Your Name?
Lizzy
What is the name of your wedding venue?
The Holford Estate
Name of your wedding dress boutique?
130 Atelier
Name of your dress designer and style?
Willowby by Watters - Finley
Before you started shopping for your dress, did you have an idea of the type or style of gown you wanted?
I knew I wanted something A-line and not too heavy/weighty. However, I had always thought I'd go for something long-sleeved, but ended up choosing the opposite!
Did you have an idea of the wedding dress designer / label you wanted?
I’d seen some Watters designs on Pinterest and Instagram and loved the look of their designs.
How did you find out about your boutique?
I searched for some local boutiques that carried Watters designs and stumbled across 130 Atelier!
What made you decide to go with the boutique you did?
I loved the look of all the designers on offer at 130 Atelier, and after having a little nosey online/on Instagram I could just tell I’d be in safe hands with Sophie.
How did your boutique make you feel special?
From the beginning, once I had booked my appointment, Sophie sent me a questionnaire to fill out ahead of my visit. I had also booked appointments with a couple of other boutiques at the same time but hadn’t had as personable an experience as this.
During the appointment, Sophie and her lovely Mum were so so welcoming and didn’t make me feel silly at all for any of my decisions or opinions when trying on dresses. They were so complimentary too that I left the boutique feeling 10x more confident.
Sophie even took the time to offer suggestions for veils, accessories, and hairstyles to complement my dress choices and preferences. Additionally, she opened my eyes to the ways certain dresses or styles could be modified to suit my tastes, truly expanding my understanding of how a dress can be altered if necessary.
What were your favourite parts of the wedding dress shopping experience?
The whole experience was fabulous, and I genuinely enjoyed just trying on dresses. It’s not often you get to try on lots of gorgeous dresses and feel like a queen for the day. For me, it was one of the first wedding-related 'day out' experiences with both my Mum and Sister/MOH, so I made sure to soak up every moment.
Was the experience of shopping for your wedding dress as you expected, or was it something totally different?
The dress shopping experience was much more relaxing than I thought it would be. As someone who can be quite insecure and indecisive at times, I was a bit nervous about trying on lots of dresses, but I need not have worried. Sophie was brilliant at suggesting different styles that I may not have considered, while also being very considerate and not pushing me too far out of my comfort zone.
How many other shops did you visit?
I had visited one shop beforehand and cancelled the remaining appointments I had at other boutiques because I said yes to the dress at my appointment at 130 Atelier!
Can you tell us about any experiences you had or why you were put off buying your dress from another boutique.
The boutique I visited previously, though filled with lovely staff and dresses, felt sterile and somewhat cold—quite the opposite of the warm, cosy space that Sophie has created. It's amazing how the ambiance can influence how you feel when trying on dresses. At 130 Atelier, I didn't feel as if I were being watched from the outside of the shop; instead, I felt truly relaxed.
What is your advice to other brides who are about to start dress shopping?
Keep an open mind about the styles you'd like to try on. Although I initially wanted something long-sleeved, I tried on styles with different sleeve lengths, and I'm so glad I did because that's how I discovered the lovely Finley.
Once you've found the dress (and picked it up), delete all photos of yourself in it and store it somewhere out of sight! (I left mine at my parents' house). This helps avoid any temptation to peek at the dress or overanalyse yourself in it. Save the magic of how you felt when you first tried it on and carry this feeling with you until you’re reunited with it at fittings or on your wedding day.
Any additional advice about planning / wedding day?
Embrace all the small things because they'll fly by, and you'll miss the chaos of planning once it's over! Celebrate every small milestone during the planning stage because the lead-up is just as special as the big day. We had fortnightly date nights where we'd pick a task and tackle it together over a takeaway and a glass of fizz.
And on the day, remember that the energy you bring is the energy your guests will match. Don’t sweat the small stuff on the day; you've done everything you can in the lead-up, so just enjoy it!
Vendors Tags;
Venue - The Holford Estate - https://www.theholfordestate.co.uk/
Photographer - Petal and Blush Artistry - https://petalandblushartistry.co.uk/
Florist - Green Earth Flowers - https://www.greenearthflowers.co.uk/
Catering - The Cheshire Dining Experience - https://www.thecheshirediningexperience.co.uk/
Hair & Makeup - Style Sisters - https://www.stylesisters.net/
DJ - SBDJ Services - https://www.sbdjservices.com/
Photo Booth - The Burbage Booth Co - https://theburbagebooth.co.uk/
Wedding Cake - Lilac Pig - https://www.lilacpig.com/
Alterations - Pearl’s Sewing Room - @pearls_sewing_room_uk
Shoes - Loeffler Randall
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