These beautiful individuals are the heart and soul of Grayce! Take a minute to get to know them a little better!

Corporate Team

Allie Brochu
Creative Director

A little bit about your background/career before Grayce: I grew up on a small island off the coast of Maine, where my husband and I currently live. When I graduated from high school, I had no idea what I wanted for a career. What I did know was that I wanted to connect with others, make a difference in their lives & feel fulfilled in doing so. I earned my associates degree in medical assisting from EMCC but post college, I actually went in a different direction and dove into network marketing. I started my own business at home and was successful with it for 3 years. Although I was connecting with thousands of people every day & leading my own team, I was stuck behind a screen 24/7 and I was still lacking true passion. In 2018, Grayce had been placed on my heart. Grayce's core values & mission had always drawn me in. I took a leap of faith & applied. I was offered a stylist position and I had no doubt in my mind that this was exactly what I was supposed to do. One year later, I was promoted to assistant manager & very quickly fell in love with leadership as a whole. Little did I know, this job would change my world. I’ve gained a family of women that I love & trust and a career path that not only has helped me grow as a leader, but also on a personal level. I always count my blessings for the fact that I’ve found a job that I truly love and that I can help serve, celebrate & empower women, every day.

Which 1-3 Grayce core values are you most passionate about & why? This question is easy — FAMILY. It’s what I personally value most in life. Family is EVERYTHING and it’s why my job is so special. To be part of a work culture that creates relationships that embody family — that’s rare. 

5 things you can't live without:
1. My faith
2. My loved ones
3. Music
4. Adventure
5. Laughter

Favorite thing to listen to on long car rides: Oh we’re gonna listen to ALL.the.things. I like to go back & forth between some good podcasts and then almost every genre of music; country, hip hop, rap, house, oldies, pop, you name it. I might even turn off the radio & just sing to you (sorry in advance)!

Amanda Gilpatric
Operations Director

A little bit about your background/career before Grayce: I went to school at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI for Fashion Merchandising and Retail Marketing. I had big dreams of moving to NYC after college to pursue a career in Fashion PR. I came home to Maine for one last summer, and fell in love with my now husband, and his daughter. I left my high fashion dreams to cultivate our family, and began to work in the hospitality industry. My passion for fashion still burned within me, and I constantly searched for a job to fulfill that sense of purpose. Over bloody Mary’s with one of my best friends, I shared my frustrations about finding a job in the fashion industry in Maine, and she said, “Would you ever do bridal?” She encouraged me to apply to Grayce (then Blush), and the rest is history! I have never felt happier or more fulfilled in a career. I work with the most incredible, inspiring, and genuine women. I feel so blessed to be a part of the Grayce family!

Which Grayce core value are you most passionate about & why? I love all of our core values, but if I had to choose one, it would definitely be excellence. I strive for excellence every single day, in everything that I do. I try to never give any less than 110%. It sets expectations & produces focus and integrity. In a culture of excellence, team members develop the resilience to deal with change, challenge, and uncertainty. Excellence is the key to both personal development and business success. I'm getting jazzed just thinking about it! Being excellent at what we do will point back to the one who gave us the ability to do our work.

5 things you can't live without:
1. My cat, Jack
2. My family
3. Snacks
4. Spray tans
5. Air pods

Favorite thing to listen to on long car rides: I am a big podcast/audio book fan. In particular, I love leadership or true crime podcasts. For music its either my 90's/00's greatest hits playlist or classic rock.

Jessica Montes
financial & administrative Coordinator

A little bit about your background/career before Grayce: I’m one of those rare breeds that genuinely enjoys working in retail. Before Grayce, I worked in a store that catered to women from ages 18-27 and loved it!. During that time I went through some of life’s biggest transitions- college, marriage, motherhood. That store closed, and 10 days later my daughter was born. I was sad, but also knew that something even greater was going to come my way that would fit in with the new phase of life I had entered. I have a serious passion for working with women, so working in bridal had been in the back of my mind for a long time. I hadn’t even started looking for something new when I happened to see an opening at Grayce. I felt SO strongly that that this chance couldn’t pass me by that when Courtney called me for an interview, I came in that same day with my 8 week old daughter. My “search” was over before it even began. A company with incredible culture, genuinely kind & supportive leadership, and women that support women (Courtney didn’t hesitate for a second to let me bring my newborn with me to my interview) I was SOLD. I started out as a part time stylist, and over the years I’ve become a Master Stylist but also get to work side by side our fearless leader, Courtney, coordinating financial and administrative responsibilities for the company.

