Ladies prepare to block out your diaries for the next month as we have news of a host of fabulous events set to take place at The Harrogate Wedding Lounge and The Bridal Collection, throughout September.
Located in the gorgeous Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate, the two beautiful boutiques feature stunning wedding dress collections from a number of the top British and International designers, making them a must-visit during a bride’s dream dress search.
Owned by the lovely Hayley Hoyle, a good friend and Sponsor of Brides Up North, visiting brides can be sure of top customer service and first-class styling advice in their pursuit for that one special dress.
Better still, over the next month ladies can save money on a dress, receive expert advice on their accessories and try on some very exclusive designs during a line-up of exciting boutique events, which include sample sales, accessory events and a Jenny Packham trunk show. We said to block out your dairies!
Here to fill us in on all the details is the lovely Hayley…
When will the sample sale events be taking place at The Harrogate Wedding Lounge and The Bridal Collection, and what can brides expect from them?
hayley says:
Our upcoming sample sales will take place between Saturday 3rd September and Friday 9th September and will provide a fantastic opportunity for brides-to-be to find their dream gown at a discounted price.At The Harrogate Wedding Lounge we have an amazing selection of dresses in the sample sale from designers such as Maggie Sottero, Sottero and Midgley, Justin Alexander, Justin Alexander Signature, Enzoani, Blue by Enzoani and Raimon Bundó. Gowns will start from as little as £400!
At the Bridal Collection we have some iconic British designers’ gowns heading into our sample sale such as Jenny Packham, Suzanne Neville, Caroline Castigliano, Sassi Holford and Ian Stuart as well as picks of some top international labels, such as Badgley Mischka and Claire Pettibone. We have some fantastic discounts and our sample gowns will be priced between £550 and £3,500.
All of the dresses going into our sale are sample gowns, this means that they have been tried on by brides-to-be. The condition of our sample dresses varies; some are new collection dresses that are in excellent condition and others have been well-loved and tried on. A selection of the sample sale dresses are discontinued gowns, however many dresses are going into the sale simply to make more room for the stunning new collections we have coming into the boutiques!
What sizes of dresses can brides expect to find at the sample sales and how much could the save on the cost of a dress?
We have lots of amazing discounts on our sample dresses. The discounts will start at 20% and go up to an incredible 70% off!
At The Harrogate Wedding Lounge our sample sizes are between an 8 and 16, while at The Bridal Collection our sample sizes are between an 8 and 14.
Please note that the majority of our dresses are between a size 10 and 14. If you have any enquires in regards to the sizes of our samples please don’t hesitate to get in contact.
Do you have any tips or advise to brides who wish to attend the sample sales?
Take a look on our website and social media pages to gain a good insight into what types of dresses you are likely to find at the sample sale. Study the designers that we stock and make notes of any particular styles or dresses that are standing out. We advise brides to have tried dresses on prior to attending a sale event and to have a clear understanding of what it is they are looking for in their dream dress. As the sale is a first come, first serve it is for brides who are ready to find their perfect dress at an amazing price. We advise that you bring along to your appointment the one person who you wish to be there when you make that big decision, whether this is mum, relative or your maid of honour. We wouldn’t want you to miss out on your dress or make a decision without them. It’s going to be a busy week and space may be limited so we do ask that you only bring up to three people to your appointment.
You will also be hosting exclusive accessory events at both boutiques, can you tell us when these will be taking place and what will be in store?
On Thursday 15th September we are holding an accessories evening at The Harrogate Wedding Lounge. We will have an extensive selection of accessories for you to admire ranging from headpieces and veils to that perfect pair of sparkly bridal shoes. Charlotte from Charlotte Mills bridal shoes will also be here to showcase her new collection to the boutique – an amazing opportunity for brides to choose their wedding shoes with the designer herself. Our bridal stylists will also be on hand throughout the event to assist you on styling your own individual look for the big day.
Our accessory evening at The Bridal Collection will take place on Wednesday 21st September. At The Bridal Collection we are extremely proud to stock the beautiful Emmy London Bridal Shoes. The attention to detail is amazing, with Swarovski crystals and pearls perfectly hand beaded onto soft suede. The designs range from classic and simple, to vintage and full on glitz and glamour, there is a piece for every bride.
