2011 - 2013

The story of Ivory & Beau began in the summer of 2011, when Nicole had just graduated college with a degree in Business Leadership and was living with her grandparents in Greenville, SC — wondering what was next. After attending her cousin’s wedding and watching the planner work her magic, Nicole knew instantly: she wanted to become a wedding planner.

Trying to follow her dream (and move closer to her boyfriend at the time), Nicole set her sights on Savannah, GA. Before she even arrived, she emailed every single wedding planner she could find in the city asking for an internship. She didn’t care if it was unpaid — she just wanted the experience. Only two replied: Layla Mayville of Simply Savannah Events and Bonnie from First City Events. Nicole will never forget meeting Bonnie and hearing her say, “It’s not glamorous.”

Once in Savannah, Nicole snagged a job as a hostess at 700 Drayton (the restaurant inside the Mansion on Forsyth Park — now Hotel Bardo), hoping it would lead to a role as an event manager helping couples with their weddings. But when that path turned into a dead end, she left quickly and began working at David’s Bridal. At the same time, she picked up part-time gigs at the Richmond Hill City Center and with Layla, learning the ins and outs of wedding planning firsthand.

At David’s Bridal, what started as a part-time job to help pay the bills became something more. Nicole fell in love with wedding gowns and quickly became the top salesperson in the entire store, even surpassing full-time employees during her very first year. And it was there — between helping brides find their dream dresses — that she met her former business partner, who first planted the idea of opening their very own bridal shop.

That spark of an idea, combined with Nicole’s passion for weddings, love of gowns, and determination to carve her own path, was the beginning of what would one day become Ivory & Beau.

2013

Nicole can still remember the exact moment she told her dad the idea of opening a bridal shop. In 2012, she had just purchased Simply Savannah Events, LLC from Layla Mayville when Layla’s husband’s job relocated them to New York. The thought came naturally — why not combine wedding planning with a bridal shop? They’d already have instant customers.

When she shared the idea with her dad, his response crushed her: “That is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard. Go back to school or get a real job.” Nicole cried the entire night, wondering if maybe he was right.

But the very next morning, everything changed. Her dad called back and said, “Actually, Nicole, I think this is a brilliant idea. So many people wait until their 40s or 50s to start a business, and that’s really tough — you’ve got family, a spouse, bills, a certain salary you’re used to. But you don’t have any of that right now. You’ve got very few responsibilities, and you’re not making much money anyway, so you’re used to that! This is the best time. You have to do it.”

With his blessing and newfound confidence, Nicole and her then-business partner rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Together, they wrote a 100+ page business plan and applied for their very first loan through the SBAC, working closely with Stephen George to bring their dream to life.

Despite many phone calls over the years asking to speak to “Ivory,” the name Ivory & Beau has never been about a person. When it came time to name the boutique, Nicole knew one thing for certain—she wanted an ampersand. She and her original business partner wrote down wedding-related words, tossed them into a hat, and kept pairing and combining them until one stuck. Ivory & Beau was born.

The original logo, designed by Molly Jacques, carried a soft, boho vibe that reflected the boutique’s early identity. By 2024, with Ivory & Beau settling into its forever home, it was time for a refresh. A design firm created a new logo—one that felt more aligned with the brand’s evolution and the character of its new space.

JANUARY 14, 2014 - 2016

After a long summer spent fine-tuning their business plan, securing their very first loan, and taking the leap of faith by quitting their day jobs at David’s Bridal, the dream of Ivory & Beau was finally beginning to take shape. In the fall of 2013, Nicole and her co-founder took their very first trip to bridal market in New York City—an experience that felt like stepping into an entirely new world. There, they carefully selected the gowns that would fill their racks, curating a collection that stood apart from the typical bridal store.

Their first home was a small but mighty unit at 7302 Abercorn Street, Suite B, inside the Jim Dixon Building. The space had just three fitting rooms, but to them it felt like a palace. From the very beginning, the vision was to celebrate smaller, independent designers—names brides wouldn’t find everywhere else. The racks carried gowns from Faith Thornburg (a SCAD alum), Rebecca Schoneveld, Elaya Vaughn (another SCAD alum and Project Runway contestant—they even had the honor of planning and designing her wedding flowers), Jaclyn Jordan (SCAD alum), and Sarah Seven. The fact that many of the designers had ties to Savannah made the collection even more special and gave Ivory & Beau a unique identity—one rooted in being just a little off the beaten path.

