Behind the scenes: A chat with Paisley Umbrella owner, Katriesa Raines

Step into the rustic cottage that houses Paisley Umbrella and you are instantly surrounded by a bridal fairy tale. The sights and smells capture the senses and wrap you into a vintage-inspired world for creative brides.

The idea for an artistic, custom bridal co-op came to founder Katriesa Raines, after she struggled to find a simple and creative way to plan her own wedding. Following her nuptials in 2006, Katriesa decided Atlanta needed a showroom where a bride could find various wedding experts under one roof to help her plan the wedding of her dreams.

As part of Katriesa's original vision, Paisley Umbrella is a collaborative, intimate, design showroom featuring Atlanta's finest wedding professionals. All of Paisley's partners are a la carte, so a bride is encouraged to make an appointment with one or more of the partners, visit the boutique and be inspired to find her own wedding style.

Here Katriesa shares her personal account of the story and inspiration behind Paisley Umbrella.

Q: How and when did you start Paisley Umbrella?
Katriesa Raines: I started Paisley Umbrella in October 2007 as a collaboration of Atlanta artists and designers marketing to creative brides.

Q: Why a bridal co-op?
KR: The Paisley Umbrella concept is a great resource for brides to pull together the details of their wedding while experiencing a personal, custom level of design and planning.

Q: What was your inspiration for the store concept and its design?
KR: I am inspired by creative designers and business owners working side-by-side, eclectic details that are feminine and vintage-inspired, and I wanted to offer this experience to a bride! The showroom caters to brides who want to bring in special details that speak to their own sense of style throughout the whole wedding event - from invites to "the dress!"

Q: Who is the ideal Paisley bride?
KR: A "Paisley Bride" is sentimental and artful and can tell a beautiful wedding story through the details she co-designs with the Paisley Umbrella partners.

Q: Why do brides fall in love with Paisley Umbrella and its partners?
KR: Under this "umbrella," Paisley partners work together with the bride's ideas to create a cohesive wedding fairy-tale. Every bride loves the idea of a beautiful "story" surrounding her wedding and Paisley Umbrella offers her that experience.

Paisley Umbrella invites you to learn more about our extraordinary partners. Throughout the next few weeks we will feature a different partner and their products and services every few days. We welcome you to join us in this virtual tour of Paisley Umbrella's showroom.