Making Wedding Magic Happen One Dress at a Time | My Member Story

Let’s face it—finding the perfect wedding dress can feel like searching for a unicorn in a haystack while blindfolded. Enter Fantasy Bridal, Utah’s largest bridal shop, where owner Anne Franco has been making bridal dreams come true for over two decades. As a Mountain America Credit Union business member, she has weathered every challenge the industry could throw at her, proving that when it comes to wedding dresses, she’s pretty much unstoppable!

From employee to empire builder

Anne didn’t just ease into the bridal business—she conquered it! With over 24 years in the industry, she brings experience and passion to Fantasy Bridal. When the original Fantasy Bridal owner was ready to hang up her measuring tape, Anne was the obvious choice to take over. After all, she had already been working at the shop for years, and she had dreams to take it to new heights when she became the full owner in 2019.

When the world shut down, love opened up

We all know that planning a wedding is super stressful. Imagine trying to run a bridal store during a global pandemic! In 2020, when many businesses were shutting down, Fantasy Bridal was thriving. Couples were reimagining their weddings, getting married outside with a more intimate group of loved ones—which meant all those brides still needed a dress.

Fantasy Bridal remained open, attracting brides from across the country because of what it could offer—an incredible inventory of over 3,000 wedding dresses, in-house alterations and personalized service. Apparently love doesn’t go into lockdown!

The philosophy behind the magic

Anne's approach to business includes a love for learning. "I love learning from people who have been doing it for a long time, who have figured [things out] that work for them,” she shares. “I learn from them what I can, then adapt it into a way that makes sense."

Her philosophy is beautifully simple: "No matter who is coming in, we want you to feel special!” She gushes, “No matter what your wants are, your size, your budget, it's all about you, and we want to help you feel the best that you can on your special day."

In an industry that can sometimes feel exclusive or intimidating, Fantasy Bridal's commitment to making every bride feel valued is refreshingly genuine.

Building an empire, one dress at a time

Anne's ambitions don't stop at Fantasy Bridal. As if one successful bridal business wasn’t enough of a challenge, she also owns Moments Made (formerly Latter-Day Bridal), another exceptional bridal shop in the Salt Lake Valley.

Looking ahead, Anne envisions expanding Fantasy Bridal to a larger space, offering more privacy and comfort for brides and their families. When you're Utah's largest bridal shop, thinking bigger comes with the territory.

It’s a perfect match with Mountain America

To Anne, Mountain America Credit Union is more than just a financial institution—they’ve been a true business partner since day one. What started with basic banking services has grown into a relationship built on trust and genuine support. When Anne was ready to expand her first shop, Mountain America was there with a line of credit. When the opportunity arose to purchase her second location, they stepped up again with an SBA loan.

But it's not just about the money. Anne values her dedicated business advisor most of all—someone who's a phone call away whenever she needs guidance or simply wants to talk through a business decision. That kind of personal support is invaluable when you're building an empire. Anne stays with Mountain America because they've proven they're invested in her success, not just her account balance.

Anne's favorite part of her job is working with brides and hearing each of their unique stories. We feel the same, Anne! Here's to what you've already built, plus many more happily-ever-afters.