Bridal Buyer.com, 18th January 2012

“We are delighted to announce the finalists in the 2012 awards programme. Being in the final line-up is a huge acheivement – the standard this year was tremendous, and the number of entries overwhelming.”

Yes folks, you guested it, we were in the final 6 for Best Bridal Retailer North!

Following a tense wait after sending our entry in, we were delighted to receive an email informing us that Lulu Browns Bridal Boutique was in the final. After taking two steps at a time and risking severe groin strain in doing so, I’d managed to inform my whole team in about 30 seconds flat of our good news!

My grin literally reached around the back of my head! I was over the moon.

So, with that, I set about booking the hotel rooms and the girls were well underway with finding their outfits! Mine wasn’t so easy being seven months pregnant, but as usual for me, a black stretchy number would suffice!

After a very busy day choosing our new collection for the year ahead, I think we were all ready for bed. Instead we all piled into one room (if I had know this I would have only paid for one!) to get ready.

Below are the pictures from the awards night, and what a night it was…!

There was just time for a group shot to mark our special occasion before we headed off to find our table.

Group shot! Sophie, Emily, Helen and Rosie

We had a slight panic when we couldn’t find our names on the seating plan, the girls found it hilarious when my name was under Helen Lard instead of Helen Lord!

Sophie and Rosie in-front of the HUGE seating plan!

A drinks reception gave us chance to catch up with all our friends in the industry and allowed us to put some faces to names of people we follow in twitter land! You can follow us @lulubrownsbride

Rosie enjoying the champagne, me with my orange juice!

The room was absolutely breathtaking! 600 people were to sit down to dinner by candle light, we felt like we were at the Oscars. I did look for Brad Pitt, but to no avail!

Ive attended quite a few black tie events in my short life at a times they can be a little boring. However, the entertainment at this one was amazing. If you were wondering why Emily and I are holding our spoons as though we are about to crash them on to the table, that’s exactly what we were doing. In time with the fabulous live singer, the noise of 600 spoons was pretty incredible.

And it didn’t stop at spoon crashing, Oh no, we then moved on the napkin waving! Its worth mentioning at this point that the host was instructing us to do this, we hadn’t just taken it upon ourselves to behave like animals!

And it didn’t stop at spoon crashing, Oh no, we then moved on the napkin waving! Its worth mentioning at this point that the host was instructing us to do this, we hadn’t just taken it upon ourselves to behave like animals!

Sophie, Rosie and me after the spooning, napkining and singing!

I’m sure you can see from our pictures what a fabulous night we had! Although we didn’t scoop the award on the night, I am so proud of our shop and my team who constantly strive to provided our brides with fabulous customer service day after day!

Thank you girls, you are all winners to me!

Helen XxXx

To raise a toast to our fabulous new boutique and as a thank you for all our clients patience, we have a very special offer for you. So special that we don’t want you telling everyone (just a chosen few)!!!

Question is, can you keep a secret?

Ok, if your sure you can, here goes…

We are offering

a £300 complementary accessories voucher with every full priced gown

purchased from Lulu Browns before the end of May 2012. 

We have a fabulous selection of shoes, tiaras, headpieces, veils and jewellery

to chose from, which makes this offer all the more special!

Book your appointment today for a truly memorable wedding dress experience and take advantage of this fabulous offer

01254 825 574

So, I am now going to try and bring you up to date on whats being going on over the past four weeks.

Personally, I feel like I’ve aged a good few years, but nothing beats that feeling of knowing we are very near the finish line. We are finally in the new shop and even if I do say so myself, its looking good!

I am only showing the pictures of the nearly finished article, for the complete look you will either have to pay us a visit or wait until the lovely Charlotte from Lottie Designs has been to visit with her magic camera! Not long to wait, I promise.

Downstairs after it’s first coat of a paint.

A very quick glimpse of one of our 3 decorators who refused to have his photo taken, he forgets we girls are used to getting what we want, say cheese!

Ben, our joiner, insisted he proved how strong our new window displays were by having a cheeky pose himself.

Gary, The Boss, trying to look cool and calm with less than 48 hours until our beautiful dresses arrive into the shop, and it still looks like a bomb has hit!

Painting finished, and the carpets are going in! The wonderful Chris Silverwood arrived at 8pm and worked through the night to fit it, Chris, your our hero!

The last day and I thought Id treat our wonderful workmen to breakfast, it would have been rude not to join them!

Our new shop front going in and a small reminder of the old one!

At last, the finished article!

Its been a long, long process, but finally my dream came true and I can now say I am the proud owner of a beautiful bridal shop in Whalley with a fantastic team of colleagues and a supportive family who are one in a million.

Thank you doesn’t cut the mustard somehow, but I promise to find a way of showing you all how much I appreciate your time, effort and help!

In next weeks blog, I will share all the trades men and women and their contact details with you and introduce you to two new arrivals!

Have a lovely weekend and thanks for reading!

Helen Xx

Slim A-line gown with sweetheart neckline and available with zipper or corset closure. Demir Stretch Satin provides sleek luster to this slender silhouette. Ruching envelopes the bodice and asymmetrically plummets below the waist, while the train pours into a gorgeous balloon hem.
Colours Available: White, Ivory (Shown)

Shown in White
Sweetheart strapless organza, asymmetrical draped aline, scattered beading, corset back, chapel length train, comes with bolero.
Available colours : Ivory, White

This style embodies modern elegance with Valencia Organza and corded lace on Point d’Esprit creating the form-fitting, A-line silhouette. The asymmetrical bodice features a sweetheart neckline and corset closure. A vintage-inspired capelet is available, suggesting a sense of antique refinement for this gorgeous ensemble.
Colours Available: White, Ivory (shown)

Chic Organza ruched throughout the elongated bodice creates a stunning shape, while refined ruffles create fluid motion through the skirt. For added glam, Swarovski crystal embellishments adorn the bodice at the neckline, side front, and center back closure. Full A-line gown with scoop neckline finished with corset closure.
Colors Available: White, Diamond White (shown)

Exquisite draping and billowing bustles emit a gorgeous glow in Soft Shimmer Satin. The dropped, asymmetrical bodice creates a flawless figure, highlighted with beaded lace embellishments featuring Swarovski crystals. A-line gown with corset closure.
Colors Available: White, Diamond White, Alabaster (shown)

Rippling rows of Chic Organza bring texture and drama to this ravishing ball gown. A Swarovski crystal embellished band defines the natural waist, while the scoop neckline accentuates the asymmetrical bodice, finished with a body-shaping corset closure.
Colours Available: White, Ivory (shown)