a chance encounter that turned into a lifelong bond. These days, I split my time between a busy household with four other dogs and my favorite place in the world: the boutique. Yep, FOUR other dogs. No, my mom hasn’t lost her kibbles, she just loves animals. I’m the middle child, so maybe that’s why she brings me to work and not my siblings. I like to think it’s because I’m her favorite.
Coming to work with my mom isn't work at all. It's like a vacation. I especially love getting away from my youngest brother and sister because they hog all the toys. I know the routine by heart. The moment my mom slips on her ballet flats, I know exactly what's happening, it's time to go to work and I couldn't be more thrilled. Leaving the chaos of home behind for a calm, quiet day at the boutique (with all the attention to myself) is basically my idea of a spa day.
Stop by and you'll likely be greeted by me before anyone else as I take my role as official welcoming committee very seriously. From there, you might find me curled up in my bed, batting around a favorite toy, or contentedly gnawing on my bone. If I'm feeling especially generous, I may even trot over with my beloved lamby in tow, just to share it with you.
I'm famously cuddly, so please come ready to give belly rubs and ear scratches as I’ve never met a lap I didn't want to claim. Kisses are basically guaranteed too. Close your lips and consider yourself warned!
More than anything, I love being part of the magic that happens at Adele Louise Bridal. I'm right there for the excitement of every appointment, offering my own brand of moral support (and a healthy dose of charm) as brides say YES to the dress. Because as far as I'm concerned, no bride should have to find their perfect dress without a wagging tail cheering them on.
Paws & kisses, Marlin