When it comes to the all-important veil we work with the wonderful design team at Sassi Holford who bring us The Couture Veil. Couture Veil’s offer a wide variety of beautiful handmade veils. Soft and delicate vintage or English tulles, silks and a whole host of pretty edgings and scatters that perfectly complements your gown. We also have an extensive selection of beautiful hair pins, vines, tiaras and clips from Jenny Packham, Ivory & Co and Emmy, for that extra bit of sparkle.
Finally in September The Bridal Collection will be holding a Jenny Packham trunk show. Can you tell us a little about it?
The boutique will be holding the Jenny Packham trunk show on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th September, for brides to see the full 2017 collection before it arrives into boutiques. This two-day event will be a very exciting for brides-to-be who have long lusted over wearing a Jenny Packham gown as it will be one of the first opportunities to see the full 2017 collection straight off the international runways.
Can you describe the style of Jenny Packham’s designs and tell us what type of bride they tend to appeal to?
Jenny Packham is a well-known British fashion designer renown for dressing the stars for many red carpet events and her gowns are often spotted on The Duchess of Cambridge. Her bridal designs are award winning and are known for flattering hem-lines, luxurious fabrics, and plenty of Swarovski crystal sparkle. Many gowns have a glamorous 1920’s vibe to them with less structured silhouettes and beautiful embellishments. Prices range from £2,300 to £5,000.
Tell us a little about the latest Jenny Packham collection…
The 2017 collection is set on the plains of the Midwest and inspired by the afterglow of a wild night. The collection represents the wanderlust bride and has a distinctly 70’s vibe with floaty blouson sleeves, metallic stars and flowing fabrics. Colour also plays a big part with lots of rich golds and steely pewter beading, and even a pretty pale green version of one of the gowns.
Inspired by free-spirit and relaxed glamour, the 2017 gowns embody everything that we have come to love by Jenny Packham. The gowns vary from highly beaded numbers to fun boho styles and some of the most gorgeous embroidery we have ever seen!
Overall the collection carries a luxe bohemian vibe throughout and Jenny has not disappointed with a few show stopping and truly unique gowns that pop out against some of the more commercial designs.
Any particular favourites or stand out pieces within the collection for you personally?
It’s so hard to choose because there are so many different styles within the 2017 collection. That said, we love the ‘starry’ embroidery found on the Lucky gown which offers brides an on-trend style and also the Dallas, which is a fully beaded gown with exquisite clean lines and detailing.
What sizes are Jenny Packham designs available in?
The majority of our Jenny Packham gowns are in sizes UK8 to UK12, however if you do have any questions regarding the sizes please don’t hesitate to call the boutique to discuss.
Do you have any advice for brides-to-be attending trunk shows?
Trunk shows are events dedicated to showcasing a full collection from a designer that we stock here at the boutique. Typically we carry about seven to ten dresses from the current designer collections, as well as some classic designs from previous collections. During a trunk show weekend brides get to view a full collection of dresses from a particular designer.
The best advice we can give you is to only attend if this is a designer you love. Many designers have a signature look so you know if you like the relaxed glamorous styles then Jenny Packham will be a great designer weekend for you to attend. Also be sure to view the collection online and shortlist some of your favourites prior to the event.
When it comes to the appointment, bring along the people you really want with you when you make that all important decision. Some of the gowns are only in the boutique for that specific weekend and so you wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on that big decision.
How do ladies go about booking an appointment for any of the above events?
All appointments at both of our boutiques are on a one-to-one basis this allows us to give you a very personal bridal shopping experience. Each appointment is an hour-and-a-half long, within this time you will be with your very own bridal stylists who will talk you through designers and styles and help you into the dresses. Appointments for all of our events are filling up fast so we advise booking in soon to avoid disappointment.
You can contact either of the boutiques through email or telephone for any enquiries or to book an appointment at any of the upcoming events.
The Harrogate Wedding Lounge, call us on 01423 888242, or email us at info@theharrogateweddinglounge.com
The Bridal Collection Harrogate, call us on 01423 202029, or email at info@thebridalcollectionharrogate.com