By Cian Molloy - 16 August, 2020
The Society of St Vincent de Paul in Northern Ireland has opened a bridal wear shop in Portadown, where brides-to-be and mothers-of-the-brides can shop for the outfit of their dreams in total comfort.
Accessible by appointment only, Vincent’s Wedding Suite carries a stock of more than 50 new and pre-loved white and ivory wedding dresses. Also available are mother-of-the-bride outfit, bridesmaid dresses and dresses for flowergirls, plus a range of hats and accessories.
In addition to a changing room, the store has a comfortable viewing area so that brides can enjoy a bit of theatre while trying on new outfits, while mothers or best-friends sit back in comfort.
“When we were investing in developing the Wedding Suite we wanted to create a welcoming environment where brides could visit with their bridal party and enjoy the experience of choosing their wedding dress without any pressure,” says Vincent’s Portadown manager Michael Lavery. “We appreciate that planning a wedding is such a special time in any bride’s life.”
SVP NI regional retail manager Anne Crossan says she believes the wedding suite is ‘a wonderful addition’ to the services that the SVP provides the local community in Portadown and its hinterlands.
A glimpse inside the Vincent’s Wedding Suite in Portadown (Pic: SVP).
“I think it’s really important that brides feel comfortable and enjoy the experience of buying their wedding dress and being able to offer private appointments is a lovely way of personalising the experience for them and their families,” she said.
Bernardos Ireland have been running a dedicated Bridal Rooms in Wexford and Dún Laoghaire for some time. Their stores stock only brand-new bridal gowns and accessories that have been donated by Ireland’s top bridal retailers, wholesalers and designers.
As with the SVP Wedding Suite in Portadown, the Barnardos Bridal Rooms are available by appointment only.
The contact numbers for these outlets are as following: Vincent’s Wedding Suite, Portadown – 028 3839 4219; Bardnardos Bridal Rooms, Wexford and Dún Laoghaire – 01 861 2070.
