Lock Bridal opened in February at 141 W. High St. in Bellefonte.
Photo provided
A new bridal shop opened this month in Bellefonte, strengthening the area’s position as a go-to spot for brides and women looking to spice up their wardrobe.
Businesswoman Lydia Shafer opened Lock Bridal at 141 W. High St. It’s at least the second bridal shop in the Nittany Valley Region, joining Formalities in neighboring Spring Township.
Shafer also owns Lock Boutique, one of three women’s clothing retailers in Bellefonte. The area, Shafer wrote in an email, is a “shopping destination for all brides.”
“I hope Lock Bridal is a place where people leave feeling happy. Happy with the time spent in the boutique, happy with the people they shared the experience with and happy with their new wedding gown,” Shafer wrote. “During my time as a wedding photographer, I learned that planning a wedding isn’t easy. If I can make one part of a bride’s wedding planning fun and easy, that’s a win.”
The Lock Haven native discovered her passion for photography and weddings about five years ago. She continued down that path until 2020, when the coronavirus forced many couples to postpone their nuptials.
Nearly half of couples who planned to wed in 2020 postponed their celebrations to 2021 or later, according to a study carried out by online wedding planning platform The Knot.
The fashionista stepped back from wedding photography projects and instead turned toward curating a chic line for Lock.
She made friends along the way, including Diamonds and Lace Bridal owner Diana Zeisky, who closed her State College-area bridal shop in December after nearly 15 years in business. Shafer knew there would be void in the bridal market and wasted no time to seize the opportunity.
She got the keys for the space directly across from the boutique in January, took a month to spruce up the building and opened Feb. 12.
“My husband will tell you that I’m not a very patient person,” Shafer wrote. “… I’m a big believer that if things naturally fall into place, then it’s meant to be.”
Lock’s collection features gowns from several different designers. Each was handpicked by Shafer, who plans to travel in April to a spring bridal show in Atlanta to find more dresses that have a classic style with a modern twist.
Appointments can be booked online at lockbridal.com. An hourlong private session with up to four guests is complimentary, while other options cost up to $250.
“Lock Boutique and Lock Bridal’s main mission is to bring the world of fashion to our area,” Shafer wrote. “In the past, it was challenging to shop local for the styles you would see on Instagram and Pinterest. That need is what inspired me to create the Lock brand.”
Bret Pallotto primarily reports on courts and crime for the Centre Daily Times. He was raised in Mifflin County and graduated from Lock Haven University.
