SAY YES TO THE DRESS

Say yes

TO THE DRESS

We caught up with 12 of the best bridal boutiques in the county to find out why you should head to their business to find the one – your dress, that is; you’ve already nabbed your significant other… AMAZING GRACE BRIDAL BOUTIQUE Where Walton-on-the-Naze Prices £1,000 – £2,500 Sizes 8 – 28 The lowdown “I offer exclusive appointments to brides who might feel nervous or bodyconscious,” explains Amazing Grace’s Maria Eastwood. “Previously a wedding planner – meaning your big day is very much my passion – I suggest you try around six to seven dresses, advising you to come with an open mind rather than presuming you only want to wear one type of gown. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll change your mind, even if at first you think you’ve found the perfect style. One word of warning – don’t come in after a spray tan, as pretty much every boutique won’t let you try on their dresses, for obvious reasons.” Maria’s top tip “If you don’t want to take a dress off as it makes you feel incredible – buy it!” Appointments 01255 851 900 www.amazinggracebridalboutique.co.uk COUTURIOSITY BESPOKE BRIDAL WEAR Where Loughton Prices From £1,000 Sizes Any due to being bespoke The lowdown “I started my business for brides who want a dress that reflects their personality, as well as those who struggle to find the gown they’ve dreamt about their whole lives,” says Couturiosity’s Billy Harrison. “I offer a bespoke, made-tomeasure service, creating a dress that’s tailored to meet your exact requirements. We’ve sample gowns available firstoff to help you get an understanding of your likes and dislikes, before creating a design tailored exactly to you. Whether that’s creating a flattering silhouette or highlighting what you love most about yourself; for me, it’s less about what actually suits you – and more about what makes you feel a million dollars!” Billy’s top tip “Limit wedding dress ‘helpers’ to two people, narrowing down all the voices and opinions. It also means the less people who see the dress during fittings adds to the sea of gasps and compliments on your big day!” Appointments 07527 616 942 www.couturiosity.co.uk www.lydiavictoria.co.uk CURVES AND COUTURE BRIDAL BOUTIQUE Where Brentwood Prices £395 – £2,000 Sizes 18 – 36 The lowdown “Curves and Couture specialise in plus size only, with a large selection of dresses up to a size 36,” explains the boutique’s Emma Yardley. “We know exactly what plus size brides want and need when it comes to finding the perfect dress, from understanding the additional structure and support required for your body shape, to suggesting you come with an open mind when visiting us – you might just find you end up with a very different style to what you thought you’d initially go for! With every appointment 90 minutes long, in that time you’ll be able to try on around six to eight different designs, with our team finding out what it is about each dress you like, so that we can try and find those features on other gowns for you to try.” Emma’s top tip “Remember to bring along a great fitting uplift bra to your appointment!” Appointments 01277 369 908 www.curvesandcouture.co.uk

BARN BRIDAL BOUTIQUE

Where Witham Prices Up to £1,200 Sizes 6 – 24 The lowdown “We make choosing your dress as memorable as the day you say, ‘I do’,” says Barn Bridal’s Jane Meyer-Hek. “We’re appointment only, so you have exclusive use of the boutique, and our dresses are sold ‘off the peg’, so there’s no need to worry about order times or what a gown looks like in your size. When it comes to choosing the one, bring along someone who really ‘gets’ your style. It’s rare you’ll love a dress that doesn’t suit you, as you know your body shape more than anyone, but if asked, I’m always honest and suggest alternatives. Regardless of what people say, don’t ever feel pressurised to choose a dress if you’re not one hundred per cent sure. It’s down to you, and no one else, and if you’re not feeling it, then it’s not right for you.” Jane’s top tip “Keep an open mind – most brides fall in love with a dress they never expected to!” Appointments 01376 583 265 https://barnbridal.com

J’ADORE

Where Coggeshall Prices £950 – £2,500 Sizes 0 – 34 The lowdown “We offer private bridal appointments in luxurious and comfortable surroundings,” say J’adore’s Heidi Jacobs and Linda Thomson. “With a wide selection of stunning gowns, we pay particular attention to details throughout every aspect of your appointment. The entire boutique is reserved for two hours for one party at a time, beginning your search with five wedding gowns to help build a picture of what styles you do and don’t like. Between us, we have 25 years’ experience in the bridal industry, going that extra mile to make you and your guests feel welcome throughout. We also know when it’s time to move on when that dress isn’t quite right, making alternative suggestions until we find the perfect one.” Heidi and Linda’s top tip “Make sure you can dance comfortably in the dress if you think it’s the one – if that means having a bop around our boutique, so be it!” Appointments 01376 791 835 www.jadorebridalwear.co.uk

BIRD’S BRIDAL

Where Chelmsford Prices £650 – £1,990 Sizes 10 – 22 The lowdown “Highly professional and trading for 33 years, we’ve a stunning collection of bride and bridesmaids’ dresses and have won numerous accolades,” says Bird’s Bridal’s Lynn Bird. “Our appointments are two hours long, giving you plenty of time to try on gowns, with our talented team here to help you find your dream dress with ease. We ask for brides to start their search with a one-year timespan, as gowns can take up to six months to arrive and another three months for alterations. Having said that, we’ve also been known to turn a dress around in less than a week from the bride trying it on to getting married! While it’s never advisable, it’s good to know that it can be done!” Lynn’s top tip “Want a large wedding gown but worried because your venue is small? Go for it – it’s your day and no one else’s!” Appointments 01245 348 749 www.birdsbridal.co.uk

