Meet Kirsten Brittle of When We Were Young

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirsten Brittle.

Hi Kirsten, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When We Were Young was born five years ago after discovering a true love for bridal and vintage. Coming from a background in wardrobe and personal styling, it was only natural to help some of the closest women in my life with their wardrobes when it came time to say ‘I do’. What evolved from sourcing vintage bridal pieces and creating custom corsets came the birth of re-imagining and reconstructing heirloom wedding dresses for brides in my local community, and now for women all over the US and Canada. With the power of word of mouth and the virality of a few Tiktoks, my small business quickly grew overnight to 3x. Whether it’s a grandmother’s dress from the 60’s, or a mother’s classic 90’s gown – with WWWY, the options to redesign are endless. Our goal is honor the integrity of these special gowns, while also breathing new life to emulate the bride’s authentic style and beauty.

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?
I have to credit the growth and success of my business to its organic roots. I never intentionally set out to carve out this niche in the wedding industry. It was truly born from a deep love for vintage heirlooms, and being fascinated at a young age with what my own wedding would one day look like. Having this authentic love for these two things allowed me to develop a unique service in a space where it was not commonly offered. With overnight growth came the need for more space and additional help which I navigated with patience to ensure each decision would positively impact the put through and efficiency of my business. Ultimately, having a very supportive husband and other special entrepreneurs in my family within the wedding industry helped me navigate expansion tremendously (shout out to my sister in law, Owner of Luxe + Bloom, an ATL based wedding florist and to my sister, Jahna Christa HMU, an ATL based wedding make-up artist). It was only a matter of time until I found myself in the space alongside of them.

As you know, we’re big fans of When We Were Young. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
When We Were Young is a specialty custom bridal alterations service that can reimagine just about any heirloom wedding piece. We are all about breathing life into special pieces that once maybe laid in a preservation box in the attic for 30 years untouched. As women, the wedding wardrobe is such a fun and highly curated part of the bridal era, and we know the struggle of finding special looks that feel fresh, original, and have the quality and fit every bride deserves – all while not breaking the bank. That is why we love the concept of redesigning a piece of clothing that holds sentimental value – customized to your personal style – to truly become a one of one look that nobody can replicate. There is nothing more special than feeling beautiful in something that holds meaning, memories, traditions- and honors the special people in your life.

What makes you happy?
My savior Jesus Christ allows me to wake up everyday with real joy and gratitude. The people I love most, my husband, family and friends are my core and make up my happiest memories. Traveling with them, enjoying new restaurants, thrifting, creating, moving body with hot pilates are just a few of my favorite things to do on any given day!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwwyoung__?igsh=MzY5ajV6d3oxb3dk&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@whenwewereyoung__?_t=ZP-8yEvKXs7qql&_r=1

Image Credits
@jessaephotos
@abbyjacksonphoto
@sydneymarie.co
@nataliejweddings