Caroline Chamberlain

You’ll notice how few bridal gownshops we’re recommending on the blog. That’s because the choice is of  gown is so essential to a bride’s enjoyment of her day – and to the pictures we are able to give her – that we are even more careful than usual to make recommendations. We actually know of only a handful of shops we feel confident in recommending in the Lincoln/Grimsby/Scunthorpe area. We hope to add the others to the blog over the next few months.

Caroline Chamberlain is someone for whom we have nothing but praise and respect – and whom we can recommend without reservation. After working from home, specialising in bridal and theatrical gown design, Caroline opened her boutique shop in the peaceful village of Burton Waters some 3 and a half years ago. And from then on has gone from strength to strength. It’s amazing the range of designs that can be held in such a compact establishment. And Caroline has carved a niche for herself in this lucrative market by being sole area stockist for such prestigious designer labels as Charlottw Balbier, Sacha James and True Bride. And if none of those designs appeal then why not have Caroline create something unique for you We’ve been priviledged to work with brides wearing some of Caroline’s creations and we can totally vouch for them. They always look beautiful, they fit perfectly and all the brides are able to relax knowing that they look stunning in a dress which compliments them to perfection.

There’s a distinct theme running through all the vendors we recommend on this blog and Caroline, like the others, epitomises all that we believe makes for a good supplier. She believes that weddings are fun and that the choosing of the dress is a vital part of this enjoyment for the bride. Her friendly and personable nature immediately makes brides feel relaxed. She treats them just how she would want to be treated. And through her experience, her skill and her personality she is able to help brides choose their dream dress with which suits them to perfection.

Belle and Bouquet

Everyone has different priorities for their wedding but in our eyes there are three things that should not be scrimped on: the venue, the photography and the dress. The venue, because it is where you will spend your wedding day, the photography because the photographer has a HUGE impact on how much you enjoy your day and will recreate memories that would otherwise disappear with the last crumbs of the cake.

And the dress? O.K. I’m a man who can’t help having a ‘How Much!!!! reaction to women’s clothes but even I have to admit this is wrong when it comes to choosing a wedding dress. It wasn’t until I came into wedding photography some 12 years ago that I really began to appreciate the importance of choosing the right dress. For now I’ve seen them all. The dresses that brides were squeezed into. Or were falling out of. The dresses that had the pliability of corrugated cardboard, the dresses that had to be hoisted up all day. Or simply, the dresses that didn’t suit the bride.

And you know what? If you get it wrong then this will have a HUGE effect on your day. How can you look poised and graceful if you’re having to hoist your dress every few steps? How can you get fantastic photographs if your dress looks like it was left in a crumpled heap the previous night? How can you hope to enjoy yourself if you can’t even breathe?

At Belle and Bouquet in Wellingore you have no worries about leaving the shop with a badly fitted or ill-suited gown. The Info-Blog is only interested in highlighting companies who share Aurora Studio’s concern for quality and for service. And at Belle and Bouquet you really do get both. Their publicity leaflet states that their aim is ‘to offer Lincolnshire’s widest choice of the finest gowns at the best possible prices in the most beautiful and friendly surroundings’.

So that leaves us with very little to add. The range is huge and includes those essential accessories also. I could rave about their Maggie Sottero or Ian Stewart gowns all day (they are FANTASTIC to photograph!) but in a way – a very real way- what you receive when you deal with good wedding suppliers isn’t just a ‘product’, it’s a package, it’s an experience, it’s that warm glow from feeling special and knowing that you’re being well looked after.

And that’s what you get at Belle and Bouquet. Maggie and Simone are simply lovely people who want to do the very best they can for you. The service here is superb and any advice you receive is friendly, professional and objective. They WANT you to look your best and will do everything they can to help you do so.

Over the years we’ve seen many brides wearing gowns supplied by many different shops. We’ve seen many, many wearing gowns from Belle and Bouquet. But we’ve never yet seen one from here who was wearing a dress that didn’t suit her, that didn’t fit her perfectly and that didn’t make her feel special. All the Bride and Bouquet brides we’ve ever met have felt completely relaxed and at ease, simply loving their dress and allowing Aurora to take some fantastic natural-looking photographs of them.

www.belleandbouquet.co.uk