Meet the Boutique: Championing British Bridal
Celebrating craftsmanship, heritage and style, Vicki’s Bridal Boutique in Tenterden, Kent, is redefining wedding dress shopping with its all-British collection and heartfelt family story
Sisters Megan and Hannah Longworth’s curated collection of wedding dresses celebrates British bridal talent – and honours their grandma – Vicki’s Bridal Boutique. With backgrounds in retail and marketing, they had long wanted to work together. When Megan saw a bridal shop for sale, she was intrigued. “I thought, should we just go for it? It looks like a great opportunity,” she says. “But I knew it wasn’t the right decision – we didn’t want to take over someone else’s business. I thought, if we are going to do it, we can do our own thing.”
Their grandma came to the UK during wartime. “Her dad was English and he was a lace trader,” says Hannah. “So, she’d grown up surrounded by fabrics.” After helping with the war effort, she trained as a milliner and went into dressmaking. “She was even part of the seamstress team for the Queen’s coronation,” says Hannah. “She went on to make dresses for the wealthy people of Orpington and Sevenoaks.”
Though the sisters never met her, her story inspired them. “She was always spoken about; we always knew everything about her from our grandad and our dad,” says Hannah. “We always said, if we were ever able to do the bridal shop, we’d name it after her.” And so, Vicki’s Bridal Boutique was born.
Championing Home-Grown Talent
The sisters knew they would champion British labels. “While we appreciate how beautiful the international brands can be, we were just not drawn to any of them,” says Hannah. “Our grandma made dresses here – we wanted to carry that on.”
Vicki’s first label was Kelsey Rose, part of Ellis Bridals. “Ellis has a similar story to us; the fashion house started with the grandma and is still family-run, so working with them felt really natural,” says Megan. They had also wanted to stock Ellis but couldn’t due to the catchment area. When the opportunity arose, it felt like a big achievement. “This was a label that really resonated with us and reflected a type of bride that we really wanted to pull into the shop,” says Hannah.
Building Relationships
After Kelsey Rose, Nieve Couture was next. Their contact, Christine, mentored them through their first year. “She would check in on us and say, ‘right girls, are you doing this?’ She had lots of guidance.”
Freda Bennet was another key addition. “We walked on to their stand at Bridal Week, saw their Milan dress and that was it! We went back to our hotel and had a little discussion. We missed dinner because we wanted to make a decision. There was just something about the collection we knew we had to have!”
They also value the personal service. “The dresses are incredible,” says Hannah. “They’re so forward-thinking and conscious of creating a dress that will fit our bride perfectly. We struggle with their collection because we want to buy it all!”
A New Designer & Accessories
Kate Fearnley is the boutique’s newest designer. “We noticed her work because there’s really nothing else quite like it. Last year, we hosted a trunk show featuring her designs, just to test them out,” says Megan. “What stood out to us is that her dresses are designed and made in Britain. We wanted to support a designer who could offer beautiful, British-made pieces at a reasonable price point.”
The sisters love working with her. “I’ve called her before and said, ‘I have a bride getting married in six months’ and she’ll respond, ‘no problem.’ Even when we’re stressing about tight time frames, she’s calm and confident.”
Vicki’s also stocks bridesmaids’ dresses and accessories from British companies, including Jacqueline Louise Bridal, The Bobby Pin, and The Perfect Bridal Company. “For veils, we work closely with Tulle & Flo to create bespoke collections. The veils we stock in-store are completely unique because we design them in collaboration with her,” says Hannah.
One bride loved the daisy details on a Freda Bennet dress but chose an Ellis dress instead. “She worked with us to design a veil with the same daisy motif, and when it arrived, we were absolutely blown away. It was so stunning that, with the bride’s permission, we made it a sample for other brides to see.”
The Bride’s Journey
The best part of running the shop is being part of each bride’s journey. “We’ve built great relationships with our brides. Those moments where you help a bride feel confident and beautiful never get old,” says Megan. “Recently, we had a bride with a supermodel-like figure who still had insecurities. Seeing her transformation and hearing her say, ‘I felt amazing, I looked incredible,’ was so rewarding.”
Their boutique also has a special story. Initially searching elsewhere, they stumbled upon their space almost by chance. “It was a mess,” Megan laughed, “but we walked in and knew it could be home.” Recently, they moved to a larger space. “We call it our ‘grown-up shop,’” says Hannah. “It feels elevated but still warm and welcoming. Brides have told us, ‘It feels just like the old shop, but better,’ and that’s exactly what we wanted.”
Ultimately, Vicki’s Bridal is about creating connections. “We work closely with other boutiques, like Molly Lee Bridal down the road. If we don’t have what a bride is looking for, we’ll recommend them. There’s enough room for all of us and brides appreciate that honesty,” says Megan.
As a family-run business, they remain committed to supporting British designers and creating a space where every bride feels seen, heard, and celebrated. “We’re here to do our own thing, support brides, and showcase the incredible work of British designers. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.”
Read the full article in Bridal Buyer Issue 1 2025
Words Anna-Marie DeSouza
Images Tom Keenan | tomkeenanphotography.co.uk| @tomkeenanphotography
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