Let’s Find
The One
Let’s Find The One
Our salon
The One Bridal Salon opened its doors in 2017 with the belief that how you find your wedding dress should be as personal and beautiful as the dress itself makes you feel. To this day, that belief remains at the heart of everything we do.
At The One, we are proud to offer a collection of beautifully designed, exceptionally crafted wedding gowns to the brides who come through our doors. But as much as we love the dresses, we know the moments surrounding them matter even more: the laughter, the happy tears, the surprises, and most of all, the moment you look in the mirror and realize you have just found the one. We have had the honor of sharing those moments with brides from Charlottesville, across Virginia, and far beyond, and of watching gowns chosen within these walls walk down aisles close to home and around the world. It has been a privilege to be a small part of these love stories, and one we will never take for granted. We look forward to the brides we have yet to meet, the love stories we have yet to hear, and the moments we have yet to witness. We hope one of them will be yours.
Kelsey Lessick
Owner
Kelsey sold her first wedding dress at 18 years old and, in many ways, has never looked back. With a degree in Fashion Merchandising, she spent years helping brides find their dresses before stepping away to try other paths in the wider wedding industry. However, as it did for so many, the unexpected pause of 2020 gave Kelsey time to reflect and realize that something she deeply loved was missing: the dresses, the brides, and the magic of being part of such a meaningful moment in someone’s love story. Walking through the doors of The One in 2021, she knew she had found her home.
In 2025, when the salon’s founder, Peggie, decided it was time to retire, Kelsey was given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry The One forward as its new owner. In October, she took that leap, honoring everything Peggie had built while bringing her own energy, experience, and vision to its future. With a shared history that began years before The One, the opportunity to continue building something she and Peggie both cared deeply about remains incredibly meaningful.
Through every chapter, Kelsey has never lost her love for the magic of it all. Helping a bride feel beautiful, watching her vision come together, and getting to play a small part in her love story will simply never get old.
KELSEY’S FAVORITES
Romantic Christmas movies
Reading her favorite book—Pride and Prejudice
Hanging out with her family
Getting dressed up and dining out at upscale restaurants
Traveling to the UK
Rhea Sage
Emotional Support Dog
Rhea joined The One Bridal Salon in April 2026 at just nine weeks old and has been busy learning the ropes ever since. Our sweet, hypoallergenic Cavapoo serves as the salon greeter, emotional support specialist, and manager of all things cute. When she is not welcoming brides and their guests, you can usually find her supervising appointments from a cozy spot nearby or happily accepting a little extra attention. Rhea is still learning her best bridal salon manners, but she takes her role very seriously and loves being part of such special moments.
Five Favorites: Snuggles, Meeting new People, Food, Naps on the Couch, Hanging out with the boss
Peggie Donowitz
Founder
As the founder of The One, Peggie’s only rule was the bride must love her dress. After a successful career in the medical profession, Peggie was searching for something that would allow her imagination, creativity and love of fashion to lead her down a new career path. Only after helping her daughter plan her dream wedding did the idea unfold: To give Charlottesville a beautiful, elegant yet welcoming bridal salon, with enough beautiful dresses that any bride can find “the one.” “It is hard to call this work,” Peggie said, ”I have way too much fun!” Retiring in 2025, Peggie left The One Bridal Salon to her longtime colleague, Kelsey, to continue the legacy she created.
Five favorites: Family dinners, Chocolate, The Ocean, Long walks with her favorite four-legged companion, A perfect Manhattan made with bourbon, never rye
603 W Main Street
Charlottesville, VA, 22903
Our Location
Located on West Main Street, The One Bridal Salon sits between the University of Virginia and Charlottesville’s historic Downtown Mall, surrounded by some of the city’s best restaurants, shops, hotels, and places to celebrate. Whether you’re joining us from Richmond, Harrisonburg, Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., or right here in Charlottesville, your bridal appointment can easily become part of a beautiful day in the city.
Make a lunch reservation, wander the Downtown Mall, or raise a glass at Bottle House just across the street after finding your dress. If you’re traveling from farther away, settle in for the weekend and enjoy a little more of Charlottesville while you’re here. We love being part of a city that gives our brides and the people they bring with them so many ways to make the day feel special.
