The J&B Team...Meet Jim and Barb!

There is so much history behind J&B Bridals, and how it grew from a tiny, 2 person shop to the bridal industry leader that it is today.  The J&B story all began in 1978 with Jim and Barb Resh.  Growing up in Hagerstown, MD, Jim and Barb were married in 1976, then relocated to Chambersburg, PA in 1978 to begin their own business.  Jim and Barb began J&B Fashions in April of 1978 as a women's ready to wear shop, offering everything from Zena jeans and Bobbie Brooks clothing, to swimwear!  They developed a deep love for their customers, and enjoyed their ongoing relationships with those customers as they came back often to shop.  Many local ladies will tell stories about running down J&B once a week on their lunch breaks to go shopping!  At the time, Jim and Barb worked closely with a buying office in NYC, and from the advice of Ida Anselmo (their mentor from the buying office), they began to expand their business to include bridal.  As the business evolved, it became half ready-to-wear/half bridal, and then eventually moved its way into entirely bridal.

Jim and Barb happily reunited in 2009 with Ida Anselmo, their mentor from the Carl Day buying office

Two things that stand out about Jim and Barb is both their genuine love of people, and also their obvious passion for the bridal business.  Many past and present "J&B brides" say that one thing they love about J&B is that Jim and Barb are always present and easily accessible.  When you meet them, it is clear that they have poured their life and soul into the business, and they are passionate and excited about it!  Another thing that people notice right away is that Jim and Barb always go the "extra mile" to make their customers happy.   They have been known to do things such as travel an hour away to a wedding just to deliver a groomsman's pocket square that was left at the store.  There is nothing they won't do for one of their customers in need! 

Jim and Barb are also outstanding leaders, treating their team members with extreme generosity and fairness.  They truly consider each member of the team a "family member".  Jim and Barb have truly built a "family" business in every sense of the term.  They were thrilled to be joined in the business by their oldest daughter, Jackie, in 2000 and then by their youngest daughter, Jami in 2007.  Although they have seen the good and the bad that comes with owning a business, they have persevered through it all and truly love what they do.  At the end of the day, Jim and Barb are extremely humbled and grateful, and they thank God every day for the opportunity to be the owners of such a wonderful business.  Jim and Barb's love for God, love for people, and love for the bridal industry has propelled their business for the past 35 years.  Jim is often quoted as saying "If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life!"

When Jim and Barb are not at J&B, some of their favorite activities include: reading, traveling (especially to warm, tropical climates!), spending time with their 2 daughters, sons-in-law, and 2 granddaughters.  Jim and Barb are very family oriented and love nothing more than relaxing with their family.

Jim and Barb, thank you for all that you do!  Your team loves you!  :)

Jim and Barb with designer Madeline Gardner

Jim and Barb vacationing in Florida a few years ago with their daughters, sons-in-law, and granddaughters

The J&B Team...Meet Colette!

We are so grateful to have Colette Barnett, our very own "visual merchandiser", at J&B!  One of Colette's main responsibilities is designing and creating the window displays at J&B.  Her creativity provides for some very beautiful and unique creations to be displayed in our windows along Main Street.  She also serves as our interior decorator, and has played a major role in renovations and decorations at J&B, including the construction of a courtyard behind our store that was just completed this month.

Colette has owned "Colette Barnett Studios" since 2000.  She serves clients in the building and design market (both residential and commercial), and also works as a fine art painter, muralist, and stencil designer.  On top of that, she consults, designs, and coordinates weddings and events.

Colette says, "working at J&B offers me the chance to rub shoulders with great people who have great instincts and knowledge of the fashion trends/industry.  Working in visual merchandising is an interesting change of pace to the norm of the interior design field.  Of course my biggest challenge is finding display designs that compliment the incredible sophistication of the gowns offered at J&B - not an easy task!"

In her spare time, Colette enjoys spending time with her husband and her two children.  She also is an active member of the choir and children's ministry at Maranatha Brethren Church.  She is an avid gardener - loving both the design and the dirty work (which she considers therapy)!  All it takes is one glance at Colette's gorgeous Civil War Era house and it is obvious that she loves renovating her house, building tree houses, swings, flower boxes, and caring for her farm animals.

We are so thankful to have Colette and her creative talents with us at J&B!

Colette and her daughter working together on window displays at J&B

Preparing holiday windows

The courtyard project behind J&B 

The J&B Team...Meet the Seamstresses!



