Ladies on the dream dress hunt are going to want to listen up this morning as we introduce Brides Up North Featured Supplier, Luella’s Bridal, to the blog.
Aiming to offer brides a choice of stunning gowns that can’t be found elsewhere, the team behind the pretty boutique source their collections from around the world, working with an impressive portfolio of designers to find dresses that are both beautiful and original.
Though located in Wimbledon Village, London, brides-to-be don’t have to make the journey down south to view the boutique’s wonderful designs first hand, as the ladies at Luella’s are taking their entire collection of bridal dresses and accessories on tour, starting with a visit to Nottingham from 19th to 22nd May.
During the fabulous pop-up event ladies will be able to try on a selection of wonderful gowns, whilst getting expert advice and enjoying a lovely glass of fizz. To fill you in on all the details of the boutique and the upcoming event we’ll hand over the blog to Rachel Attwell, owner and creative director at Luella’s Bridal.
Where is Luella’s located and how would you describe the look and feel of the boutique?
rachel says:
Luella’s is a unique bridal boutique located in Wimbledon Village, London. Decorated with soft and beautiful wallpapers, vintage suitcases and chandeliers and furnished with antique cabinets and a day bed; it’s the perfect girly boutique for every brideWhat designers do you stock; can you tell us a little about each one?
We work with a great selection of both UK and international designers, stocking pieces from collections designed in New Zealand, Australia, USA and Israel. We also launched our first own brand collection at the beginning of the year. The Luella Collection can be described as ‘Modern Bohemian’ with a ‘British Victoriana’ influence and has been inspired by the feminine and floaty shapes of bohemianism mixed with the glamorous Biba style of the late 70’s. The collection consists of seven unique styles in a mixture of warm Mediterranean colours.
For true British style we have Emma Tindley and Rasha London who offer a mix of contemporary styles and a range of more traditional style lace dresses. We are also the exclusive London stockist for Vicky Rowe’s gorgeous collection of beaded bridal wear that has been inspired by the 1970’s and we are the exclusive stockist of her new range of bridesmaid dresses.
Most recently we welcomed Israeli designer Inbal Raviv, whose designs beautifully combine romantic and modern elements to create sophisticated boho style dresses. We also stock dresses by Limor Rosen and Vered Giladi who are also from Israel. Vered offers a beautiful selection of tops and skirts and Limor’s collection includes everything from stunning lace to intricately beaded designs.
For more feminine and floaty styles we have Rose & Delilah and Sally Eagle’s collection of elegant and romantic wedding gowns, while for something really unique we have Australian designer Gwendolynne’s stunning dresses, which are a mixture of intricate hand beading on a combination of floaty silk chiffon and tulle.
In addition to dresses, we have an amazing selection of accessories, ranging from modern diamante style pieces to relaxed boho style and original vintage items.
How do you pick the right designers for Luella’s and what do you think makes a good bridal collection?
We are so lucky to be in the position where we are approached by designers rather than the other way round. All our dresses have been sourced from all over the world and have been carefully selected because of their exquisite detailing and originality. We try to ensure that they blend seamlessly together like one large beautiful collection; making sure at the same time that they are not too similar. We look for designs that are elegant, unique and effortlessly sophisticated. The majority of our designs have straps or sleeves and are extremely comfortable to wear. We also cater for a wide range of budgets.
If a bride has a particular dress in mind for her big day do you offer bespoke dresses and if so what is the process?
At Luella’s we are able to offer a fantastic customisation service which makes it easier than designing a dress from scratch. Most of the dresses are perfect as they are, but we are more than happy for brides to look at the current designs and discuss their individual taste; we then speak to the designer(s) to see how the dresses can be tailored accordingly.
What current trends are we seeing in bridal wear and can you forecast any future trends that will be coming through?
Boho is very hot right now as is nude panelling. At Luella’s we have several designers incorporating both of these trends; we always ensure that the quality is good and that the nude panels aren’t too revealing so that they fit in with our other elegant style of dresses. I think these styles will continue to be popular next year with the addition of dresses in alternative colours, bigger style skirts and flowing cape style additions.