I have now been at Grayce for over 5 years and haven't looked back once. I've built lifelong friendships with women who inspire me every day, and have been lucky enough to help create cherished memories for our brides over the years. I'm thankful for it every day, and I cannot wait to see what the next 5 years bring!

Which Grayce core value are you most passionate about & why? Choosing just one is a tough task, but I have to say Family. At Grayce, we are truly a family. It’s a regular occurrence to have our guests comment when they visit our stores how much our team genuinely loves each other. But- there’s so much more to it! As a company, we treat our guests with the same kindness & respect that we if they were our family.  We value our team members families at home and work hard to maintain a solid work-life balance for everyone. Family is at the heart of everything we do!

5 things you can't live without:
1. My husband
2. My daughter
3. Coffee
4. A good book
5. Chapstick

Favorite thing to listen to on long car rides: In my car, I'm basically a Broadway star. My guilty pleasure is blasting my favorite show tunes and singing my heart out!

Courtney James
Founder & CVO

A little bit about your background/career before Grayce: From the time I was a little girl, I was a strong & independent personality and I’ve always had an interest in business. I was your typical over-achiever in high school & very involved. I started college pursuing a marketing degree, but quickly realized my passion for entrepreneurship. I surprised many people and decided to leave school after just one semester, opting to self-educate and seek out mentorship by people who had actually done the things I wanted to do. Give me real world experience over theory any day!

I worked in two different office settings prior to purchasing my first store in Presque Isle when I was 23. My passion for this industry quickly grew & I began to see the potential to share what we were creating though building teams & opening additional stores. As we grew to 3 stores in Maine and then another in Tennessee, I found myself doing more and more of the things I am most passionate about - building people and developing leaders. I’ve had the privilege to see our teams grow dramatically & speak publicly to other business owners looking to do the same thing.

Grayce has been in my blood for so long & each day that goes by, I know we are becoming more & more what we were meant to be. I am so excited about our expansion and getting to share our mission with more of the country.

Which Grayce core values are you most passionate about & why? Definitely leadership. I believe every person has tremendous influence, and therefore is a leader. I get so much joy out of helping others to discover the leader within themselves & seeing them grow, doing things they didn’t realize they were capable of. Leadership is so powerful because it is a ripple effect that can impact so many lives, beyond any of our own reach. The greatest leaders the world has seen were all true servants and are remembered not just by what they did, but by what they did for other people and what those they led did for the world. I want to have impact like that.

5 things you can’t live without:
1. My faith
2. My family
3. Coffee
4. Passion
5. A cozy blanket

Favorite thing to listen to on long car rides: Long car rides are common for me, so I mix it up between leadership podcasts (my faves are the Craig Groeshel Leadership Podcast & Entreleadership) & super upbeat pop/EDM. The Chainsmokers are one of my faves (even more obsessed after seeing them in Vegas!).

Bangor Team

Brooke Dennis
business development leader

A little bit about your background/career before Grayce: Oh boy, it’s hard to remember a time before Grayce! It all started in high school when I did two internships, I also modeled in every runway show for 5 years in a row and had a wonderful time! After graduating from high school and spending a few years attending the University of Maine, I found myself lacking a feeling of passion in what I was doing and unhappy in my day to day life. I was scrolling on my phone one night and I saw a Facebook post that Grayce was hiring, it was like the stars had aligned and it was meant to be. I applied for the part-time stylist position and received the position. A little over a year later I am working full-time building my career at Grayce! I have never felt more passionate about something in my life, I can’t believe all the opportunities and growth the past year has brought and I am so excited to see what happens in the years to come!

What Grayce core value are you most passionate about & why? I am the most passionate about our family culture. It is so rare to be part of a working environment where your co-workers feel like family, and coming to work everyday feels like coming home. I have never been someone to be part of the cliques in high school, I didn’t play on any sports teams, or join a sorority in college, I have always felt like I was searching for “my people” and I am certain that I have now found them.

5 things you can’t live without:
1. Starbucks
2. My cat (Romeo)
3. Hawaiian Pizza
4. Trader Joes
5. My family!

Favorite thing to listen to on long car rides: Music non-stop! I love all types of music and my playlist definitely reflects that. One minute I’m blaring Drivers License by Olivia Rodrigo like I just got my heart broken, and the next I am singing & dancing to Tempo by Lizzo like I’m about to take the stage. 

Kylie Trainer
Master Stylist | Customer Experience Coordinator

A little bit about your background/career before Grayce: I grew up in a very close family that taught me the value of hard work, and the importance of strong relationships with people. I always had a desire to serve others and travel the world, so when it came time to start life as a young adult, I decided to take a different approach and instead of going to college like most. I saved any money I made and put it towards doing missions work overseas any chance I got! I got to see different cultures, and meet so many wonderful people! But when it came time to settle down a bit, I wanted to find something that I would be passionate about like missions. I was never the kind of person that had a set career in mind. My desire in life was always to travel, one day settle down and get married, and be a stay at home mother. So when it came time to find a good job I prayed The Lord would send me something that I could make an impact, something that I could pour into and would pour into me, then I came across Grayce (Blush at the time) and found something I instantly became passionate about! Watching my parents marriage growing up, how they fought for each other through the good times and bad, I truly was able to see the value in marriage, so when I found a career that I could not only help show brides just how beautiful they are, but help them celebrate the beginning of a beautiful life with their best friend, I was hooked! People always say to me "this must be such a fun job", and while they are SO right (especially having loved fashion my whole life), the truth is that this job truly is so rewarding, and I am so beyond grateful!

What Grayce core value are you most passionate about & why? I truly love all of our values, the ones that stick out most to me would have to be Family, Leadership, and Integrity. But if I had to pick just one, it would be family! Working in a culture that is truly like family adds so much value to my life, and for my family at home - I am so beyond grateful for them, because without them, I wouldn't be who I am today.

5 things you can’t live without:
1. Jesus
2. My incredible Husband
3. My family
4. My church
5. And last, but most certainly not least, Dr Pepper!!

Favorite thing to listen to on long car rides: 100% country music! Nothing better than a hot summer day with the windows rolled down listening to some Morgan Wallen sippin' on a cold Dr Pepper!!!

Kylene Hall
Master Stylist | Seamstress

A little bit about your background/career before Grayce: Before finding Grayce, I was working on my Bachelor's degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management with a concentration in Marketing at Husson University. While I loved school, I was more passionate about going to class, organizing and color coding my binders, taking notes, and getting good grades than the career choices my major was going to lead to. It wasn't until the 2020 covid lock down that I decided to take a break from school, quit my serving job, and start over. While my original plan was to leave the state, I applied to Grayce (then Blush) on a whim, because I spent my entire childhood drawing and designing wedding gowns, and the Bangor store was minutes from my apartment. It felt like a good refresh before moving away, but I had no idea what kind of door I was opening.

It wasn't long before my co-workers found out that I have a background in sewing, and that grew into Grayce's founder offering to front the cost of formal bridal seamstress training for me to become our in-house seamstress. I genuinely hadn't considered a career in alterations before, thinking it was the kind of thing you could never do successfully in Maine. However now I can't imagine a better way to spend my days, and I finally found the passion I was lacking in my life before.

What Grayce core value are you most passionate about & why? While all of our values are near and dear to my heart, Family is the value that initially drew me into Grayce. I remember being skeptical that a group of women could genuinely be close like the website claimed, but the moment I started it was noticeably different. I expected classic mean girls but instead it was more like a group of sisters who genuinely love and want the best for you. I really value those authentic relationships so to see that these women extended that not only to each other but to every bride that walks through the door is incredible.

