Finding the perfect bridesmaid dress is hard enough. But for curvy women and women of color, it’s even tougher. Most bridal shops don’t carry stylish, well-fitting options in bold colors or extended sizes. Many brides end up frustrated settling for unflattering dresses or expensive custom designs.
Ashley Young faced this exact problem when planning her wedding. She couldn’t find beautiful, curve-friendly bridesmaid dresses. So, she took matters into her own hands. She designed her own dresses and when her wedding photos went viral, she knew she wasn’t alone. That’s how Bridal Babes was born.
Ashley and her husband, Charles, created a line of inclusive, stylish bridesmaid and wedding dresses in sizes 0-30. Their stretchy, figure-hugging designs come in bold jewel tones and soft pastels, finally giving women options they love.
In Shark Tank Season 14, they asked for $250,000 for 10% equity to grow their business. While some Sharks hesitated, Emma Grede (founder of Good American) saw their potential and made a deal.
Bridal Babes Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025
Ashley and Charles were looking for an investment of $250k in exchange for 10% equity in the company. At the time of the episode, they valued their company at $2.5 million. They successfully secured a deal with Emma for an investment of $250k for 17.5% equity in the company. The investment adjusted the company’s net worth to around $1.43 million. After the show was aired, the company experienced a good boost in exposure. As per my rough estimate, the current net worth of Bridal Babes in 2025 is around $1.5 million.
Shark(s) name
Offer & Demand
Counteroffer
Accepted?
Emma Grede
$250K for 25% equity$250K for 20% equity
$250K for 17.5% equity
Yes
Lori Greiner
Out
N/A
N/A
Kevin O’Leary
Out
N/A
N/A
Robert Herjavec
Out
N/A
N/A
Mark Cuban
Out
N/A
N/A
Ashley Young Backstory + Their Initial Pitch
The story begins with Ashley Young, who faced a common problem when planning her wedding: she couldn’t find bridesmaid dresses that suited her taste and the sizes of her friends. Most stores had limited options in terms of size and color, which frustrated her because she wanted stylish, stretchy dresses that were flattering for women of all shapes and sizes.
Since she couldn’t find what she envisioned, Ashley took matters into her own hands and designed her own dresses.
When Ashley’s wedding photos featuring these dresses became popular online, many women reached out to her asking where they could purchase similar dresses. This sparked an idea for Ashley and her partner, Charles; they saw a business opportunity in creating a line of bridesmaid dresses that catered to a wider range of sizes and styles.
In 2019, they launched Bridal Babes, a brand that aimed to offer bridesmaid dresses that would meet the needs of many women. Eventually, they got the chance to pitch their business on Shark Tank, a show where entrepreneurs seek investment from wealthy businesspeople. They requested $250,000 for a 10% stake in their company, which they intended to use for hiring more staff, enhancing their supply chain for quicker deliveries, and reducing shipping costs.
In their pitch, they showcased some impressive figures, including having achieved $2 million in total sales, generating $850,000 in revenue by mid-2022, and maintaining a strong 70% profit margin. This highlighted that their business was not only innovative but also financially viable.
Queries + Shark’s Responses, and Final Deal
Emma Grede: She offered to invest $250,000 in exchange for a 25% ownership stake (equity) in the company, which means she would own a quarter of it.
After some back and forth in negotiations, they agreed instead to $250,000 for 20% equity, meaning she’d own 20% of the company for her investment.
Mark Cuban was concerned about possible shipping delays, which could affect customer satisfaction and sales.
Lori Greiner felt that the company’s focus was outside her area of expertise and therefore she might not be able to contribute effectively.
Robert Herjavec didn’t see how he could offer value or support to the business, meaning he wasn’t sure he could help the company grow.
Kevin O’Leary had worries about the costs involved in attracting customers and whether those costs would be sustainable.
In the end, Emma was the only investor who believed strongly in the company’s vision and was willing to support it financially.
Product Availability
You can buy bridal dresses directly from their official website Bridal Babes. They offer a variety of dresses at different prices. Basic dresses start at $44, which means these are more affordable options. Deluxe gowns are priced up to $260, representing higher-end styles with potentially more features or finer materials.
What Happened To The Bridal Babes After Shark Tank?
Emma, one of the investors on the show Shark Tank, successfully invested in a business called Bridal Babes. This is notable because sometimes deals on the show don’t go through. With Emma’s help, the business made several improvements. They moved to a new warehouse that allows them to ship products faster to customers. They increased their variety of products, offering more styles and sizes for their bridal items.
They introduced a jewelry line to complement their bridal collections, giving customers matching accessories.
Thanks to these changes, Bridal Babes saw their sales grow rapidly. In 2022, they made $1.4 million in sales. By August 2023, they had already surpassed $1 million in sales for that year. Overall, since starting their business, they have made a total of $4 million in sales as of 2024.
Today, Bridal Babes is valued at $1.5 million and continues to grow by adding new designs to their product line. They also have a strong online presence, with 90,000 followers on Instagram, which helps them reach and engage with customers.
Bridal Babes went on the TV show Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of wealthy investors, known as “Sharks.” They received an investment from Emma Grede, one of the Sharks, and unlike many other deals made on the show, this one actually went through and was finalized.
With Emma’s guidance, Bridal Babes was able to improve how they run their business, increase their sales, and offer more products. As a result, their company is now valued at $1.5 million and has built a loyal group of customers.
Their journey highlights the importance of being inclusive in business, showing that when a company embraces diversity, it can be more successful. It also emphasizes that having just one investor who truly believes in your vision can make a big difference in achieving success.
Hey, I’m Amna Habib, an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Shark Tank has always been one of my favorite TV shows because it offers a unique glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship. The way entrepreneurs present innovative solutions to everyday problems aligns with my academic interests and fuels my curiosity about business strategies. Each pitch showcases creativity and strategic decision-making, which I find both insightful and inspiring. Watching the show has deepened my passion for business and motivated me to explore the world of entrepreneurship even further. Beyond business and writing, I love food, shopping, and spending time with my friends and family.