Where Dunmow Prices £450 – £1,999 Sizes 8 – 22 The lowdown “Our bridal boutique offers exceptional customer service and great prices,” says Martels’ Karen Lambert. “For us as a team it’s important to ascertain what a bride’s priorities are, from being able to sit comfortably after a big wedding breakfast in your dress, to dancing the night away. We like to suggest a bride looks first on sites such as Pinterest and Instagram to get an idea of the styles she’d like to try, before coming in to see if those designs suit her shape and personality. Remember that too many cooks spoil the broth, bringing along just the key people in your wedding party, and don’t ever feel pressurised to choose a particular dress, instead sleeping on it, rather than being rushed into an impulse buy.” Karen’s top tip “Think about where you’re getting hitched. Although it’s only a guide, consider soft and easy for a beach wedding, and grand and gorgeous for a stately home.” Appointments 01371 871 969 | www.martelsbridal.co.uk

www.hannah-victoria.com www.hannah-victoria.com

BELLISSIMA WEDDINGS

Where South Woodham Ferrers Prices £1,000 – £,3,500 Sizes 8 – 28 The lowdown “We operate a locked-door policy, so booking in to see us is a must,” says Bellissima’s Laura Daly. “An alcohol licence means we offer drinks inside the boutique, plus there’s an area outside for you to enjoy a tipple before and after your appointment. When it comes to trying on our gowns, we try to encourage you to choose around 10. However, quite honestly, it’s all up for grabs and we don’t set limits. What is worth noting is that before you come into Bellissima, we’ll already have had several points of contact with you, both over the phone, via email or on one of our social streams, making sure your assigned stylist is briefed about your likes and dislikes, while eradicating any concerns or worries before your appointment in the process.” Laura’s top tip “Allow plenty of time to order your dress: pre-Covid I’d have said eight months to account for delivery and alterations, but now 10 to 12 months is more sensible.” Appointments 01245 323 595 www.bellissimaweddings.co.uk

SOMETHING BORROWED BRIDAL

Where Basildon Prices £250 – £600 Sizes 4 – 20 The lowdown “We offer designer wedding dresses for hire, giving brides-to-be beautiful gowns to wear for a fraction of the buying price,” says Something Borrowed Bridal’s Alyson Scrivener. “Helping you feel special on your big day without breaking the budget, with us you can reserve a dress for hire in as little as a week, but for more popular styles I’d recommend three to six months in advance. We’re here to address any questions or concerns you might have, from worries over feeling self-conscious to whether or not you feel a dress really does suit you, while at the end of the day helping you choose a dress that makes you feel beautiful and happy, regardless of what anyone else might think.” Alyson’s top tip “Bring in some shoes in the height you want to wear on your wedding day, and bring a hair clip, too, to see if it makes a difference to a dress that’s caught your eye.” Appointments 07802 258 007 www.somethingborrowedbridal.co.uk

IVY BLU

Where Billericay Prices £850 – £1,900 Sizes 10 – 18 The lowdown “We’re a family-run business with over 12 years’ experience selling wedding dresses,” says Ivy Blu’s Elaine Bull. “With a small team of consultants dedicated to finding your dream dress, we allow plenty of time for you to look through our designs, choosing some on your own rather than having us peer over your shoulders! Helping to create a more relaxing experience and a feel for what you want, we also offer refreshments during the appointment, so that everyone’s comfortable and ready for the excitement of seeing the gowns. As for how many you should try; well, that’s really down to you as a bride, but try to aim for between six to 10 to prevent things from becoming overwhelming.” Elaine’s top tip “The best sort of research to do starts at home, beginning by working out what sort of budget you’re willing to spend on a bridal gown and then getting a realistic idea of what you can get for your money.” Appointments 01268 520 604 www.ivyblu.co.uk Where Online only Prices £59 – £120 Sizes Any due to being made to order The lowdown “We offer a personal one-to-one online service,” says Lá Closet Dé Chánel’s Chánel Barber. “We specialise in children’s and adult bridesmaid dresses and jumpsuits that are made-to-order, meaning we can cater for the entire wedding party regardless of age, shape or size. Our multiway designs can be styled in over 30 ways and come in over 80 shades, meaning there really is something for everyone. There’s no need to get all of your bridesmaids in the same place at the same time to try on outfits, plus you can order in confidence knowing they’ll be able to style the same dress in a way that suits and flatters them most. Our fabric doesn’t cling and is flattering on bums, tums and hips, meaning you’re sure to find a style they’ll all love.” Chánel’s top tip “Being asked to be a bridesmaid is a huge privilege, with it now being common for the dress to be paid for by you as a couple. With that in mind make sure you have your input when it comes to her outfit.” Online appointments www.laclosetdechanel.com

https://chicwedding-photography.com

SERENA BRIDAL

Where Wickford Prices £299 – £2,100 Sizes 8 – 24 The lowdown “We’re regularly told by clients that we have one of the best selections of dresses, with something for everyone,” says Serena Bridal’s Michelle Fallon. “We don’t charge for appointments or refreshments, as we want you to have a relaxed and fun time with us – which means we also don’t limit the number of dresses you want to try. Instead, we believe it’s more about the number of shops you visit that should be pared down, trying to only go to two or three so you don’t become confused over what design you liked and what boutique it was stocked in. Having said that, when you do find the one, believe me, you’ll know. Stop looking as soon as you’ve found it – just like you did with your partner!” Michelle’s top tip “Want to lose weight after finding your dream gown? Don’t stress – even after your measurements most dresses can be taken down another two dress sizes.” Appointments 01268 762 775 www.serenabridal.co.uk

www.seweddingphotography.co.uk