5 things you can’t live without:
1. My cat, Hermione.
2. My family.
3. Arby's!
4. Our camp in Northern Maine.
5. Fountain soda!

Favorite thing to listen to on long car rides: If I had it my way it would be all Taylor Swift, all the time!

Portland Team

Morgan Fluegel
Stylist | Client Communication & Experience Coordinator

A little bit about your background/career before Grayce: I was born and raised in Michigan and lived in a really small town up north! I always thought growing up I would become a school teacher, but quickly realized life had different plans for me. I obtained my bachelors degree from Grand Valley State University in Advertising and Public relations with an emphasis in marketing! After school, I worked for a marketing company in their sales division. While this was a great first start, I often found myself sitting behind the computer screen feeling lost. My fiance at the time was offered his dream job with one little catch, having to move to Maine! Shortly after we found ourselves packing up and moving hundreds of miles away from home which was equally terrifying and exciting. Now, the way that I found Grayce is a little different. I am actually a Grayce bride myself and came into our store for my appointment just after our move and found my dress! During my appointment I got to experience the culture first hand and how everyone made me feel so welcomed and beautiful during one of the most important days of my life. All I kept thinking was how amazing it would be to get to do the same for other brides. It was shortly after that I found myself looking for a new career and Grayce happened to be hiring a stylist! I truly think it was the most meant to be moment and something that is so special to me!

What Grayce core value are you most passionate about & why? Family!! I am the most dedicated girl to my family and truly feel like they deserve all of the credit for helping me get to who/where I am today. I've always said that no matter what happens, you'll always have your family. To experience that same level of closeness and support from all of my coworkers here at Grayce is rare to find but so incredibly valued. I feel so at home here at Grayce from the second I start my day to the second it ends.

5 things you can’t live without:
1. My family
2. My fiance, Justin
3. My dog, Quinn
4. Any body of water. I'm a true water baby at heart
5. Coffee

Favorite thing to listen to on long car rides: It really all depends on just how long the ride is. If we are making the trip back to Michigan, then health and lifestyle podcasts all the way. If it's a shorter drive than that, my go to music choices are anything John Mayer or Chelsea Cutler!

Emilija Kleinschmidt
Stylist

A little bit about your background/career before Grayce: I grew up in a small town in Central Maine and always wanted to pursue my dream of moving to the city and becoming a world-renowned fashion designer. My plan to escape the natural state of Maine ALMOST worked, until I met my nature-loving fiancé three months before I was set to make the move.

I started working basic 9-5 office jobs to increase my earnings, but the dream of working in the fashion industry still burned bright! In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, we ventured into real estate investing, purchasing our first home and then our second property just a year later. I secured a position as a marketing coordinator at a local RV dealership, eventually advancing to Marketing Team Lead and making many friends along the way. However, something told me there was something better out there.

After months of soul-searching and with encouragement from my ever-supportive partner, I joined Grayce as a full-time stylist with a plan to build my skills as a seamstress. Finally, a place where I could live out my dream of being in the fashion industry—a dream I thought I would never fulfill in the state of Maine! I was thrilled to be part of a family of women who support and uplift each other. Even better, I found a place that encourages me to grow in every way. I am grateful to be a part of this awesome team!

What Grayce core value are you most passionate about & why? It's hard to choose one! I live by this quote from Coco Chanel: “Keep your heels, head, and standards high.” So, I would have to say Excellence! I believe it's crucial to always be the best version of yourself and continually strive for improvement in friendships, partnerships, work relationships, and overall humanity.

5 things you can’t live without:
1. My amazing fiancé, Nick
2. My fur babies (Catty & Ami)
3. My friends
4. A really warm blanket
5. Sushi

Favorite thing to listen to on long car rides: I do a LOT of driving! I love jamming out to some great music I've recently discovered, usually some EDM or RnB mixes. However, I will also never turn down a good podcast or audiobook!