L to R: Brenda, Diane, and Connie

J&B is one of the only bridal stores in the area to offer on-site alterations, and we absolutely love our seamstresses!  When you purchase your bridal, bridesmaid, or prom gown, it's so important to make sure that it is altered by a professional only.  We are so thankful for our three seamstresses who work tirelessly day in and day out making gowns fit perfectly!  These ladies together have over 100 years of experience in alterations!

Our seamstresses love working brides, bridal parties, and prom girls just as much as our consultants do.  They love meeting brides, hearing their stories, and watching their faces light up when they finally get to see the finished product on them!
Brenda has been with J&B for over 10 years, and you can be sure that when she meets with her brides and prom girls there will be laughing involved!  Brenda has such a great time with her customers, and they will tell you that they really appreciate Brenda's attentiveness.  She treats each of her brides as if they are a member of her own family.  When she is not at J&B she loves spending time with her 4 grown kids and her grandkids.

Diane has been with J&B for nearly 20 years! Her expertise is fantastic. Her brides love the fact that she is a perfectionist when it comes to alterations. Diane takes her work very seriously, and is determined to please her brides. She always has a positive outlook, no matter what obstacles she may be facing. When she is not at J&B, you can often find her spending time with her grandson...they just adore each other! :)


Connie has been with J&B for nearly 15 years!  She cares about every single detail involved in altering a bride's wedding gown, and she has been known to pull an all-nighter more than once just to make a gown perfect!  In fact, she is so dedicated that she has also worked on gowns while on vacation.  She adds such a special touch to her brides' alterations.  For Connie, it is about more than altering a bridal gown.  It is about helping a bride with the most important dress she will ever wear in her life!  When she is not at J&B, she loves enjoying nature, bird-watching, and spending time with her husband and family.

We are very thankful for each of these special ladies, and we appreciate their hours and hours of hard work.

 

The J&B Team...Meet Mary Jane!

Mary Jane is a dear member of the J&B Team!  She has been with J&B for over 10 years, however, she has been in the bridal industry for over 30 years!  Mary Jane began her career in her twenties, when she began working at a bridal shop and loved it.  From there, she built a career revolving around both the bridal industry and the dry cleaning business.  She is truly a wealth of information when it comes to anything bridal!

We are so fortunate to have Mary Jane as our "backroom receiver".  She is responsible for taking care of all incoming stock and special orders that come into J&B on a daily basis, which is quite a responsibility!  She begins her day with stacks and stacks of boxes that need opened and processed.  As new gowns and accessories arrive daily, she processes them as either new stock or special orders, and notifies customers when their items are in.  With her careful attention to detail and thorough nature, Mary Jane is wonderful at her job!  It is not uncommon to also find her working on the sales floor whenever extra help is needed!  In fact, she was a huge help during our Mothers Extravaganza earlier this month!  Working with mothers of the bride and groom are her specialty when working on the sales floor!

Everyone on the J&B team just loves Mary Jane!  Her sweet and thoughtful nature makes everyone want to be around her!  Her true care and concern for others is very evident within just a few moments of speaking with her.  Mary Jane says that her favorite thing about being a part of the J&B Team is that the girls that she works with keep her young!  :)  She says that she also enjoys being a part of a team that truly cares about their customers. 

One piece of advice that Mary Jane would give to brides when they are planning their wedding is, "Enjoy the journey, keep calm, and allow yourself enough time."

When she is not at J&B, you can find Mary Jane spending time with her husband.  She also loves reading, quilting, rug hooking, and spending time with her friends.

We love having Mary Jane on the J&B Team!

The J&B Team...Meet Carolyn!

Carolyn is another one of our team members who you may never see, but she is vitally important to the J&B Team. You will most often find her upstairs in the office, taking care of many of the little details that matter so much at J&B! Carolyn's official title is "Office Manager", which includes a wide variety of activities.  She takes care of the ordering of gowns, tracking orders, and many of the accounting-type activities that need taken care of on a daily basis.  And, on our very busy days at J&B we are grateful to Carolyn for helping out with answering the phone or even altering tuxedo pants or jackets!

Carolyn has been at J&B since April of 2000.  After 12 years she has learned a lot about the bridal industry and the ins and outs of the day-to-day office activities that need to be done.  She says that she loves being a part of the J&B Family, and her favorite thing about being at J&B is that every day is something different! Carolyn has such a sweet and kind spirit, and she truly has a way of making people smile!

