David’s Bridal is charting a new course in retail by integrating artificial intelligence into its customer experience. Following challenges that included two bankruptcies, the company has launched Pearl Planner, an AI-powered wedding planning platform designed to simplify the complex process of organizing a wedding.
Pearl Planner allows brides to build vision boards on in-store touchscreens while the AI system interprets their preferences, suggests vendors, and creates personalized timelines. The tool aims to ease the stress of coordinating hundreds of wedding tasks while offering vendors a subscription-based model to connect directly with couples.
This innovation is being led by CEO Kelly Cook and President Elina Vilk, who bring a mix of retail and technology expertise. Their approach distributes AI expertise across departments rather than isolating it, helping the company accelerate transformation and encourage collaboration.
Beyond enhancing customer experiences, David’s Bridal views Pearl Planner as a new line of business that can drive long-term growth. With plans to expand features and launch a professional version for wedding planners, the initiative demonstrates how retailers can leverage technology not only for efficiency but also to create deeper, more personalized customer connections.
