On a busy day in Bridal Veil, the back room of the tiniest post office in Oregon is filled to the brim with packages and the all-important wedding invitations from brides seeking its coveted postmark.

For budding entrepreneurs, a bit of naiveté about the perils of launching a business can be an asset. Take Robin Mayer, jail psychologist turned bridal designer and manufacturer. Mayer's bridal veil ...