Carolyn sees many brides come in and out of J&B, and one piece of advice that she would give to them is this..."After you're married, work just as hard to keep your spouse as you did getting your spouse."

Carolyn has a husband, 2 children, and 6 grandchildren whom she loves dearly!  When Carolyn is not at J&B, she enjoys spending time with all of them.  She loves gardening, quilting, and knitting, and also loves entertaining friends.

We are so thankful to have Carolyn as part of the J&B Family!

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The J&B Team...Meet our Finishing Professionals!

Deanna (Left) and Lois (Right)
Professional Gown Finishers

Have you ever wondered who takes care of the pressing and finishing of the gowns that are purchased at J&B?  Lois and Deanna make up our "finishing team" at J&B Bridals.  These two ladies are very hardworking, and they are a crucial part of our team!  When we have new stock that comes in, these two are the ones who press the gowns and make sure that they are beautiful and ready to be on the floor!  After a gown is altered by one of our seamstresses, it gets immediately transferred to our back room where Lois and Deanna take care of all of the finishing touches.  They inspect the gowns, making sure there are no marks and no loose beads.  Then they spend hours pressing and steaming, getting the gowns "wedding ready" or "prom ready".

When Lois is not at J&B, she loves to read, bake, and knit.  Many times she will bring in her newest knitting creations for the rest of the team to see!  Lois says that her favorite thing about being a part of the J&B Team is that everyone really cares, and they are friendly and nice to work for.

Deanna's favorite part of being on the J&B Team is that it feels like being with family.  She sees every single gown that comes into J&B, and she tells brides that no matter what kind of gown you are looking for, you can find it at J&B!

We appreciate the hours and hours these wonderful ladies work.  They make sure each of our brides' and prom girls' dresses are perfect!  We love having Lois and Deanna on the J&B Team!

The J&B Team...Meet Samantha!

Samantha had plenty of exposure to J&B before she joined the team.  She was a J&B Bride 3 years ago and we loved helping her! She has also been a bridesmaid in many weddings at J&B, including her sister's.  We were excited when Samantha approached us about a year ago about possibly joining the team.  She started in October of 2011 as a prom consultant.  She currently helps prom/homecoming girls, mothers, and lots of other women who need a "special occasion" dress.

Samantha lives in Orbisonia, PA (about an hour away from Chambersburg) and has been traveling that distance 5 days a week for almost a year just to work at J&B!  She and her husband run a Bed & Breakfast at their home in Orbisonia.  They enjoy meeting the various people that come in and out of their lives through the B&B.

The biggest news in Sam's life right now is that she is expecting a baby girl in January!  We are so excited for her!  Unfortunately you won't be seeing her at J&B over the next few months...her doctor recently put her on bedrest.  Although we miss her, we of course want what is best for her and her baby. We can't wait to meet her sweet little girl in a few months.

Sam says that her favorite thing about being a part of the J&B Team is the feeling of family between everyone at the store, and the way everyone works together to help girls find the perfect dress. 

Her advice for prom girls is, "Make sure you get the dress that you love and that really speaks to you, and don't be too concerned about what everyone else is wearing.  Also, have fun with fashion for prom, because it's one of the few times in your life that you will be able to wear gowns like that!"

When Sam is not at J&B she enjoys spending time with her husband and her two dogs, Charlie and Ruby.  She loves decorating her home, reading, and getting together with their friends.  She also loves planning and getting ready for the arrival of her little girl!

It's a joy to have Sam on the J&B Team!

The J&B Team...Meet Taryn!

Taryn's story is such a fun one! About a year ago we received a phone call from a guidance counselor at Greencastle Area High School telling us that there was a senior in the school named Taryn who was interested in pursuing a career in fashion.  She asked if Taryn could spend a few hours with us doing some shadowing, and exploring what this side of the fashion industry was all about.  We were happy to have her spend a day with us in December, and in January we were thrilled to have her join our team!  Taryn started helping us part-time, with her main job being to help us keep the dresses in order and put them back on the rack after they had been tried on.  She has really blossomed and now is working many hours on our tuxedo side!  She does a great job in the back room on the production side, and also on the sales side, working with tuxedo parties.  Taryn is great at making people feel at home at J&B, with her warm smile and friendly attitude.  She is awesome at hemming tuxedo pants too!  :)  We are so excited that during this upcoming prom season she will add "prom consultant" to her job description!  Taryn can't wait to begin her journey on the prom side in a few months, helping prom girls find their dream dress!

