Hidden Gems: Meet Niya Toms of Luxe Bridal Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Niya Toms.

Hi Niya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
While working full-time in a Healthcare IT company, I became inspired by my then-boyfriend Abraham Toms who worked for himself. I became inspired and motivated to identify a need within our community and start a business. Fast forward to 2016, we were engaged & it all started with a single dress: My own.

I wanted to find a more modern silhouette for my wedding day. The options I found were limited to either traditional or boho dresses. In search of an overly dramatic and ornate dress, which was not trending nor available at the time, I created my own luxury bridal house which would be known for distinct drama that felt modern and personal all at once.

A collection of dresses that are not oversaturated nor overseen, but are as unique as each bride. As you are. Our intimate boutique showcases distinctive wedding gowns with an intimate one-on-one experience.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been anything but smooth. Luxe Bridal opened in September 2017 in Studio Wed, a shared space for wedding vendors. On the weekends, my family and I would pack up the dresses and drive the shared space two hours before the first appointment.

We would have to set up dress racks and unpack and steam each dress before opening. At that time, we had roughly 25 dresses & compared to the other bridal stores in Nashville, which were not many. But we counted each bride that said yes as a victory and reinvested the money back into the brand.

Within six months, we were able to obtain a space of our own at Track One, an incubator space in Nashville for small businesses with affordable rent. We are grateful to Track One for being a safe haven for small businesses by offering affordable rent.

In 2019, we leased our current home, a storefront located on 2nd Ave S. We are currently in the market to expand our space again.

We’ve been impressed with Luxe Bridal Studio LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
First and foremost, representation is everything.

We feel like bridal can do better, women who look like me deserve to be represented and feel safe in these spaces. We specialize in customizing overly dramatic and ornate dresses which sets us apart from other brands.

As a female black-owned business, we provide a safe inclusive space for all brides.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.luxebridaltn.com
• Instagram: @luxebridalnashville
• Facebook: luxebridalnashville

Image Credits
Jessica Palardy