Alumni Spotlight
Blaine & Corie Walters
MSU Communication graduates, Blaine and Corie Walters, have brought a big-city feel to small downtown Columbus, MS. The experience of shopping for a wedding dress and getting fit for a tux is not an easy endeavor. Their wedding boutique, The Bride & Groom, seeks to provide elegance when shopping for the big day.
The Bride & Groom opened in 2012 in the heart of downtown Columbus with Blaine and Corie seeking to bring Columbus and the Golden Triangle a big-city elegant experience to those shopping for their big day.
Blaine and Corie both graduated from the communication department with concentrations in public relations. The pair met in high school while visiting MSU for a student government conference, but didn’t start dating until Corie’s sophomore year. After finishing her communication degree, Corie stayed at MSU for graduate school in counselor education with an emphasis in student affairs, and Blaine finished his undergraduate degree. Post-graduation, the two hit the ground running–Corie graduating with her master’s degree, getting married, and opening The Bride & Groom–all in the same year.
The Walters found inspiration to own a bridal store when they were searching for a wedding dress and tux for their wedding day.
“We got engaged and realized there wasn’t the type of shopping experience for bridal and formal wear that we wanted in our area,” Blaine shared.
Corie added, “We were young, we had the energy, so we just did it!”
Blaine, a Columbus native, had a retail background, previously working at Reed’s in downtown Starkville. Corie, a Tupelo, MS, native, participated in pageants and won Miss Mississippi State University in 2008. With Blaine’s retail experience and Corie’s formal wear experience, the two brought a unique sense of style and found their niche in the business.
Blaine and Corie expressed their communication degrees helped them achieve many aspects that come with running their own business and have helped them get where they are today.
When looking back on their time in the communication department, Blaine and Corie share the classes that helped prepare them the most for their careers today.
Blaine said, “I would say for me, interviewing was important. I was not only given the tools to be a good interviewer but also to be a good interviewee.”
Corie explained, “For me, it would be PR in Organizations. It was instrumental in being relatable and transitioning from public relations to operating and owning a business. So many aspects of it we were able to use.”
The Walters were so passionate about the PR in Organizations course that when The Bride & Groom opened, they had the class take on their business as a client.
Blaine and Corie credit the Department of Communication faculty for helping them succeed in the field today.
“I would say Karyn Brown, Kelli Anthony, John Forde and Hank Flick are the four that I remember being instrumental in our success,” Blaine added.
Blaine and Corie handle all aspects of their business, and their passion for helping customers is evident. Even when challenging wedding situations arise, such as a bride with a short time frame, they are still up for the challenge.
Blaine declared, “We’ve taken brides who say they have a wedding in four hours!”
“But we thrive on that because they are ready to make a decision, and we are here to help them,” Corie added.
In January 2024, the Walters expanded to formal wear, opening another storefront–The Prom Shop. The new location is on Main Street in Columbus, just a few stores down from The Bride & Groom.
When asked about the new location, Blaine described it as, “The Bride & Groom’s little sister.”
Blaine and Corie’s advice for students who want to go into retail is to just do it.
Corie remarked, “Know that it’s not going to be easy, but if you love it, it’s worth it.”