Taryn has many things that she loves about being at J&B.  She says, "I love being able to see all of the new dresses we get in, whether they are bridesmaids, wedding gowns, or prom dresses.  I also love peeking on the brides when they have their dresses on and seeing their faces light up when they find their perfect gown!  I love working with the tuxedo parties and helping them find their perfect styles to match their needs.  And I most definitely love my co-workers and bosses.  Everyone works so hard and they are like a second family to me."

One piece of advice that Taryn would give to her prom girls and tuxedo parties is this..."Please do not stress yourself out!  All of the consultants here work their hardest to satisfy your needs.  We're here to help, so let us!"

When Taryn is not at J&B, she loves sketching up dress designs, inspired by some of the designers J&B carries.  She also loves shopping, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.

We love having Taryn on the J&B Team!

The J&B Team...Meet Carissa!

Carissa's experience with brides started years before she joined the J&B Team!  The first exposure she had in working with weddings was in the 90's when she worked as an assistant and a makeup artist at Wilma's Photography in Greencastle.  She had the opportunity to travel to weddings with Wilma and also worked closely at times with the brides and grooms and loved it!  She also has recently worked in the catering industry, co-owning her own restaurant and catering business.

Carissa has been at J&B since March 2011.  Her love for people truly shines when she is working with her brides and prom girls.  You only need to spend a few minutes with Carissa to realize that she is a very genuine, caring person, and she treats her brides and prom girls as if they were one of her own friends or family members.  She has such a wonderful way of making her brides feel calm and relaxed, and she knows just the way to make wedding dress shopping an effortless experience!  One bride recently commented on how great Carissa was to work with.  She said, "She was so patient with me while I was so indecisive!"  She is also extremely honest, and she does a great job at steering her brides in the right direction, and giving them options of gowns that will look great on them!  Her brides love the one-on-one attention she gives them, paying attention to every little detail!

When asked what her favorite thing is about being at J&B she says that she truly enjoys hearing each bride's personal story and helping them discover the gown they are looking for.  She loves having the opportunity to take the ideas of what a bride wants and bring that to reality.  She says "I feel very honored to be a part of that special moment."

Carissa has some very important advice she would like to give her brides when it comes to planning their wedding.  She says, "Enjoy the journey!  It's so easy to get caught up in all the details and miss the opportunity to cherish the moments.  Although I love all the planning aspects of the wedding, the most important part is the people...especially the one you've chosen to spend a lifetime with.  So after the perfect gown, and the beautiful wedding, my challenge is for you to invest some of your previous planning time preparing for your 'happily ever after'."

Carissa has a wonderful husband and three terriffic kids.  When she is not at J&B, you can often find her boating or relaxing by the pool with her family.  She enjoys hosting events and get-togethers at her home!  Carissa homeschools her kids and also counsels part-time.  She is a busy woman!

We are so thankful to have Carissa on the wonderful J&B Team!

The J&B Team...Meet Jackie!

Jackie grew up in the Bridal Business with her younger sister and always seemed to have a passion for all of those "white" garments she would become so familiar with.   As a little girl Jackie and her sister Jami would travel to market with Jim and Barb in New York City, and they would fill out their own order of gowns and get to know many of the individuals that they now deal with on a daily basis.  Growing up in the Bridal Business was one filled with modeling flower girl dresses, helping on the floor, and in fact doing anything that needed done to help Mom and Dad run the business. It is often mentioned that she started in a playpen in the back corner of the store (she probably gets tired of that story)  :)  Jackie graduated from Liberty University in 2000 and brought her marketing talents not to mention her incredible rapport with her brides to the business.  Jackie is the "voice" behind the J & B radio commercials.  Her voice has become the signature of our Radio Marketing campaigns.

Here's what one bride had to say about her experience with Jackie  "Best experience EVER! Jackie was amazing and helped me to find the perfect gown on my first visit!"

When asked what her favorite thing is about being at J&B, Jackie says..."The best part is definitely the relationships that I form with my brides.  There is something very special and rewarding for me to be a part of that moment when a bride finds "the" dress.  Many times I find myself tearing up along with the bride and her family when she finds the one!  It is such an honor to be a part of such an important moment in someone's life!"  Jackie's memory enables her to remember her brides years after the event!  This obviously comes from such a passion for what she does. 

