It’s a Saturday, usually my busiest day at the boutique. I arrive in the morning and as the day goes on I prepare for each bride to walk through the door. I select the dresses that best suit what she’s asked for and put them in the fitting room ready for her arrival. Everything is in its place, except in the back room so I shut the door and hide it away…out of sight, out of mind! As each bride arrives, I open the door and greet them, along with their guests as they enter the boutique. I love that first moment when they walk in full of excitement and anticipation. Everyone is so happy. We have a chat about the dresses I have selected and if anything has changed since we last spoke. Most brides arrive with the same idea of what they were looking for when we first discussed different styles and details. For others, they may have been to try some wedding dresses on elsewhere since our last conversation and have a more specific, and sometimes completely different, idea of what they are now looking for. No problem! I change the dresses as necessary and go through it all with the bride to be. The bride’s guests take a seat and make themselves comfortable whilst we put the first dress on in the fitting room. I have shoes from size 3 through to size 8 to try on with the dresses, so no need to bring your own, and I do everything I can to make each bride feel comfortable as they essentially strip off in front of a complete stranger! I have seen it all but I totally appreciate that not everyone is happy to strip off to their knickers when they have only just met someone. I set up the dress and the bride steps into it… We have the first dress on. What’s next? Once the first dress is on, I announce to everyone that we are about to come out of the fitting room so they all pay attention to the bride and do not miss that first moment. The bride walks towards them, beaming in what is often the first wedding dress she has ever had on. It is such a heart-warming moment. She stands facing the mirror and I poof (technical word) out her train. More often than not there is a big “wow” from everyone in that moment. We discuss what the bride does and does not like about the dress. If this is a bride who has a clear vision of what she wants, the dresses I have selected will be the style and details of her dream dress. A lot of the time she loves everything about it and at this point she may not realise, but this is in fact her dress! We try on the next dress and again discuss any likes and dislikes. If I have a dress already in the fitting room that has details that the bride says she does not like at this stage I simply remove that dress and using the information that she has given me I go through the rails and select dresses that have the specific details that she has liked so far. If the bride has come in with a very open mind and with no clear idea of what she is looking for I will have selected three dresses for her. A ballgown, an A-line gown and a fitted gown. Each dress will have different details as well so that the bride can rule silhouettes and details in and out. Once she has tried on all three dresses, I will take the shape and details she has liked and then select a dress for her that ticks all those boxes. Once it all comes together and it is everything she has loved so far, to see the look of happiness on her face is priceless!
What style of dress are you looking for? Let me guide you to your first appointment and if you need to know exactly what you're looking for before your first appointment.
