From Mum’s Sewing Room to My Bridal Boutique: How a Childhood Dream Turned Into “The Bridal Store”

If you’d told teenage me that one day I’d have my own bridal boutique, I’d probably have squealed, done a little spin in an imaginary gown, and said, “Obviously — I was born for this!”

You see, designing wedding dresses wasn’t just a dream; it was practically stitched into my DNA. My mum was a seamstress — not just any seamstress, mind you, but a bona fide Laura Ashley alum. By the time I came along, she’d stopped working there professionally, but she never put down her needle and thread.

Our home was basically a fabric wonderland. The living room floor was her cutting table, the dining room doubled as her sewing studio, and there were always mysterious piles of satin and lace lying around waiting to be transformed. My sister and I were her personal tailor’s dummies, helping her fit everything from bridesmaid dresses to full-blown wedding gowns. There was something magical about watching her turn a roll of ivory fabric into a gown fit for a bride — I’d sit there wide-eyed as she stitched layers of tulle, added delicate lace, and somehow made it all look effortless.

Some of my favourite memories are of hearing the whirr of her sewing machine late into the night. I’d fall asleep to that sound, and by morning, there’d be a new creation draped over the back of a chair, waiting to be finished. Mum made so many wedding dresses over the years — each one unique, each one made with so much love — and I think that’s where I caught the bridal bug.

As a teenager, I’d raid her enormous collection of sewing patterns (honestly, it could have been classified as a library) whenever I needed a dress for a dance or special event. And oh, the fabric shop trips! Those were sacred adventures — the smell of new fabric, the endless rolls of silk and chiffon, the promise of what could be. Watching Mum bring those ideas to life made me want to do the same: to design dresses that made women feel beautiful, special, and — just for one day — like absolute princesses.

So off I went to college to study Fashion and Textiles, determined to follow in her very stylish footsteps. The plan? University, fashion degree, then my own label. Easy, right?

Well… cue dramatic movie music. Life, as it tends to, had other ideas. Plans changed, doors closed — sometimes quite loudly — but others opened, wide and unexpected.

And that’s how WsM Bridal was born. One big, beautiful opportunity that practically shouted, “Come on in!” From the start, I knew I wanted to specialise in modest wedding dresses for religious communities — gowns that reflect grace, elegance, and individuality without compromising on style. And when I took that leap, everything just clicked into place.

Now, every time I see a bride step into one of our dresses and light up in front of the mirror, I can’t help but think of my mum — the original dressmaker, the woman who taught me that a wedding gown is so much more than fabric and thread. It’s a story, a dream, a little bit of magic brought to life.