One piece of advice that Jackie would give to her brides is to relax, and enjoy the excitement of planning your wedding!  Try not to get hung up on the little things that may not go as planned, but keep in mind that once the wedding is all over, the best part is that you get to experience life with your best friend!

When Jackie is not at J&B, she loves spending time with her husband, and her 2 daughters, ages 2 and 4.  You can often find her playing with her kids at Monkey Joe's, or at the play area at Chick-fil-a! She also loves traveling, especially to beautiful beaches!

Its such a blessing to have Jackie with us at J & B. She is truly part of the team that creates what we call "The J & B Difference"

The J&B Team...Meet Jami!

The next member of our team that we are introducing you to is Jami!  Jim and Barb (the owners) have two daughters who both work in the business, and Jami is the youngest of the two.  Jami grew up surrounded by the bridal business, and even though she appreciated it, she had thought all of her life that bridal was just not for her!  After high school Jami attended Liberty University where she majored in Youth Ministry. After she graduated from Liberty, she spent 2 years living in the Orlando, FL area working with Campus Crusade for Christ where she worked closely with high school students.  She loved it, but after 2 years she had a change of heart and wanted to join the family business!  Jami has been happily at J&B since May 2007, and we are so glad to have her!

Jami got married 2 years ago on the Caribbean island of St Kitts, so she is a great resource for brides who are planning destination weddings!  She can give you lots of tips and advice when traveling with your wedding gown, getting married out of the country, etc.

Jami loves working with both brides and prom girls!  Brides love working with Jami because of her fun, yet patient, demeanor.  One bride recently reviewed J&B on Wedding Wire and wrote "Jami was amazing!  I came into the shop looking for a specific dress - put it on and hated it...Jami spent the next 4 hours putting me in and out of what seemed like every dress in the store!  Finally, about 1/2 hour past closing time, we finally made a decision!  They never made me feel rushed or like I was 'just another customer' - without a doubt worth the trip from Baltimore!"

Jami says that her favorite part of working with brides is building friendships with them and helping them to make their wedding day everything they envisioned it to be.

One piece of advice she would like to give her brides is to enjoy every minute of the planning, and of the big day, because it goes by so quickly!

When Jami is not at J&B, she loves running!  In fact, she is training right now for a 1/2 marathon in October!  Go Jami!  :)  Jami also loves pugs!  She has one of her own, named Coco.  Together with her husband they have 2 dogs, and she loves spending time at home with all of them!

We love having Jami on the J&B Team!

Jami's sweet dog, Coco Chanel :)

The J&B Team...Meet Amy!

We love Amy's "J&B history" because it all started back in 1991 when she was a "J&B Bride" herself!  Amy purchased her wedding gown from J&B 21 years ago, had a great experience, and worked as a bridal consultant at J&B in 1995 and 1996.  She left for a short period after having her second child, and we were happy to welcome her back to J&B in December of 1999.  Amy has been at J&B ever since!

Amy can relate to her customers in all areas of their lives.  She has one daughter who is in college, one who is in high school, and a son who is in kingergarten!  Whether she is working with brides, mothers of the bride, or prom girls, she knows what they are going through.  She can relate!

When Amy is working with a bride, she is 100% focused!  :)  You can guarantee that she will not stop until she finds the perfect dress for her bride.  Amy also knows how to have a good time!  Many times you can hear her contagious laugh throughout the building as she is working with her brides and prom girls!  She also loves accessorizing and is fantastic at finding just the right veil, jewelry, and shoes to go with a dress.

In a recent review on Wedding Wire, one bride wrote: "I was a walk-in customer just wanting to browse.  Amy scooped me up right away and took complete care of me. The consultation she gave me was one of a kind (not like with other places I had been to with an appointment). They have fantastic gowns and really listen to the bride when she sets a budget. Amy even gave me a full head-to-toe dressing including jewelry and a veil."

In addition to helping her brides find the perfect gown, her favorite thing about being a bridal consultant at J&B is the strong relationships she builds with her brides and their families.

One piece of advice that Amy would give to her brides is "Once you find the perfect wedding gown, don't confuse yourself by continuing to look!"

When Amy is not at J&B, she enjoys spending time with her family.  In addition, she is a big fan of natural disaster movies and old TV show reruns, especially the show "Friends"! 

We love having Amy as part of the J&B Team!