Providing even more fabulous inspiration for you brides-to-be currently on the dream dress hunt, we’re thrilled to be welcoming Brides Up North sponsor Louise Perry Bridal to the blog today.
Located in the pretty West Yorkshire village of Saltaire, this warm and welcoming boutique has a stunning range of dresses, with something to suit all tastes and budgets.
With customer service at the very forefront of everything she does, owner Louise takes a personal approach to ensure brides and their guests have both a memorable and enjoyable experience during their time to the boutique.
To tell us more about what ladies can expect from an appointment at Louise Perry Bridal, we’ll hand over to the leading lady herself…
How did Louise Perry Bridal begin?
louise says:
It was my lifelong dream to own my own business and give customers a wonderful experience when they came into my shop. It was only when I got married myself that I realised a bridal shop would be the ideal business for me. Having studied dressmaking and costume history, and with many years’ experience of sewing my own clothes, I had an understanding of how dresses are made and the intricacies of fabrics and trims. My degree and experience as a manager in a large organisation had also developed my skills in customer service and administration.I love making people happy and matching a bride to her perfect dress is a dream come true!
How would you describe the feel and look of your boutique?
I get a lot of compliments about my boutique. When I designed it, I wanted the experience to appeal to all the senses, from the soft classical music in the background, to the specially selected pure origin coffee that I serve to my customers. I’d like to think it allows a bride to take time out in a beautiful, spacious environment where she is able to make her important decision, without pressure.
The boutique itself is quite large, light and airy with beautiful wooden floorboards and plenty of space for a bride to walk around in her chosen dresses. I only see one bride at a time, which allows the bride and her guests all the privacy needed to make a decision.
In terms of the feel, a customer recently said that the moment they walked into the shop, they breathed a sigh of relief and all their troubles drifted away! That is exactly the feeling I was going for – relaxed and welcoming!
What designers do you stock, can you tell us a little about each one?
I currently stock three collections by Demetrios, Cosmobella and Oreasposa. All three are Italian designers and based in Milan. Cosmobella is my mid-range and largest collection. It combines beautiful detailing with affordability. Demetrios dresses are slightly more expensive, but with an exquisite finish. My OreaSposa collection meanwhile is very affordable, without compromising on quality.
In September I will also be introducing Ronald Joyce to my collections and will hold a special launch event for interested brides.
What size range of dresses do stock?
My samples range from sizes 12 to 20, as bridal gowns tend to be on the small side.
What is the price range of dresses at Louise Perry Bridal?
My prices range from as little as £530 to £1,860, but the majority of my dresses are around £1,000.
Can you tell us about the accessory ranges that you stock at the boutique?
Yes, I stock a good range of long and short veils from Richard Designs and bridal shoes by specialist supplier, Rainbow Club. I also have a number of jewellery and hair pieces supplied by various suppliers based in the UK.
What research or preparation would you advise brides to do before visiting the boutique?
It works well when the bride keeps an open mind about what she is looking for and chooses one or two trusted friends or family members to accompany her. It is helpful (but not essential) to wear flesh coloured underwear and a strapless bra. Otherwise, there is nothing else to do, just arrive and enjoy the experience!
Do brides need to book an appointment and if so how long will the appointment last?
All of our new bride appointments are an hour-and-a-half, which gives the bride a nice amount of time to try her chosen dresses, without pressure. It is advisable to book beforehand to ensure a space, and brides can schedule an appointment directly via my website at www.louiseperrybridal.co.uk/make-an-appointment.
How do you help brides to find their dream dress at your boutique?
Firstly, I ask the bride some questions about what she is looking for and, whilst I fetch the drinks, allow her to look through the dresses and pick out those she would like to try. As she tries the dresses on, I listen to what she likes and dislikes about them and this helps me mentally check through my collection for what would be of interest to her. Sometimes, I will have a dress that ticks all the boxes but for some reason the bride hasn’t seen it. In that case I can make a suggestion to her and very often, it ends up being the dress.
Are there any particular trends that you are noticing coming through in your dress collections at the moment?
For certain – lace is still a major player, as is tulle and beading. We are seeing a lot more straps and sleeves throughout 2016, low v-necklines and off-the-shoulder, as well as a trend for column and mermaid style gowns. Moving into 2017 my prediction is that we will see a lot more matt satin and Mikado style fabrics. I have recently written a blog post about bridal trends which you can read here.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love being able to run my business my way. I’m a firm believer that you should offer your customers what they want and therefore I do not want to compromise on service, stock or anything else. If my brides want late appointments after work, then I will offer it; if I get new stock in I can add the details to my website straight away. I love the challenge of finding the perfect dress for each bride and being able to appreciate the quality of my dresses and getting to know each bride a little as they go through their wedding planning journey.
What sets your boutique apart from others?
As we offer private appointments for the bride and her guests, our customers truly do get the personal touch. My focus is on excellent customer service and I am very proud of the fantastic reviews we have received on Google and Facebook so far.
I’d like to think that the high level of customer service I offer to both the bride and her guests puts them at ease and gives them the truly enjoyable experience which is such a big part of the wedding planning stage. I want each bride to leave my shop feeling happy, whether or not they have found the dress of their dreams in my boutique.
Do you have any special events or designer days coming up shortly that our readers should know about?
We recently held a highly successful designer weekend and were fully booked! I will be holding a huge end of season sale in August where brides can pick up a gown off-the-peg at a bargain price.
Then in September, all my new collections will be available and I will be holding a special launch weekend for my new Ronald Joyce collection with bubbly and special offers for brides. I would encourage brides to like and follow us on social media to hear more about our special events.
How can Brides Up North readers get in touch / see more about the boutique?
You can visit my website www.louiseperrybridal.co.uk or email me at louise@louiseperrybridal.co.uk.
As mentioned, brides can also book their appointment online directly via my online scheduler, at www.louiseperrybridal.co.uk/make-an-appointment.
Any other news to share?
Any bride that buys their dress at Louise Perry Bridal and books their photography with Richard Perry Photography, will receive a special discount. Be sure to ask for details when getting in touch.
