I’m so pleased to report that I had a fabulous experience start-to-finish with Special Day & Appletons. As I’m a larger dress size, I’d honestly been dreading wedding dress shopping and some horrible experiences in other bridal shops meant that I went into SD&A with seriously low expectations. I couldn’t have been more wrong however! In our email exchange before my initial appointment, Jackie had been adamant that there would be dresses to try on in my actual dress size - I’d previously been to other bridal shops which only carried a sample size 12 (more like a street size 8-10), vaguely pinned the dress up against you & then told you to ‘use your imagination’; not a great experience. Jackie was entirely right though and I was able to PROPERLY try on lots of different styles at the shop. She was so patient and kind whilst I twirled around the shop. Funnily enough, the dress I ended up choosing was one that I was adamant I didn’t want to try on as I didn’t think the shape would suit me; it was Jackie who told me I should give it a try and I’m so glad I listened to her! Amazingly, the dress I loved was available as a sample at 1/3 of the RRP in immaculate condition to take away there & then. Despite the fact that my dress was a sample, I was never given inferior service; I felt just as valued as every other customer. Dorota did an amazing job with my alterations and is clearly an incredibly talented seamstress. She had to virtually take my dress apart & put it back to together when I lost a few stone in the lead-up to the wedding, but the dress still looked perfect, as though it hadn’t been touched at all. As a self-conscious Winter bride, it was really important to me that I had 3/4 sleeves added to my dress and this was no trouble at all for Dorota - by the time she’d finished, they looked as though they were integral to the dress. I was so pleased with the finished product and I felt fabulous on our big day - thank you Jackie, Dorota & team!

I've had such a wonderful experience with buying my dress from Oliver's. From the initial appointment with the lovely Harriet who was so helpful and so patient when I tried on loads of dresses, to their understanding that I wanted to go back and try the dress again just to make sure, and to discuss alterations which I had lots of questions about, to then holding the dress for me until we'd been paid to be able to pay for it. Ellie and her team were so patient, so understanding, answered every question I had whether it was in person, via email, or via text, and I've now bought my most perfect dress. Thank you all so much. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a dress, to go visit Oliver's. You won't be disappointed.

I had been to a few bridal shops before and left hating the experience, so came into Sugar and Spice very anxious. The staff (in particular Helen) made me feel so welcome and relaxed, I was never made to do anything I didn’t feel comfortable with and not once was I made to feel ashamed about my size. The reason I came to Sugar and Spice was their beautiful range of “Curve” gowns, many other shops only have one style of dress for bigger girls that was not to my taste. I left with a beautiful dress and I’m so happy!