Bridal Babes Update | Shark Tank Season 14

Charles and Ashley Young created Bridal Babes to address the lack of inclusive, curve-hugging wedding and bridesmaid dresses in bold colors for multicultural women and women with curves. Ashley’s frustration with traditional, ill-fitting options for her bridal party led her to design her own, sparking viral interest and revealing a gap in the market. Will they secure the sharks’ support? Let’s dive into our Bridal Babes pitch recap and see how it unfolds.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Bridal Babes after Shark Tank.

Charles and Ashley pitched Bridal Babes on Shark Tank Season 14, seeking $500,000 for 10% equity. After their presentation, they struck a deal with Emma Grede for $250,000 for 20% equity.

In terms of a Bridal Babes update, the company expanded inventory and transitioned to a fulfillment center, improving efficiency. Further, by late 2023, the company surpassed $1 million in annual sales, bringing lifetime revenues to $4 million.

Shark	Result
Emma Grede	Accepted offer of $250,000 for 20% equity
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer

Shark Tank Bridal Babes Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Charles Young and Ashley Young  
• Business: Fashion / Dresses
• Ask: $250,000 for 10% equity
• Result: $250,000 for 20% equity
• Shark: Emma Grede

Ashley and Charles entered Shark Tank, determined to redefine the bridal industry with inclusive, curve-hugging designs that celebrate all women.

They sought $250,000 to hire a larger team, streamline their supply chain, and reduce costly shipping.

Bridal Babes designs wedding and bridesmaids dresses in sizes ranging from 0 to 30, with additional custom options for sizes 26-32.

Their goal is to create dresses that fit well and flatter curvy women, a group often overlooked in the bridal fashion industry.

Charles explained that their journey began when their wedding photos went viral, showcasing dresses unlike anything the market had seen.

Furthermore, the couple emphasized customization as a key aspect of their business.

Brides can choose from a variety of styles, including sleek satin gowns and flowy dresses in bold colors like jewel tones and soft pastels.

For added convenience, they offer virtual consultations for brides who cannot visit their physical location.

Additionally, their fabric—stretchy yet elegant—stands out because it drapes curves beautifully, a feature that keeps returns low and customers satisfied.

Notably, the sharks were impressed by the numbers. Bridal Babes offers two product lines: the classic collection costs $13.31 to produce and retails for $44, while the deluxe line costs $67 and sells for $260.

These high margins—70% for both lines reflect a profitable business model. All sales are direct to consumers.

On the marketing side, Ashley shared that their social media presence plays a significant role in their growth, with 90,000 Instagram followers and 60,000 TikTok followers.

Moreover, their content strategy includes daily posts, but their secret sauce lies in the innovative fabric.

Their sales figures reinforced their success. Since their launch, Bridal Babes has achieved $2 million in lifetime sales.

By mid-2022, they reported $850,000 in revenue year-to-date, a steady increase from $30,000 in 2019, $200,000 in 2020, and $950,000 in 2021.

Looking ahead, they are on track to close 2022 with $1.2 million in sales.

However, despite high advertising costs—30% of revenue—the business remains profitable, generating $30,000 in 2021 and paying each founder a $60,000 salary.

Lori Greiner inquired about their backgrounds, and Ashley explained her extensive experience in marketing, including pioneering work with Facebook ads for major brands.

In contrast, Charles shared his journey from football to psychology. He later worked as a detective before co-founding Bridal Babes with Ashley.

When Mark Cuban asked about operational challenges, Charles explained that, currently, it’s just the two of them and a seasonal contractor managing everything.

Unfortunately, overseas manufacturers produce their dresses, which take two weeks to complete. However, shipping costs remain high because they rely on air freight.

While Robert Herjavec admired the business, he didn’t feel he could add value and opted out.

Similarly, Kevin O’Leary appreciated their vision but expressed concerns about their understanding of customer acquisition costs and exited as well.

On the other hand, guest shark Emma Grede recognized the community-focused nature of their business. She offered $250,000 for 25% equity.

Ultimately, Charles counters with 17.5% equity. Emma counters with 20%, and they agree to a deal.

To find out what happened next for their company, keep reading our Bridal Babes update.

Shark Tank Bridal Babes Update 

Our Bridal Babes update found that the deal with Emma Grede closed successfully, providing Bridal Babes with the funds needed to expand inventory and transition to a fulfillment center in 2023.

Moreover, Emma played a pivotal role in streamlining their operations, making the business more efficient.

By the end of 2022, the company had achieved $1.4 million in annual sales.

In early 2023, Bridal Babes expanded their offerings by adding jewelry to complement their dresses.

By August of the same year, our Bridal Babes update found that they had surpassed $1 million in sales for 2023.

In Season 15, Charles and Ashley received an update segment where they revealed their progress after partnering with Emma.

Within a year, they achieved $1 million in sales, bringing lifetime sales to $3.3 million by late 2023.

We are calling this Bridal Babes update a success.

For more updates on companies from Shark Tank Season 14 Episode 5, be sure to check the links below:

• Plufl Update
• Pretty Rugged Update
• Big Bee Little Bee Update

Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 14 products.