When it came time to open the doors, there was no advertising budget to lean on—only Instagram (and later Snapchat, when it appeared). Still, the word spread quickly. On opening day, friends, family, vendors, and supporters from the wedding industry packed the shop. The energy was electric, and seeing a vision that had once lived only in their heads finally come to life was surreal.

But as with many new businesses, the honeymoon period didn’t last forever. Running Ivory & Beau turned out to be far more difficult than the neatly packaged marketing section of the business plan had promised. Within just a few years, exhaustion set in. The long hours, endless responsibilities, and steep learning curve left them feeling burned out and overwhelmed. Still, even in those difficult seasons, the love for what they had created—and for the brides they were serving—never went away.

2016

At the time of dissolving the business partnership, I was completely burnt out. As the lead wedding planner, there were weekends when I would work three weddings back-to-back—three days in a row of 10–15 hour shifts, always on my feet. By the time Monday came around, I would crash and spend the entire day asleep, completely drained. Bonnie had said it best: “Wedding planning is not glamorous.” And she was right.

The exhaustion went deeper than just physical. I was breaking down multiple times a week, crying for hours on end, not knowing what direction to take. Should I close Ivory & Beau for good? Should I walk away and find a stable job—something less demanding, something that wasn’t slowly breaking me down, body and soul? Or should I press on, push harder, and take another chance on this dream I had built?

I spent countless hours on the phone with my dad and grandpa, talking through every scenario, trying to make sense of what my future should look like.

In the end, I chose to fight for it. I wasn’t ready to give up on my dream—not yet. And looking back now, I am so grateful that I didn’t.

2018

Well, not just Nicole—Ivory & Beau needed space. As the end of the lease drew near, Ivory & Beau was, by the grace of God, still moving forward after the dissolution of the partnership. Nicole had found an incredible team of employees, and together they were gaining momentum within Savannah’s bridal and wedding industry. The gown collections had shifted as well—many of the original designers were no longer carried, replaced instead with styles that better reflected what the everyday bride wanted in both budget and design.

But with that growth came a challenge: they had outgrown their little shop. Floral design had quickly become such a significant part of the business that arrangements were often crafted in the hallway. On weekends with large weddings, the team would completely take over half the store. Buckets, stems, and petals filled the space. It was a beautiful kind of chaos, but chaos nonetheless.

Nicole began searching for larger spaces around town. She dreamed of buying, of creating a permanent home, but it wasn’t possible just yet. Then, one afternoon while at a beauty appointment, she mentioned that she was looking for something bigger. The stylist casually mentioned a white warehouse around the corner that looked “really cool” and suggested she check it out.

The moment she left the appointment, Nicole drove straight there. And as soon as she saw it, she knew. Without hesitation, she picked up the phone and called the number on the sign. She had just found the next home for Ivory & Beau.

2020 - 2023

A few years into their time at 2111 Price Street, Ivory & Beau had already outgrown the space once again. Nicole could hardly believe it. The business was booking more and more weddings for flowers, and though they used a small back room for designing and creating, it simply wasn’t enough.

What still amazes her to this day is that 2020—the year of COVID—was actually Ivory & Beau’s most successful year in business. It had taken seven years, countless tears, heartbreaks, long hours, and endless prayers to finally have what she would truly call a “successful year.” The momentum that had been slowly building was now in full force, and it became clearer than ever that the business needed more space.

To keep up, Nicole moved the flower team into the old puppet shop in Thunderbolt. The warehouse was the perfect fit for the wear and tear that came with floral work: flower stems scattered across the floor, green leaves smudged underfoot, vases stacked high, buckets lining the walls, and water splashed everywhere. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was exactly what the team needed.

For the next few years, Ivory & Beau operated out of two locations—two leases, two landlords, and only ten employees to manage it all. The constant back-and-forth was draining, and at times, Nicole felt disconnected from one side of the business entirely.

During those final two years of juggling both spaces, she began searching for what she hoped would be the forever home of Ivory & Beau. Deep down, she knew she’d rather be her own landlord than continue to answer to two.

