So What Makes You a Luxury Bridal Boutique?
Welcome to Willoughby & Wolf
Before I opened Willoughby & Wolf, I was really undecided on whether I should use the word Luxury and kept questioning myself and others on this term, after all, I wasn’t going to be selling haute couture in fact our wedding dresses start at £1200, which for many brides is affordable. Would saying we were ‘Luxury Bridal’ put people off? Would brides think they couldn’t afford anything in our store? Or even worse, that I would be snooty and look down my nose at them? I’m only 5ft, and I can’t look down my nose at anyone!
After months of debating, going backwards and forwards, writing and editing our website and branding collateral, I finally decided on using it, and here’s why.
The definition of luxury has evolved, once upon a time luxury used to mean designer handbags, flash cars and five-star hotels. Yet in this new modern style, luxury is no longer synonymous with being exorbitant or exclusive. Luxury has moved beyond high price points, and designer labels and now revolves around so much more from an item's uniqueness to the meaning associated with something or the experience and pleasure gained.
I then sat and thought about what I was doing and offering as a luxury boutique and realised that at Willoughby & Wolf luxury is not just about a price tag, the true heart of our ‘luxe’ bridal experience is in each detail, the meaning behind the purchase and the experience of shopping for your dress with us.
One of the most frequent comments “Wow your shop is amazing, it’s so different”
We are different, we are not your average bridal boutique, and inside you will not find plush carpet, pale white walls and sparkling crystal chandeliers. The boutique itself is a reflection of my personality; we are a tiny boutique with 400 year old floor boards and beams. When you visit you will find a hint of rock n roll and a gorgeous interior design of rich dark blue with a shimmering gold ceiling, all complimented by lush tactile fabrics.
With modern luxury bridal, I know that there is a focus is on generating your own style. We specialise in contemporary wedding dresses for the modern bride. Our collection of designers and their gowns have all been handpicked, for their high-quality standards, utilising the finest fabrics and originality of design. If you want something a little different, then I believe we have something for every bride that walks through our door. What’s more, if we don’t have it quite right, we can work together to make something bespoke to you.
Hydrangeas and Accessories
I believe in being honest and transparent in our pricing; our luxury wedding dresses start at £1200 and go up to £6000. In our boutique, you will find all of our dresses have their price clearly displayed, and I will never put a bride into a dress over her budget.
Boutique and designer wedding dresses aside, what also makes us a luxury bridal boutique and why brides choose to visit and buy from us for the first time is our experience. It gives me the greatest pleasure knowing that we provide exceptional service, helping brides find their dream dress from amongst our collection and ensuring that they leave with fond memories of their time with us.
Every bride receives the warmest of welcomes on arrival, and I start every appointment getting to know her and what the hopes and dreams for her wedding are. This is really important and helps me get to know you personally and tailor our service to you.
While the bride is choosing the first wave of dresses to try, I get busy pouring a glass of bubbles for everyone, but if it’s too early for bubbles (is it ever too early? After all it’s 6.00 pm somewhere in the world) I also serve tea and coffee.
I know that buying a wedding dress is a special occasion, and leaving the shop empty-handed can feel a little deflating, especially after such an expensive purchase. Hence, we always capture the moment, giving each bride a framed Polaroid picture of them and their bridal party.
The new definition of luxury is in the very fibre of our being. It’s the way we present ourselves, and our boutique is our collection of amazing contemporary designers. Most of all, it the way we make you feel, during your appointment. Helping you to create memories to treasure forever.
Everyone gets offered a glass of bubbles.
So what are my Top 3 Luxury Items
1. Proper coffee, I can’t drink instant anymore and have a coffee machine at home, and in the boutique, apparently, I am a coffee snob, and I make no apologies for it.
2. Spotify, I love music and being able to stream music, listen to something that has randomly popped into my head or find new artists is amazing
3. My wedding ring, I chose a diamond channel set ring that matches my engagement ring, every time I look at it I get the warm and fuzzy’s thinking about my husband and our wedding