What research/preparation would you advise brides to do before visiting the boutique?
Consult a good range of wedding blogs and magazines to ensure that you have a good idea of what is available. Buy a good strapless bra and a pair of nude undies to wear when you are trying on dresses. Research your local dress shops but don’t be afraid to travel further afield for the right dress and make sure you allow enough time to order a dress. Your dress shopping should ideally start about eight months before your wedding to allow you enough time to have a good look at a number of dresses and to have plenty of ordering time.
What can brides expect from an appointment at Luella’s and how do you and your team help brides to find their dream dress?
Brides can expect a personal and individualised service. We will listen and take into account every bride’s image of her ‘dream’ dress and try to work with her to find the perfect gown for her special day. All appointments are completely private and last between one and one-and-a-half hours.
What size range of dresses do you stock?
Size ranges vary from designer to designer but the majority of our designers offer dresses from size 6UK to size 14UK; we can however also make some of our dresses in sizes outside of this range.
What is the price range of dresses at Luella’s?
Prices for made-to-order dresses range from £2,000 to £5000, but most of the dresses are around £2,500 – £3,000. We also offer the option to purchase some of the sample gowns at a discounted price.
Can you tell us about the accessory ranges that you stock at the boutique?
Brides can find stunning accessories at Luella’s. The boutique is filled with a gorgeous collection of products including shoes, veils, hair accessories and jewellery, many of which are exclusive to the store. All products are carefully handpicked by the team. Our accessories are made by designers including Victoria Fergusson, Victoria Millesime, Cherished, Joanna Reed, Stephanie Browne, Jannie Baltzer, St Erasmus and Magpie Vintage. We also have a gorgeous range of shoes by Charlotte Mills, Love Art Wear Art and Rainbow Club.
Do you stock bridesmaid dresses, if so can you tell about the ranges that you have at the boutique?
We are the exclusive UK stockists of Vicky Rowe’s collection of bridesmaid dresses and the I love Gorgeous collection of flower girl dresses.
What do you and your team enjoy most about your days at Luella’s?
We love meeting brides and hearing all about their plans for their special day. Brides are so creative these days and we love to listen to their fun, quirky ideas and sharing in their excitement. Most of all we love the feeling of knowing that a bride has found the right dress and that she is going to look absolutely beautiful. Even though the samples are often a little bit big, when a bride puts on the right dress you can just see it, they look absolutely beautiful and that’s really satisfying.
What sets Luella’s apart from other bridal boutiques?
I think we are probably more relaxed than a lot of boutiques. We are fairly untraditional but everything we choose has to be really special. You will often find things at Luella’s that you simply won’t find anywhere else.
You have a pop-up shop event taking place in Nottingham later this month which we are very excited about, can you tell our readers a little about it?
We are so excited to be taking our entire collection of bridal dresses and accessories on tour, starting with Nottingham from 19th to 22nd May! Most of the dresses are exclusively available in the UK, enabling us to offer something truly different. We will be inviting brides-to-be to try on their favourites from the collection, including our own newly launched Luella’s Bridal collection.
Luella’s Philippa Goodchild, who is from the Nottingham area, says: “I have been working with Rachel to take Luella’s on tour for some time now and we are excited to bring the Luella’s brand to Nottingham. We think that the brides will really love the uniqueness of the dresses we have to offer.”
Brands on show will include Vicky Rowe, Rose & Delilah, Inbal Raviv, Limor Rosen. The dresses will be available to view online prior to the opening day and brides are encouraged to choose their preferred styles in advance, so they can be sure to try them on during their appointment.
We advise brides to pre-book their VIP appointment to ensure they secure a convenient time for their fitting; there is a £20 booking fee, which includes a glass of champagne on arrival.
To book an appointment with the Luella’s team please email boutique@luellas.co.uk or head to the website www.luellas.co.uk
How can Brides Up North readers get in touch or see more about the boutique?
Come and visit us at our pop up event or contact us at boutique@luellas.co.uk or 020 8879 7744.
You can visit www.luellas.co.uk to view our whole selection of dresses and accessories.
