As sales manager for Bridal Trousseau on Main Street, Julie Petrillo is always looking for unique ways to promote this unique boutique. Last week, she hit the jackpot: landing the Branford business on national television, with segment taped for TLC's I Found the Gown.

"Bridal shows are a very trendy topic. It's nice to help put Branford on the map," says Julie, who first found I Found the Gown on TLC earlier this year.

The popular show enters its second season in April, with the Bridal Trousseau segment expected to be part of the season premiere, says Julie. A portion of each show follows Boston-based Vows Bridal Outlet owners Rick and Leslie DeAngelo tracking down gowns for brides on budgets determined to marry in their dream designer dress.

When Julie first contacted Vows, it wasn't to ask if Bridal Trousseau could be featured on the show.

"As sales manager, my wheels are always turning. I contacted Vows and asked if they wanted to buy any samples, and we developed a relationship from there," says Julie, who sold 19 gowns during her first Vows transaction.

About three weeks ago, the Vows buyer called Julie to ask if Bridal Trousseau would like to be featured on I Found the Gown.

"It was a no-brainer for us," says Julie, of the go-ahead decision made by Bridal Trousseau co-owners Lisa Liscio and Jodi Devlin.

For the segment, Julie was taped greeting the DeAngelos, who then worked with Devlin. In a sad footnote, Liscio wasn't able to be at the Dec. 10 taping. One of her dear friends, Melissa Marottoli Hogan, passed away Dec. 9, after a five-year battle with lung cancer.

Just 31 years old, Hogan married her husband Matthew in August, radiant in a gown from her friend's boutique. Bridal Trousseau began supporting "Free to Breathe" in Hogan's honor five years ago and will continue accepting donations as well as contributing proceeds from sample gown sales. The shop with a heart also annually donates 150 wedding gowns to MADD and 120 prom gowns to Sound School in New Haven, among other community and charitable contributions.

"I think it's amazing that they are so supportive," says Julie of Liscio and Devlin.

Friendship also figures into the business partnership of Liscio (an FIT graduate specializing in bridal design) and Devlin (a business wiz). They started Bridal Trousseau in 2002, based out of a classic house on Main Street. In 2010, the boutique moved to its current, traffic-stopping storefront at 529 Main Street.

A bride-in-the-making herself, Julie came to the new shop with her sister, marrying a year ahead.

"I was one of those crazy brides who went straight to a corporate bridal shop and started making the wrong choices for my body," says Julie. "I bought three dresses before I realized this was not going anywhere, fast! Then, I came here with my sister-and saw my wedding dress."

This time, Julie found the gown, a form fitting sheath that showed off her curves instead of hiding them. With it, Julie also found her dream job.

"As I was coming in for fittings, they were asking what I did with all my other dresses. I said, 'I sold them online,'" says Julie, then a sales representative for a North Branford brokering firm. "They said, 'You can do that?' They asked me to sell their samples?To date, I've sold 250 online."

Julie went on to become the boutique's first sales manager.

"There's no better reward than really making a bride feel beautiful. I've trained our employees to treat everyone like they're their friends-and we do become friends-and they trust us," says Julie. "Nine out of 10 times, they get something they've never dreamed of. When they do, it's like bells and whistles and everyone's crying-they cry and we cry! I love it."

See more photos of the TLC shoot at Bridal Trousseau's Facebook page or visit www.bridal-trousseau.net for more information. "Free to Breathe" is part of the non-profit National Lung Cancer Partnership raising funds for research and awareness; donations can be made in person at Bridal Trousseau, 529 Main St. Branford CT 06405 or on line at www.freetobreathe.com