Store Visit: Wedding Centre Studley By Hayley - 29.06.2017

About You:

Store Name: Wedding Centre Studley
Contact Name: Alison or Annette
Store Address: 21C High St, Studley B80 7HN
Store Telephone Number: 01527 854790

Your Store:

What was your motivation or inspiration to open a bridal store?
I have always wanted to work for myself, before I opened the store I was a qualified florist working with brides on a daily basis. I really loved working with them and I wanted to progress to not only helping them choose the perfect flowers to match their wedding gown but also the gown itself.
How did you get started in the bridal industry?
When we first opened we focused on selling secondhand wedding dresses. Until one day Romantica's Sales Manager John visited our store, we loved the dresses and we started selling them from then on.
Tell us about your store style?
We are a small boutique bridal store, with over 30 years experience. The store has a classic bridal feel with a large selection of gowns, we also have a great selection of bridegroom suits.
Tell us about your team:
We are a family run business, the team includes myself, my daughter and my grandaughter. It's great to keep the business in the family and to have the opportunity to pass on my years of bridal experienmce to younger generations.
What sets you apart from other retailers?
I think that our friendly customer service and reliability sets us apart from other retailers. Many larger retailers have lost the one to one relationship with their brides, our small boutique and family team ensure that every bride receives the very best service.
When is your store open? (hours and days)
We are open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 11am until 3pm and any other time by appointment.
What can a bride expect from an appointment with you?
As we are appointment only we can give each individual bride the one to one service they need and deserve. The first thing we like to do is to sit the bride down to discuss what she dreams of, what styles she likes and the budget she has in mind. This means that we can put together a selection of gorgeous gowns that fit her needs perfectly. We also choose a few gowns that the bride may not of consider originally but that we think will be very flattering.
What are your plans for the future?
Our future plans are to carry on as we are, as we are very happy with how things are going. While we continue to have positive feedback and very happy brides, we feel that we are doing a great job.

Brides and You:

Share a special moment that occurred between you and a bride?
Every bride is special to us but we have had one, who's mother passed away two weeks before her wedding. As you can imagine this was an incredibly emotional time for the bride and we made sure we were very sympathetic to her needs and we tried our best to support her through the entire process, to ensure her special day stayed on track.
Are there any shapes that you recommend that will suit all brides?
Empire line gowns are a good choice and they flatter the majority of brides.
Do you know what will suit a bride the moment you see her?
When a bride arrives for her appointment we have a good idea of which styles will suit her, as there are key silhouettes that will suit specific body types. However it's also very important to allow the bride time to explain to us what styles she likes and then we work from there.
Is there a particular style that is always popular?
Most of our brides are very traditional choosing classic bridal shapes and styles in Ivory. We do occasional have a more adventurous bride that breaks the traditional mould, which is great for us.
What do you feel today's bride wants to be?
For example do you see a lot of classic brides, English roses, boho brides etc. All of brides have one particular aim when they visit our store, they all want to feel confident and special in their wedding gown. When it comes to style and trends, the majority of our brides are definitely looking for a traditional English rose style that is flattering and timeless.
Do you have any advice for a bride who is just about to start shopping for her dream dress?
When a bride enquiries about buying a gown, we always tell them to start thinking about ordering a dress a year before their wedding day. Therefore the wedding dress should be top of their list when they get engaged, start thinking about styles and a budget, then when you feel you have a rough idea of what you are looking for start booking some appointments. We also advice brides not to bring too many people to their appointment with us, as lots of opinions and tastes can make the experience even more overwhelming and confusing. It's much better to take two or three people with you, then you can have a more relaxing appointment.

Working with Romantica:

How long have you been working with Romantica?
I have been working with Romantica for over 25 years I think.
What do you like about the brand?
I like that the Romantica brand is good quality and value for money for us and our brides.
What do you enjoy about working with Romantica?
I have always felt that Romantica is a family affair like us, which is really important to us. They are also very reliable and extremely helpful.
Do you have a favourite Romantica dress?
Every year we have favourite gowns from the Romantica collections, this year our favourites are Claudia and Sorrento.

The Wedding Centre Studley not only provides a wide range of wedding dress, they also provide a selection of men's formal for hire, bridal accessories, a full alteration service, gown dry cleaning, gown pressing and a dress the bride on the day service.

Find A Stockist Near You: