I’m Earleen Garbe, one of the proud owners of Revelle.

I worked for the Federal Government for almost twenty-five years while raising my kids. Once they got older and no longer needed me around as much, I decided I wanted to do something more fulfilling with my career. I wanted to do something for me rather than something that just paid the bills.

Meeting people and anything wedding related made me happy, so with a newly established event planning company my business partner and I created two wedding shows called ‘Tie the Knot’ and ‘WedCycle.’ The events proved a game-changer for local wedding shows attended by engaged couples. These small victories allowed me to retire from the day job and raise my ambitions.

The wedding shows also opened new doors to meet professionals in Ottawa’s wedding industry. It led to an opportunity to purchase an inventory of sample wedding dresses after a local bridal shop was closing its doors for the last time. I took this as a sign to expand my portfolio.

With my brother as my new business partner, we started Encore Bridal in 2016, as an off the rack bridal boutique that retailed sample gowns along with preloved dresses sold on consignment. However, we soon realized that Ottawa brides wanted to purchase new gowns for their big day.

We quickly changed course and rebranded Encore Bridal to Revelle, a high-end bridal boutique that offers a luxury shopping experience. Within the span of eight months, we also moved to a swanky new location in Wellington West, which helped us to reposition our brand and cater to the demographic we were meant to attract.

Not only did our name change, but our entire business model evolved. We no longer offer a consignment program as we did in the beginning, but instead curate luxury wedding dresses from talented indie designers from across the globe.

Our focus on providing clients with an exceptional personalized touch is what I believe sets us apart from our competition. I also think my core values of integrity, fairness, respect, and perseverance have allowed me to achieve so much in such a short time.

My business philosophy is always to do things I love. If you love what you do and do what you love, success will follow. I think that our success is a result of the outstanding customer service we offer to our brides before, during, and after their bridal consultation as well as the incredible collection of curated wedding gowns from designers exclusive in Ottawa to Revelle.

As cliche as it may sound, the most rewarding part of the job is making a bride’s dreams come true. There is never a dull moment in the shop as we are always around people in a good mood that are preparing for their special day.

When I am not helping brides find their dream wedding dress, I enjoy working out, watching movies, and listening to music. I also love hanging out with friends and family while trying out new restaurants and cute cafes. Traveling to exotic countries that I have not yet visited is another pastime of mine.

I have enjoyed sharing my story about the things which matter to me and how they influence the way I do business.

If you or someone you know could benefit from my expertise in luxury bridal gowns, in Ottawa, Ontario, I invite you to get in touch.

Sincerely,

Earleen