Show Time- Opening my Bridal Boutique
After months, a year even in the making I’ve finally opened the doors to my bridal boutique and I cannot wait to invite you all in. It’s been one hell of a ride and I wanted to share with you a glimpse of what it’s taken behind the scenes.
From conception, it has taken hours of research, hundreds of conversations, many firsts, milestones reached and fears overcome to get to this point. People often ask why this? My answer is always the same. To challenge myself and find out what more there is for me in this big wide world and like so many, seeking that elusive work life balance to enable me to be my best self at work and at home. Of course like many in the industry the idea initially came to me when I was planning my own wedding and encountering a mixed bag of experiences in the hunt for my dress. From that moment almost 10 years ago the idea of doing this, what I am doing right now, today, has always remained. After 15 years working as a Buyer for a major retailer and a shake up in the structure it was time to take that idea and turn it into a reality.
Starting your own business comes with so many firsts and despite a solid grounding in retail and business, boy I had a lot to learn and fast. It started with reaching out to estate agents in my search for a property, only to find they didn’t always take me seriously. I think because I was a young women venturing in to the world of business, just me, no one else coming along for the ride, to carry me, to help and sure I asked some pretty basic questions but you know what if you don’t ask you won’t learn the answers. So I ignored their judgment and asked those silly questions to gain a deeper understanding of commercial property letting. As it goes I was tenacious enough to find this place on my own and have been able to collaborate with the landlord directly to curate the most perfect space.
Dodley Hill Barns
Next up I recognised I needed help and so I secured two amazing mentors with some seriously good knowledge of the industry and years of experience as owners of their own successful bridal businesses. If you yourself are starting something new I highly recommend finding a mentor, they are worth their weight in gold. They help navigate you through new beginnings, impart their knowledge and experience on you in ways that enables you to make better decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Most of all in my case they have become friends and confidants, my biggest cheer leaders and for that I am truly grateful.
The hunt for great designers was on. I knew I had a great spot for my boutique, stunning location, hassle free for my brides, sound sustainability credentials and while a little off the beaten track it’s super accessible for brides willing to travel for something just a bit more special. I wanted designers who were telling a story through their work who make valued contributions and so I wanted to support British designed and made products and brands known for their good ethics and sustainable practices. Bring on September 2020, the first major bridal show since Covid struck where designers showcase their collections in the hope they appeal to boutiques wanting to stock them on their rails. I’m not going to lie it was a lot! It sent me in to a spin, far too much sparkle and too many ball gowns for my liking. I panicked, was my concept wrong, was my sense of bridal style all off? I immediately connected with my mentors who reminded me to stay in my lane, it was a great lane, it just happened to be a different one from that bridal show. I’m so thankful I listened as I am confident that like me, ball gowns and princess dresses are not for everyone. More and more the modern bride is seeking something a little different, modern with an edge, timeless with a twist, relaxed and easy to wear, something a little less expected, different to what they had seen at the other 5 weddings they had attended that summer. After what felt like finding a needle in a haystack I met Kate Fearnley and found the Believe by Gaia collection, both creating wedding dresses for the modern bride. Reinterpreting silhouettes and being considered in the placement of embellishments, they use lace and other materials to create a contemporary aesthetic. Both hand making each piece right here in the UK, perfection. The collection was later made complete with the introduction of Sanyukta Shrestha. A Nepalese designer leading the way in sustainable bridal fashion using vegan and cruelty free fabrics and supporting local Nepalese craftspeople and their century old methods for creating bespoke wedding gowns.
So with the location secured and designers on board, the list was endless; setting up a company, opening a business bank account, creating a website, growing a social media presence, networking with other local businesses, and styling the interior of the boutique were just some of many things to get ticked off the list. The latter being one of the most enjoyable tasks. With a background in homewares buying I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the boutique and create an interior space as high quality as the exterior. I’d say this deserves a blog all to itself (watch this space if you want a greater insight into how I curated this modern space with a contemporary mid century vibe). My ultimate goal was to create an environment that was calming and welcoming, not pretentious, a space where everyone could feel they belonged. The introduction of colour was important, I want people to feel at home in the space, not like they need to take their shoes off and clutch their handbag close for fear of putting it down and leaving a mark. Most importantly it had to have a friendly and fun vibe, a place that was vibrant and exciting, the only place you would want to come and find your bridal outfit.
Love & Loved Bridal Boutique
So what’s next? Finding my bride, the ones looking for those really special pieces, to whom the origin of their dress is important, safe in the knowledge that they will feel as good as they look by supporting British designers and ethically made bridal-wear. We will shortly announce a new designer coming to the boutique and continue to seek out others who support the brands objectives. The boutique has some great features coming up in local and national magazines and I’ll be attending wedding shows to shout about our gorgeous boutique and incredible designers. I’m also exploring other exciting ideas to bring to Love & Loved to ensure it’s an evolving and lasting brand.