J.Crew launched its wedding collection in 2004.
The collection grew from an observation by chief executive Mickey Drexler: shoppers were buying several copies of the same J.Crew dress for bridesmaids. That unexpected buying pattern suggested a larger opportunity in bridalwear, helping turn the company’s polished, accessible style into a wedding business.
J.Crew’s wedding assortment eventually expanded beyond bridesmaid dresses to include bridal gowns, accessories, shoes, and attire for other members of a wedding party. The brand later opened dedicated bridal boutiques, giving the collection a presence beyond the regular catalog and stores.
A common mix-up is the year 2010, when J.Crew began opening bridal boutiques. That was an expansion of the business, not the original launch of the wedding collection. The collection itself dates to 2004, making that the canonical answer.