Velvet Magazine September 2016

Weddings
Following their opening in May, Harriet tells us about her journey so far
After just four months, Harriet, 27 and from Clare, has successfully established her bridal
boutique in Bury St Edmunds’ Hatter Street, and we were keen to find out a little more
about her experience to date, the designers she stocks and where she finds her inspiration.
So, why the name?
I get asked this a lot! I had a very clear
vision of the name and logo for months,
even years, before I opened the shop. My
grandparents, Betty and Dennis Snow,
were married for 62 years, so Snow
seemed so apt for me - full of love and with
connotations of white and magic.
Why Bury St Edmunds?
I am originally from the Midlands, but I met
my other half here, after he took me to the
Abbey Gardens for one of our first dates! I
instantly fell in love with Bury, and as silly as
it sounds, it just felt right. After a few years,
I felt it was the perfect place to open my
own shop.
You have a First Class degree from
London College of Fashion, what
made you go into bridal?
I always wanted to go into the bridal
industry. I made my first bridal gown when
I was 16 in textiles class for my GCSEs.
The teacher thought I was crazy doing
something so complex but that’s what
I wanted to make, so I did it. I did four
years at London College of Fashion on
Costume for Performance. I then worked
in the costume industry for a few years
where I worked in television and theatre. I
moved to Orlando, Florida and worked in
a children’s theatre and then for the Royal
Shakespeare. When I returned from the
USA, four years ago I decided it was time
to think about transferring into the bridal
industry and here I am!
Are you married yourself?
No I’m not married yet. I think my other
half is too scared to ask as I will obviously
want (well, need!) at least five bridal gowns.
Where do you get your inspiration
from?
Bridal shows are all year round. I go
to Barcelona twice a year to buy from
Pronovias in January and May. It is always
a little strange having just started the new
year and in the second week of January we
are off to Barcelona to buy dresses for the
following year! We then have The London
Bridal Show in March, White Gallery in May
and Harrogate Bridal Show in September.
Which designers do you stock and
why have you chosen them?
I am very passionate about the designers
we stock. I don’t stock anything that I don’t
love myself, I think that’s really important.
I currently stock Jenny Packham, Suzanne
Neville, Pronovias, Justin Alexander and
Watters Wtoo. I try to choose designers
that complement each other and offer
something different. We don’t have a huge
amount of dresses (quality over quantity!)
which also means the bride doesn’t become
overwhelmed by the amount of dresses. I
spend hours making sure each dress brings
something different to the collection,
whether that is style, fabric, fit, feel or even
the price.
What is your personal favourite style?
I honestly love them all, and as I mentioned,
I don’t stock anything unless I love it
personally. I really love the unusual pieces
- whether that is a different lace or a 1920s
cut beaded Jenny Packham dress. We
have a dress that has just arrived from the
Pronovias 2017 collection which is a full
skirt in a Plumeti tulle, which means it’s
covered in polkadots. The fabric makes it so
unusual - I love it.
What do you think makes you stand
out as a bridal boutique?
When fitting out the shop, I was very
particular about the look, as I wanted a
stylish but quirky feel, that screams luxury
with the added bonus of a prosecco bar for
brides to enjoy whilst finding their dream
dress. I try to make the shopping experience
as special and memorable as possible as it is
going to be a once in a lifetime experience
for them!
What is your best tip for when a new
bride comes to see you?
I always want to get to know the bride so
I ask the basics; the wedding date, the
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Velvet Magazine | September 2016