CATAN FASHIONS

The Scene
Excellent business sense and talented seamstresses, consultants and designers have made Pat Catan's the ultimate bridal-shopping spot in Ohio. Customers are treated as guests, greeted at the door and escorted to a private room to be dazzled with dresses, shoes, gloves, jewelry, cake toppers, veils and headpieces by one of the 14 staff wedding consultants. Chances are you'll be assisted by Pat Catan herself, who modeled the store after ideas she picked up from "Gone With the Wind," her mother's favorite movie.

The Selection
A collection of 1,200 wedding dresses from more than 50 designers fill the racks of Catan's Southern Plantation Bridal Boutique. A broad range of styles and sizes come in an equally broad range of fabrics, from linen, Italian satin and silk to light cotton blends. All gowns are specially made-to-order and in-house alterations are included in the purchase price.

What Don't They Do?
The only thing Catan's doesn't do is cater ... yet. They recently purchased the empty Pearl Road Finast building just down the street; this will eventually become the store's new location, featuring a catwalk for two live fashion shows each week. The current bridal center will go back to being a craft center.