Our Brides

Samantha and Lee

Tell us how you felt before your first appointment to try on gowns…

I was very excited to start trying dresses on, it’s the one part of the wedding preparations that I was looking forward to the most. However, I did also feel nervous and anxious due to being a plus sized bride. I worried that the experience of trying dresses on may have been disappointing in case they didn’t fit me or I looked frumpy in them.

On arriving at Y.A.P Bridal Boutique what were your initial thoughts…

I’d been to several boutiques before heading to Y.A.P and found the place to have a lovely light and airy atmosphere which felt very welcoming from the moment I first walked through the door. It’s how I always imagined a bridal shop to be – with the colour scheme and the way it was laid out. I was a bit like a magpie as there was so many lovely dresses and accessories to look at.

Your Style Ideas…

I initially wanted something alternative in a tea length, as this is the style I normally wear on nights out with friends. I had seen vintage style, full skirted, lace dresses that I also liked. I thought I didn’t want to try strapless and would prefer a full lace or sheer top to cover my back, shoulders and upper arms. I wanted to feel like a fairy queen in my dress and loved coloured dresses (I’d even considered green or purple at one point).

Your Consultation to Finding the One…

As soon as I arrived for my appointment I was asked questions about our wedding style and what look I was wanting, how I wanted to feel in my dress – questions that no other shop had thought to ask. I had already seen a dress I really liked prior to going to Y.A.P that I knew they had a sample of to try on. This style was also used as a basis for picking other similar dresses that may have had other elements too that I liked.

Tell us about your bridal stylist and the ‘You Are Precious’ service you received…

I visited the boutique twice before I decided on my final choice with help from my stylist Louise.She put me in dresses that other boutiques stayed away from, which had more of a drop waist and showed that actually I had the figure to wear them, that they suited me just as well as the higher waist ones. This helped my confidence again being plus sized, I didn’t feel prejudged on my appearance. Louise was very patient and allowed me to go away and think about the dresses I had seen and return with my mum who wasn’t able to be there for my first visit.

How did you feel when you found your dream gown & how did you know it was ‘The One’…

There were two dresses in Y.A.P that made my final shortlist. The one I picked I just couldn’t get out of my head. I felt so grand in it and it had the biggest skirt in the boutique! I could just imagine myself walking into the ceremony room and the look on my husbands face as well as everybody else’s when they saw me, as it was not what they would expect- in a very good way! The fact it came in caramel was definitely the deciding factor as I knew deep down I didn’t want all white or ivory and wanted an element of alternative style.

Talk to us about your overall Y.A.P Bridal Journey…

The final dress I chose was available in other boutiques however the service, experience and the staff themselves at Y.A.P is what made my bridal journey such a fantastic element of the wedding process and it wasn’t just about going into a shop to buy a dress. I was made to feel very special. The team at Y.A.P are very personable and dedicated. I felt like every time I went to my consultations and fittings I was meeting back up with friends. They are all so interested to hear about your wedding planning, to see how your wedding look is progressing at each visit and to give ideas on the styling. They were all very reassuring about how fantastic you should feel trying dresses on and in ‘the one’. I felt very sad going for my final fitting feeling that my journey with them was nearly over.

We had the pleasure of styling the gorgeous Samantha on her special day at Woodhill Hall. Jamie Penfold was there to capture every magical moment… Fairies, Unicorns and Toadstools were carefully sprinkled around the venue and the homemade centrepieces were incredible. Sam walked down her aisle to her fiance Lee with the atmospheric music from Edward Scissorhands… everything was thought out so wonderfully and really created the perfect day for these two lovebirds.