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My Bridal Story: Brides by Natalie

Business14-Jun-2022

This month, we speak with Natalie from Liverpool-based Brides by Natalie, who gives us an insight into the history of her boutique and her favourite thing about working in the industry.

Name of store: Brides by Natalie

Store owners: Natalie Coleman

Location: Liverpool

Brands Stocked: Sophia Tolli, Martin Thornburg, Venus, Gino cerrutti, Giovanni Alessandro, Tanya Grigg, Bianco Evento
Average price point: £1500
Number of staff: 2

Can you give us a little introduction to Brides by Natalie?

We have been established for almost 10 years, and within the last few weeks, we have taken a giant leap by moving premises and location. Our landlord sold the building we had leased for the past 10 years suddenly, leaving us shocked after everything we had already gone through with the pandemic and various other reasons I did wonder if it was going to be the end. We only had a short timescale to vacate, and there were no suitable premises available: we seen a lot. We came across the church and I remember the day we walked in and I just knew. I got ‘that feeling’!

It was a very difficult road to secure the lease on the church and it was literally down to the last minute. We had been packing up bit by bit, but to be honest I was never sure we were going to get to the stage of completion on the lease and it really was days before we had to move out.

We had our last bridal appointment at 2pm on the Saturday, and the second the bride left, we began to dismantle the shop ready to move: we had fully moved out by the next evening! Our old shop was a massive 3-storey building that we had vacated for nearly 10 years, so you can imagine the amount we had to move. I am so lucky I had amazing friends and family helping. Once we actually got into the church and had handed the keys back on the old premises, I felt as if one door had literally closed, and everything has changed for the better. I still feel as though I have won the lottery!

How did you get into the bridal industry?

I left school at 16 knowing I always wanted to make clothes, I went straight to college to study garment technology. Some years later, my dad found a tiny advertisement in the local paper looking for a seamstress for a new bridal shop. I got the job but it was based in Preston, I did not drive so I had to use the train until I passed my test. I had never sewn a designer bridal gown before, but I had made one from scratch, and I was so nervous. I carried on with them and finally became the manager of a store they opened in Liverpool. After a few years, I decided with 4 of my close friends to open a shop of our own. And that’s what we did! And after the last member of the team Diane sadly retired last month, it’s now just me alongside my dear friend and team member Adele. I never really wanted to call the shop Brides by Natalie as I remember rushing into it on the day we incorporated the company, our accountant was pushing me for a company name and we all just agreed upon that. Di said before she retired, "well Nat, it is a good job we did!"

Who would you say is your ideal bride?

Our typical customer comes to us via word of mouth, so we often know the bride before that has recommended them or they have been a bridesmaid or guest at their wedding! Having such close relationships with all our customers is why our reputation has withstood us all these years. That is why the move never scared me - it was just finding somewhere that did!

How do you celebrate a bride finding her dress in your boutique? Do you do anything special on social media? How have you adjusted your celebrations with the pandemic?

We plan to change this to suit our new venue, we have a huge iconic ‘rose window’ at the church and we have just had a catwalk built and we are awaiting a beautiful neon sign to be made to say YES. We don’t feel there is another shop like ours in the UK and we plan to use this in our social media marketing. We always celebrate with a big ’say yes’ cheers - we are just adjusting it to make it even more spectacular at the church!

What is the best part of your job?

People often say you must love working with brides and yes of course I do but honestly the main reason why I love what I do is that I get to make people happy, I love that above all else.

What’s your favourite industry memory? An anecdotal story would be great!

There are so many stories to tell from over the years, some I can’t tell obviously! Maybe one day I’ll write a book! I’d pressed and prepared my brides dress and all her bridesmaids dresses I had made for her. I dropped them all safely to her the evening before the wedding. I went to work the following day as usual set for a busy day ahead. The bride was getting married at 2pm, around 1.25pm my phone rang, it was her. I instantly knew what I had done! I ran up to the pressing room and there it was, the lace up for her corset dress! Just sitting there. I wanted to cry. I had to jump in my car and drive to the other side of Liverpool, while the match was on! It was horrendous. I remember pulling up in her road with all the wedding cars waiting and literally the whole street applauded me. I ran upstairs and got her ready. Luckily enough she was a very calm bride - needless to say she was very fashionably late!

Can you tell us some interesting facts about your boutique?

- It is set in a stunning church in the heart of Liverpool.
- We have our own built-in catwalk.
- We have in-house seamstresses, me and Adele! We are both fully experienced and nothing leaves the premises - it is always fitted and sewn by us.