Your North East Wedding - Page number 77 - September/October 2021 (Issue 46)

Top tip “Go dress shopping with an open mind as most brides end up picking a style they didn’t consider when they first visited the store because they don’t know what will suit their figure until they try different ones on.” – Susanne S ituated in Newcastle, Rosa Bridal Boutique offers fabulous designer dresses significantly reduced from their recommended retail price. After opening its doors back in 2019, the team ensures that brides-to-be have a positive shopping experience while giving an honest opinion. The boutique’s owner, Susanne Shah, started the business after wanting a different pace of life with more time for friends and family. She loved her previous career as a lawyer but no longer wanted the long hours. Susanne decided opening the boutique would be perfect, especially after seeing a gap in the market. She says, “There was a need for brides to have somewhere that would still give them that personal one-to-one experience, without needing a top-end budget necessarily.” She adds, “My favourite part of the job is the actual appointments themselves. Living in a house full of males with my husband and two boys (even the cats are boys), I love being in the shop and having some real girly time. I don’t see my job as work because I enjoy it so much. Seeing my brides blossom before my eyes in confidence and demeanour when they find the one is such a joy.” The shop stocks a fantastic selection of gowns in different sizes (six to 26) and price ranges to cater for even more couples. Many customers who visit the boutique at the moment are asking for long sleeves, which is trending right now and works well for autumn/ winter weddings, and some clients are after general arm coverage. There’s also a demand for Bardot off-the-shoulder gowns, which is a sexy style that shows just a little bit of flesh while remaining relatively modest. When it comes down to finding that dream dress, it’s all about personal preference and style. Discover more: www.rosabridalboutique.co.uk A fter having a passion for hair styling since a young age, Amy Tombling created All Dolled Up eight years ago after creating hairstyles for herself and her sister for their cousin’s wedding. She says, “I styled my hair into a loose chignon and for my sister, I created a bow using her hair. We received plenty of compliments and that’s when I realised I could make a business from this!” A week after the wedding, Amy created three different looks and within a month of posting the pictures on social media, she had a booking every week. She decided to enrol in a part-time beauty college alongside her job at a doctors surgery and a few months later, All Dolled Up was born. The Middlesbrough-based business offers hair styling for bridal parties and can create amazing styles. After arriving before dawn, the company starts the wedding day prep and will stay until the last minute to put in the veil and add any finishing touches. Amy says, “There’s nothing better than seeing a bride’s vision come to life on her wedding day; I love to see the whole look come together with the hair, the make-up and the dress.” Over the last year, messy-fairytale hairstyles have been popular, but there’s been a demand for elegant and simple looks at the moment with many asking for a loose chignon or a wrapped knot – of course Hollywood waves are a big thing this year. The team can create each one of these looks flawlessly while adding a special touch. Amy says,“I love it when someone allows me to be creative, I let the hair flow naturally into a style and I see where the look leads me. This is a massive benefit because I’m not creating the same look over again.” The business has plenty of experience in the industry and can help point couples in the right direction for other suppliers, share top tips and create new ideas. Discover more about the team: www.alldolledupamy.co.uk ALL DOLLED UP Top tip “Remember you’re marring your soulmate, so make the run up to the wedding just as special as the day.” – Amy ROSA BRIDAL BOUTIQUE www.djm photography.co.uk LOOKING YOUR BEST 77