2022 - 2023

The hunt for a forever home for Ivory & Beau began, and with it came Nicole’s bigger dream: not just finding another rental, but finally owning the building where her business could grow roots. It consumed nearly every waking moment, her thoughts constantly circling back to the vision of a permanent home.

At the same time, life had added a new layer of responsibility. Nicole was now raising two young children alongside building her dream. Her son, Dash Mason, was born on January 31, 2021, followed by her daughter, Tommie Mason, on November 16, 2022. Between late-night feedings, endless diapers, and very little sleep, exhaustion was constant—but her determination didn’t waver. She knew the timing was critical; she had to find the right place before locking herself into another five-year lease.

Before discovering 1010 East Victory Drive, Nicole had been under contract with two other properties. The first was a smaller building in Savannah’s historic Starland District. Ultimately, she walked away when the constraints of redesign and building restrictions in the historic district didn’t feel like the right fit.

The second was a property on Waters Avenue that included a house and old tennis courts. The plan was ambitious: to use the house for part of the operations and build a new warehouse in place of the courts. Nicole had been actively drafting business plans when doubt began to creep in. One evening, she shared her hesitation with her older brother, Rocky. She admitted something just didn’t feel right. His advice was simple but pivotal: “Call your realtor. Tell her to look one more time.”

Nicole was not known for her patience, and while her realtor, Jennifer Crumpton of Austin Hill Realty, was searching, Nicole was already scrolling Zillow on her own.

And then—there it was.

1010 East Victory Drive.

She toured the property the very next day, and the decision was instant. The tennis courts deal was canceled. She had found it. This was the home for Ivory & Beau.

2023 - 2025

The purchase of 1010 East Victory Drive was anything but simple. Nicole faced hurdle after hurdle in the process. The building, once a funeral home, required multiple environmental tests before a loan could even be approved, and working with the SBA was anything but fast. But persistence paid off—on September 22, 2023, the closing was official, and Ivory & Beau had its forever home.

Renovation, however, proved to be another journey entirely. Progress was slow, and to this day Nicole will still admit there are plenty of projects left on her list. But much like the story of Ivory & Beau itself, the transformation of 1010 East Victory has been a slow, organic process.

Nicole’s vision for the space was rooted in maximalist inspiration, marrying the grand bones of the historic building with the playful, eclectic creativity that defines her personal style. She wanted every corner to feel both inspiring and welcoming—a space where brides and visitors alike could feel at home while also being swept up in something unique.

Every detail inside 1010 East Victory was hand-selected by Nicole, though not without input (and plenty of opinions) from her team. They’ll tell you she nearly lost her mind over flooring samples and wallpaper decisions. Pinterest, she jokes, is to blame—after falling in love with de Gournay wallpapers but not their price tags, she went down a rabbit hole of trying to find designs she adored without breaking the bank.

True to her love of blending old and new, Nicole incorporated antiques throughout the space. She believes vintage elements make a space feel lived in and loved, giving Ivory & Beau its distinct character. Her goal has always been for the boutique to feel like home—beautiful, creative, playful, and inspiring all at once.

And if she’s honest, Nicole knows the space will never be “finished.” She is always evolving, falling in love with new styles, patterns, and prints, and dreaming up fresh updates. For her, that’s part of the magic. Ivory & Beau’s forever home is a living, breathing reflection of the brand—and of her own creative journey.

For the last two years since closing on 1010 East Victory Drive in September of 2023, Nicole has been reflecting on what truly comes next. Her role within Ivory & Beau has shifted over time. These days, she focuses on paying the bills, overseeing the bigger vision, and balancing life as a part-time mom. While her day-to-day role in the business has become smaller, her dreams have not — in fact, they’ve only grown larger.

During this season, Nicole has also developed a newfound relationship with God. Much of her time has been spent journaling, praying, and seeking clarity on how to use the warehouse along Waters Avenue in a way that serves Him and the greater community. She believes its purpose is bigger than anything she could imagine on her own and frequently wonders when will God reveal His God-dream for her life and her purpose on this planet.

Though the full vision is still unfolding, one thing is certain: Nicole is committed to ensuring that whatever comes next will be rooted in faith, service, and a mission that extends beyond the walls of Ivory & Beau — something that blesses couples, families, and the community at large.