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Mandy

Bridal Consultant

Mandy trained at Lucie Clayton and started her career as a PA, her first posting at the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square. Bridal was never the plan. When she was 49, her friend Kim asked if she'd like to come and help manage her new boutique in Pimlico. She said yes. She's been in bridal…

What's the first thing you notice about a bride when she walks in?
Her vibe. You pick it up quickly. Whether she knows what she wants, whether she's nervous, whether someone else has already decided for her.
Memorable Brides...
The Sister-in-Law

A bride bought her dress almost a year before her wedding. Her soon-to-be sister-in-law, who was also getting married, found out which dress it was and bought it from our sample sale specifically so she could wear it first, at her own wedding the month before. We had no idea the two women even knew each other. Our bride found out and wore her dress anyway.

The Joke

Two brides, a couple, both buying their dresses with us, neither wanting to see what the other had chosen. One of them decided to have some fun. When we brought her dress up for the fitting, she told us it wasn't hers and she had never seen it before in her life. We all panicked. She thought it was hilarious.

The Favour

A bride bought her dress and then came back with an unusual request. She wanted us to stage an entire first appointment from scratch, with her mother-in-law present, so it looked as though they were choosing together. We played along. The mother-in-law went home thinking she had helped her daughter-in-law find the dress.

Have you ever completely changed a bride's mind?
Brides come in thinking they know what suits them. Then they try on something with proper corsetry for the first time and everything they thought about their body changes.
On who to bring

Keep the group small. You wouldn't take six people with you to buy anything else. Too many opinions and you end up with everyone else's dress.

On alterations

The cost of alterations is roughly the same whether the dress cost £500 or £5,000. Most brides don't realise that until afterwards. Factor it in from the start.

On trying to design your own dress

Some brides come in trying to design something rather than trying things on. You cannot know what a dress will do for you until it is actually on your body. Try it first.

First dance song?
A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum.
Wedding trend that needs to die?
Ten bridesmaids.
Wedding trend you secretly love?
Hen parties. Proper ones.
Biggest celebrity wedding dress: hit or miss?
Catherine Middleton in Alexander McQueen. It did exactly what it needed to do.
If you could dress any celebrity for their wedding?
Audrey Hepburn. Givenchy, a bow veil, something impossibly elegant. She already wore it in Funny Face. I would not change a thing.
Biggest gap between what brides say they want and what they choose?
Cost. They have a number in their head and a dress in their heart and the two are rarely the same.

READY WHEN YOU ARE

Now you've met Mandy. Come and say hello in person.

Book a private appointment and let us know if there's a specific consultant you'd like to see.
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