Two familiar faces within the bridal world have teamed-up to bring something new and exciting to the industry with its big launch just in time for Bridal Week London (Stand A3). 
WEDDING WAKEUP is a new concept providing all of the essential tools needed to have a successful and thriving wedding business. It is the brainstorm idea of Emma Arnold & Rebecca Baddeley, firm friends that are very much aligned in how they believe the wedding industry can support one another and grow as a collective, faster and stronger, than each individual shop slowly chipping away, making (sometimes expensive) mistakes, generally feeling out on a limb and not fully connected to the industry they work in.
 “We both felt the way forward is to build a community within the bridal industry that supports, motivates and helps one another through sharing knowledge, being a safe place to openly discuss experiences, celebrate wins, soundboard fresh ideas and ensure that we all keep growing and confidently moving forward within this incredibly dedicated and passionate industry – Stronger Together.”

Rebecca is truly one of the wedding industries powerhouses having won numerous awards including Best Bridal Retailer England and now a TWIA UK Judge. She started her career in Floristry in 1987 specialising in wedding arrangements. Rebecca has since opened the incredibly successful TDR Birmingham, has a dedicated team of 21 staff, 6 fitting rooms and over 1400 brides a year purchasing from her shop. Both Rebecca and Emma have a proven track record in how to not only setup a wedding business but in how to enjoy year-on-year growth with strong profit margins. 

Emma started in the industry well over 30 years ago working in a hotel. By her early twenties, after a fashion and textile degree, Emma worked as an embroidery designer, before opening up the first shop in 1996. “I specialised in bespoke wedding dresses and tailored waistcoats before taking on designer collections and building a fantastic team around me. Sounds easy when I put it like that but I definitely learnt the hard way and simply didn’t know, what I didn’t know, until it was obvious that something needed fixing!” After many years of gaining invaluable experience Emma has since worked with well over 60 wedding boutiques as well as tutoring a short course in sustainable fashion at Cambridge University.

Wedding Wakeup came to life as Emma and Rebecca both firmly believe in working on your business not just in your business. “During one of our typically animated conversations of what we believe to be the cornerstones of owning a profitable, well-functioning wedding shop with year-on-year growth, ‘that is also enjoyable to be the owner of’ we realised the barrier is convincing already hardworking owners to take enough time out of the day-to-day to implement changes needed for the future of the business. The training content we have created and the right advice for the current UK market, is only one part of the equation. We knew we needed to find a way of fitting into Wedding Shops schedules and become a part of their daily routine.” 
Following their soft launch in February the training will be fully accessible by March, starting courses created especially for wedding shop owners via a unique training App designed specifically to fit into hectic schedules. When asked “Why an App?” they replied “An App offers training that is aligned with how todays bridal couples think, the technology our target customers are using is all on their phones or iPad, we need to be not just on the same page but one step ahead. The Wedding Wakeup App is easy to use, easily accessible and incredibly cost effective. It has been developed to create a community, training courses, a constant flow of industry tips and advice, available 24-7 and it all fits neatly in your pocket. You can pick and choose what’s right for you personally, the info App enables freedom and complete control to choose the best training journey for your unique business.”

The first course going live in February is the 30-day Website Challenge. This is the quickest and easiest way to launch an exciting new wedding shop website. If your website isn’t the best in your area and actively driving ready-to-buy brides through your door then you need this NOW! 
 “It really is easy to become a part of something new, to be the first to see all of the exciting launches and events we have coming up. Just pop on your phone, click on App Store and search for Wedding Wakeup (lookout for our logo) to start your FREE download…it really is that easy! It’s completely free to download and join the Sunrise Membership, so why wouldn’t you, it’s a no brainer! All of the challenges are priced on the App and easy to see. Not an App fan yet? then just message us, this really is available to all and provided in a way that best suits your business. All paid courses are incredible value, especially considering the return you get and the potential growth curve for your business.”
 What’s next? “There is so much more to come, now the hardest hurdle is accomplished (two wedding shop owners managing to develop their own App) we will be continuously rolling out more exciting courses, announcing expert affiliates and supporting all sectors of this fabulous industry. Later in 2023 we will have another big launch, to look out for, but we’re keeping that under wraps for now!” 

If you want to know more and are looking for help, guidance and training with any aspect of your wedding shop or you are simply curious and like the sound of this new community Emma and Rebecca are inviting you to be a part of, just download the FREE Wedding Wakeup App here or visit them at Bridal Week London on Stand A3.