Finding The Perfect Wedding Dress Supplier
Take a look behind the scenes with Rebecca Jayne’s at Mix-n-Match Bridalwear in Rugeley, as we interview the girls and ask the questions from one of Staffordshire’s top bridal retailers.
I’ve known Rebecca and the team at Mix-n-Match for a good many years, and have photographed so many of their brides. In fact, I was there when Rebecca herself married Stuart – that day just carrying the bags for my dad Barry James Photography!
Still on the wall at Mix-n-Match are a whole collection of framed photographs from the brides myself and Barry James Photography photographed…including the one of Bec herself!!
Established for over 20 years, and supplying some of the best gowns available, it really is always worth a visit to Mix-n-Match in Rugeley.
Chatting with the girls for my Supplier Features on Facebook, it was great finding out a little more about the business, and the experience for you, the brides!
The range of dresses that Rebecca Jayne’s supply at Mix-n-Match is quite simply stunning. They work closely with the suppliers they have picked as the best in the business, and it’s clear to see why!
Having supply partners you can trust is so crucial in business, and with Maggie Sottero, Sottero and Midgeley, and indeed now Rebecca Ingram, there really is so much to like!
Here’s what Rebecca had to say when I asked her about the suppliers:
“Each of our different ranges has all got their strengths, so you’ve got different options for different girls, but it is about how you make a bride feel and that’s very important when I’m looking to help a bride select address. It’s looking at the kind of wedding that she’s having, the kind of styling that she wants, to make her feel really beautiful. So the cuts the colours are all very important, but it’s how a dress makes the bride feel.
From having a little chat with a bride when she first comes in, about the venue, the styling any ideas that they have so that we can help select something that’s incorporating everything coming together, right from the very beginning having an idea of styling, budget, colours, or whether want something very fairy tale we sort of established that right from the word go, so that we know we’re on the right path and helping them to find the dress of their dreams all about them.”
You really are in great hands!!
“Absolutely. We’re very very happy with the manufacturers that we use which is predominantly Maggie Sottero, Sottero and Midgley and they’ve just brought out a new budget collection for the value conscious bride called Rebecca Ingram.
The cut, styling and finish of those gowns do not show a low budget, but they actually are in a lower price bracket, so it’s really nice to be able to offer customers a really high-end product, but at a low price point so that you’ve got something for everybody.”
With a supplier that is constantly at the forefront of the industry and bringing out new innovations including the full foundation garment, that helps your dress “fall beautifully” you really cannot go wrong with the range!
I personally always think having a range of dresses and suppliers is key for brides when they’re looking for The Dress. At Mix-n-Match you really have got so much choice it’s fabulous:
“We’ve got sizes 4 to size 34. We’ve got dresses perfect for ladies from as young as early twenties going up to late 60s, 70s that are having bridal gowns, but gowns that are suitable and perfect for a lady that wants to be very demure and not a young Princess Bride, but wants to be something very elegant very demure and something that’s suitable for the kind of wedding that they’re going to have. It’s very important that they still feel like the bride at these beautiful venues having these gorgeous weddings that they look the part, but feel very confident with their selection.”
However, it’s not just about the dresses – it really is about the service. Rebecca and the team have become known for their fabulous service over the years. I asked how the Bride’s experience works from walking in the shop, past the fabulous Mother of the Bride ranges:
“It’s almost like stepping into Aladdin’s cave, with the brides already excited, and then it’s just making the selection of dresses for them to try on. We continue to try those dresses on finding a certain style that they that suits them and that they love, and then we’ll have a look for things close to that then so they can make their final decision, and then we do all of the accessories so you’ve got a veils headpieces that we can have made bespoke, so it’s just getting the whole package and getting it all sorted and perfect for that for that bride.”
But it’s not just selecting the dress, it’s helping to make sure your day flows perfectly around the dress too:
“Whether it’s a corset back or even stepping into the dress on the day, knowing how to do that. To having the sort of bustles up for the evening, taking the skirts out of the way so they can dance, all of that, we’ve got to help show somebody’s going to be dressing them on the day how to help them with it…even using the ladies. They need to know exactly what they need to do with their dresses to be able to get the best out of it for the day.”
The range of dresses available certainly doesn’t stop at bridal either!
With a truly fabulous range available from Richard Designs for Bridesmaids, and the most amazing collection of Mother of the Bride outfits – you really can bring everything together in one visit!
As well as talking about dresses, I also asked Rebecca and the team for their top planning tips, to help you when bringing together your day.
1, Budget – be honest and open! Let the supplier help bring together what you are looking for, within your price point.
2, Plan – give yourself time to enjoy the whole process! It’s not just the day, it’s the whole experience!
3, Connect with suppliers – make sure the people you choose are your sort of people!
4, Be true to yourself – it’s your day, choose what you want!
5, Involve everyone – not only does this keep everything feeling easy, but it also lets you relax more on the day. Delegate and enjoy yourself!
And finally the quickfire random tips from the girls:
– Don’t forget your party feet
– Have a small makeup bag ready for touch-ups
– Don’t forget your boobie tape
– Have hairspray on-hand for those touchups
– A sewing kit is so useful on the morning of the wedding
– Make sure you have plasters for your feet
– And plenty of mints, “For all the kissing” (To quote Faye!)
So there we have it! There is so much more information shared by Rebecca, Amy and Faye in the video interview below:
To find out more about Rebecca Jayne’s at Mix-n-Match, and to talk to them about your dream wedding dress, visit them at:
Also, if you wanted to see more of the beautiful wedding featured on this blog, you can see Lucy + Stu’s Somerford Hall Wedding here.
If you have any further questions you would like me to ask Rebecca and the team to answer, please post a comment below!
