MEET THE EXPERTS

Meet the expertsWe interview some of South Wales’ suppliers

Here at Your South Wales Wedding, we understand how stressful it can be trying to find the perfect suppliers. With so many to choose from, it can feel like a bit of a minefield, so to help inspire you, we’ve rounded up some of the region’s wonderful suppliers.

BAROQUE BOUTIQUE, NP7 5EW 01873 858 030/01873 859 774 www.baroqueboutique.co.uk

Baroque Boutique is run by mother and daughter team, Marion and Coryn. The boutique specialises in designer wear, accessories, hats and shoes for the mother-of-the-bride and groom and outfits for wedding guests. With her daughter, Coryn, experienced in the wedding industry and into fashion, Marion decided to use her commercial experience to create a new business.

When the opportunity to lease a large premises in a former wedding dress shop became available in the Abergavenny high street, their vision became a reality. Using her creative skills, Coryn transformed the space into a luxury highend designer boutique and Baroque Boutique opened its doors to the public in January 2013.

Since launching, the pair have managed to secure top designer brands and continued to build on their reputation in the wedding industry and their excellent customer service. They host and exhibit at regular events across the country and have a wonderful team. They have also won several industry awards, including the accolade for Best Occasion Wear in Wales for five years running and have excellent customer reviews.

With their 10-year anniversary approaching in the new year, their mission is the same today: to give mothers, family members and wedding guests a huge amount of choice when looking for an outfit for their special occasion.

Formal Hire Wales Tartan Centres is a menswear specialist based in Swansea. The managing director, Tony Collins tells us more about the company: “After two very difficult years for the wedding industry in South Wales, here at Formal Hire Wales Tartan Centres we are pleased to have not just survived the challenges associated with COVID-19 postponements but seen the business grow substantially!

“Exciting investment in new suit styles and tartans has created new interest in hiring and purchasing for weddings and other functions during 2022. Our home hire service has been busier than ever with more and more customers opting to use this measure at home service, with delivery and collection to their house. This is available anywhere in Wales and our vans have travelled just about every road in 2022.

“Wedding exhibitions have returned for face-to-face enquiries and appointments and slowly but surely the wedding industry is becoming a little calmer and what we would all consider normal based on years of experience in the wedding trade. Companies who struggled have sadly gone, and new or established businesses have stepped in and the professionalism we have all been used to as traders is there again for brides and grooms to benefit from for their big day. So, confidence is certainly back in Welsh weddings, there aren’t many left this year but 2023 and 2024 already look buoyant and positive! We have new brochures out to buy or hire suits and Welsh kilts so get in touch to find out more. We look forward to meeting you and helping you! Please check out our customer reviews in the meantime and thank you so much to our loyal customers for their continued support.”

WILD AND FABULOUS FLOWERS, CF71 7LR 07802 438 299 | www.wildandfabulousflowers.com

Wild and Fabulous Flowers specialises in weddings, events, farewell flowers and bespoke bouquets. The team also host floral workshops, flower crown parties and have a weekly flowers service.

Owner, Rhian Rees tells us more about the company: “From the moment I had my first garden, flowers have been my joy and passion. After training and working as a landscape designer for 16 years, I discovered floristry. I have trained with the Bath Flower School and The White Horse Flower Company. I now love creating natural florals in a sustainable way that people can enjoy just as much as I do.

“We create beautiful, naturally-styled flowers. We work with you to ensure you have the wedding flowers you will remember forever. It’s your chance to style your wedding exactly as you want it, and we are here to guide and help you create the wedding of your dreams.

“From creating large floral installations to table centrepieces, buttonholes, flower crowns and floral headpieces, we can provide everything you need. We can also advise and help you style your venue. It’s what we love doing!

“We hold floral workshops such as Christmas wreaths and hand-tied bouquets in our beautiful Victorian orangery. Flower crown hen or birthday parties are great fun, and we can even organise caterers.

“We feel passionately about supporting our local flower farmers. They work so hard, and we want to share how incredible their flowers are. So, every week you can pop over and pick up a bouquet of local flowers during the growing season or we deliver locally for free. Out of season we source our flowers in the most sustainable way we can.”

www.lovellpictures.com www.lovellpictures.com

www.lovellpictures.com

ALL ABOUT EVE BRIDAL LTD, NP20 4NZ 01633 243 943 | www.allaboutevebridalwear.com

All About Eve Bridal is a bridal boutique in Newport offering wedding gowns and mother-of-thebride and groom dresses. The sales and marketing manager, Vicki Anthony, tells us more: “We love making incredible memories for you and your bridal party. Choosing your wedding dress is a once in a lifetime experience and we would love to make that part of your journey something for you to remember forever. We have more than 20 years of experience in dressing brides, All About Eve has stood the test of time and this is all thanks to our wonderful team, who really do go above and beyond and the ongoing support of our amazing customers.

“Back in 2002, Margaret Waite opened All About Eve, at number 3 Clytha Park Road, just three doors down from where our store is today. Margaret was an experienced bridal retailer having worked for many wedding dress shops in her career. In 2007 Margaret, at the age of 60, really wanted to retire so tentatively marketed All About Eve for sale. I was looking for a change in career and at the time was looking for my wedding dress too, so mum and I thought, let’s open a wedding dress shop. We saw All About Eve for sale and the rest, as they say, is history. We have loved every minute of our venture and we could not imagine doing anything else.

“Eight years ago, an exciting opportunity came our way. Above our previous shop is a huge space, previously offices and a ground floor retail unit, which was five times bigger than the size of the old shop. We took the plunge and moved to number 7 Clytha Park Road; it was definitely worth taking the risk.

“The space we now occupy is vast, there are six enormous private fitting suites, with a private changing area and a viewing area to reveal your wedding dress to your family and friends. You will have a huge, gorgeous mirror just for you. We now have six wedding dress display rooms, this means that we can present our gorgeous wedding dresses, all 300 of them in individual showrooms.

“We have a variety of wedding dress styles from boho to elegant and sophisticated, classic and traditional and young and modern. We also pride ourselves on having the most beautiful selection of plus size wedding dresses in South Wales. On the ground floor, we have a dedicated mother-of-thebride and groom boutique with its own private fitting suite. With up to 300 outfits, let us help your mum and mother-in-law, find a fabulous outfit and a perfect, showstopping hat or hatinator to complete the look.

“Our bridal boutique is huge, but it is homely, and we love people to make themselves at home and be part of the All About Eve family. Trust us with the most precious dress you will ever wear and let us make choosing your wedding dress an exciting and memorable experience. Pop the bubbly at our exclusive Gin and Fizz bar and celebrate this extra special experience with your nearest and dearest!”