Custom Wedding Dress Designer Comes to Chester County
Tucked along State Street in the heart of Kennett Square’s walkable downtown, Young Mermaids is redefining what custom design can feel like for milestone moments. Located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, the studio blends couture-level craftsmanship with deep sentiment, creating one-of-a-kind bridal gowns as well as custom Mother of the Bride dresses that honor each client’s personal style and story.
Founded by designer Courtney Young, Young Mermaids reflects a journey rooted in both skill and heart. Young was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, a background that continues to shape her aesthetic and approach to design. A graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Production Management, she learned to sew at just 14 years old thanks to a high school teacher who encouraged her to pursue fashion design as a career. That early mentorship, she says, “truly changed my life,” setting her on a path that would eventually lead to owning her own studio.
Her decision to focus on bridal came from a desire to create work with meaning. “In an industry increasingly dominated by fast fashion, I was craving sentiment behind my work,” Young explains. While she loves couture and avant-garde fashion, bridal allows her to use couture-level techniques while honoring tradition. “Every design has to reflect the client, their love story, and how they want to feel on such an important day,” she says. That same philosophy extends to her Mother of the Bride designs, where the goal is to create something elegant, confident, and deeply personal for women stepping into a once-in-a-lifetime role.
“Bridal felt like one of the few spaces where clothing still carries a story.”
Before opening Young Mermaids, Young managed a bridal studio in Charleston for three years, working with hundreds of brides and their families on alterations and custom projects. That experience gave her both technical confidence and clarity about what kind of designer she wanted to be. “Moving from a home studio into this brick-and-mortar space has been such a proud moment for me,” she says.
Her move to Kennett Square began with a personal leap. “I moved to Kennett Square very honestly for love,” Young shares, noting that her fiancé is from the area. While leaving Charleston was bittersweet, the town quickly won her over. “Kennett has completely won my heart. It is a town that truly values creativity, community, and small businesses, which aligns so deeply with my own values.”
That sense of connection is central to her work. With more than a decade of retail experience, Young places strong emphasis on the client relationship. “A huge part of my love for custom bridal is the client experience itself,” she says. “Being trusted with something so meaningful comes with a responsibility that I take very seriously, and it is an honor every single time.” Whether she is designing a wedding gown or a Mother of the Bride dress, she approaches each piece with the same care, intention, and respect for the moment it represents.
The studio’s name carries deeply personal meaning as well. “The name Young Mermaids is deeply personal to me,” she explains. While she will be taking her fiancé’s last name after marriage, she wanted the business to honor her own. It also reflects the younger version of herself who dreamed of building a studio one day. The mermaid imagery connects back to her Charleston roots, her lifelong love of the sea, and a sense of strength she sees in her clients. “Mermaids are often known as fierce sirens, and I like to think my clients carry that same kind of strength in their own way,” Young says.
Inside the studio, that vision comes to life. Designed as a calm, intimate space, Young Mermaids offers what Young describes as “a small escape from the chaos that weddings can bring,” infused with warmth, southern charm, and thoughtful detail. For brides and mothers alike, it is a place where craftsmanship, creativity, and connection come together, one meaningful garment at a time.
To learn more about Courtney Young’s work or inquire about custom bridal and Mother of the Bride designs, visit https://www.youngmermaids.com.
About Jamie Kleman
Jamie Kleman is a children’s author, playwright, TEDx speaker, and the Executive Producer of It’s Not Mean to be Green, an award-winning book and musical that toured for two years and launched a national Make a Monster Difference movement. She is the creator of the It’s Not Mean to be Green Camp and Licensing Program, a turnkey theatre and sustainability curriculum adopted by schools, libraries, museums, homeschool networks, and youth organizations.