Chattanooga Team

Bailey Frizzell Rogers
business development leader

A little bit about your background/career before Grayce: I grew up just outside of Chattanooga in Cleveland, TN until moving here in 2014 to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where I studied Communication. I LOVED my time there! This is where I met and fell in love with my husband and really found my passion for photography. I learned how to use a camera along with so much more, but after graduating in 2019, I still wasn’t sure where I saw myself in terms of a career. My love for photography led me to photographing friends’ special moments and even a few of weddings. When you get to photograph these incredibly precious days and events for people, it puts into focus the little details in those photos that become the memories of themselves and their family members for years to come. There is something so special about getting to be a part of that, and after planning my own wedding in 2021, I knew I wanted to be in the wedding industry.

I have always loved fashion and of course I loved bridal gowns! And by that I mean- yes, I had binge watched “Say Yes! to the Dress” throughout the teen years and drooled over the bridal gowns just around the corner when prom dress shopping. But before shopping for my own gown, that was the extent of my expertise! After sifting through thousands of bridal designer Instagram accounts and websites for months, I should have been given a degree. My appreciation for bridal gowns was now an obsession and I couldn’t learn enough. Bridal gowns are pure art and one of the most expressive garments you will ever wear... ok, I know! Dramatic much? I will bring the DRAMA when I talk about this because I am just so passionate about it. Remember when I said that photographs of your wedding create memories for your family for years to come? Your wedding dress is such a huge part of these memories! It is the gown you wear on your most special day with your favorite person. So yes, I love fashion and the art of beautiful gowns and I’m passionate about it, but Grayce gives me the opportunity to take that passion for fashion and the latest trends and make it meaningful. There is nothing I would rather do than help women find the gown that will become part of their most precious life events and memories. I regard it as a true honor to be part of their story, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to serve both the men and women in our community!

Which Grayce core value are you most passionate about & why? If I have to choose one, family! There is a peace that comes with loving the people you surround yourself with everyday, and I am so grateful to have found that at Grayce. This company is home to me. I truly love and enjoy all the time I get to spend with the girls on our team, and have learned so much from them all!

5 things you can't live without:
1. My family
2. My dog, Remy
3. My friends
4. Dr. Pepper
5. My engagement ring

Favorite thing to listen to on long car rides: All things Jason Mraz. He’s my husband and I’s favorite. We bonded over his music early on in our relationship after he lost his dad. We can listen to all of his albums on repeat.

Callie Bryson
Stylist | operations assistant

A little bit about your background/career before Grayce: I attended Lee University in Cleveland, TN where I obtained my bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2019 and my master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2021. Soon after graduating from my master's degree I got a job working for a non-profit community mental health agency as a school-based therapist. Essentially my job was to come into the school and provide therapy to the students who were emotionally, mentally and/or behaviorally struggling that were referred to me from their school counselor. About a year and a half into that role, I started questioning if therapy was really the career field I wanted to be in. Eventually I made the impossible decision to leave my role as a therapist with no idea of what I would do next (in this economy? YIKES.) I could not be more thankful for my degree and the way it profoundly shifted my perception of people and relationships but I needed to find something different. Fast-forward to accidentally coming across a job listing for the new bridal/prom store that moved into the old Pier 1 building. After reading a little more about the company and their mission to serve, celebrate and empower women I was sold. I applied and interviewed with every intention of it being a job to help pay the bills while I figured out my *real* next move (jokes on me). Long story short-- I got hired and never looked back. I am so grateful for the opportunity to celebrate women in such a unique way as well as discover new passions/ talents I wasn't aware I possessed before this job.

What Grayce core value are you most passionate about & why? Easy answer- grace. I think we wildly underestimate how powerful a moment of unconditional kindness or grace can be, especially when extended to a complete stranger. At the end of the day we're all just doing the best we can. Isn't it everyone's first time going through life?

5 things you can’t live without:
1. My denim collection
2. My girls’ groupchat & annual girls trip
3. Coca-Cola
4. Probably amazon
5. My bestie boy/husband, Trace T <3

Favorite thing to listen to on long car rides: Honestly if it's me and my best friend in the car, we are too chatty to even notice the lack of music. If it's me and my husband, I am forcing him to listen to my R&B playlist and sing the ad libs in the background.