Five years in the business of dreams
| Published: 9th July 2008 11:25 |
After five years running her business in Kings Heath, Marie Boag has been a key figure in hundreds of local weddings.
She has soothed many a last minute panic, witnessed many tears (mostly tears of joy) and spent hour upon hour ironing bridal gowns as part of the final preparations for the big day.
This week she is celebrating the fifth anniversary of running The Bridal Room, now located in Vicarage Road after an initial spell on the High Street. She says it's ‘a dream come true', just like many of the weddings she has helped provide the finishing touches for.
Marie first trained as a tailor working at the famous Moss Bros in Covent Garden, she then worked as a dressmaker creating gowns and carrying out alterations for different shops in the Birmingham area.
An important part of the service she now offers is making sure every dress is a perfect fit - whether it's from the range of designer gowns she stocks or from the bride herself.
"Sometimes girls bring me dresses that have been passed down through the family," she says. "My favourite was over fifty years old and needed quite a bit of restructuring. It was the great aunt's wedding dress from the 1930s with lots of heavy, beaded lace. To see that looking perfect again was the best feeling."
But by far the best of all has been her own wedding dress from just a few years ago. She still has the bouquet from the ceremony pinned on the shop wall above her desk.
"My first marriage was rather rushed and I never had the experience of trying on dresses with my mother," explains Marie. "I think that's why I have enjoyed the business of sewing, beading and making tiaras. I've been making things special for other people."
When she was able to wear a big red bridal gown for her own wedding there were lots of tears, she says.
They were married near a family home in Sussex, but after a very short honeymoon Marie was back sorting out wedding and bridesmaids dresses for other people.
As well as the bridal service, one of the biggest growth areas for her Kings Heath business is providing individual communion dresses for young girls. The demand for the white or ivory dresses is rising faster even than for the junior ball gowns being worn at teenage Proms.
Marie supplies all the Prom accessories and is also increasing her range of menswear to hire. She says that with people watching their money more, the fact that they can hire brides and bridesmaids dresses from her as well as the groom's outfit is a real plus.
