ASK THE EXPERT
Ask The Expert : Wedding Dresses
Carly Sked , Owner Of Bridal Boutique at Chilham Is An Expert In Off-The-Peg Dresses . Here , She Talks Choosing The Perfect Gown And What ’ s Going To Be Big For 2025 Brides
How long have you been running Bridal Boutique at Chilham for , and what inspired you to get started ?
We celebrated our 10th year in business this August . For over a decade we have been offering local Kent brides-to-be something different when shopping for their wedding dress .
Back then I noticed a gap in the bridal market- for a luxury boutique , offering exceptional customer service but with more affordably priced wedding dresses . And with sustainable shopping becoming more popular the idea of Chilham Bridal came to life .
You sell ex-sample and preloved dresses , have you seen a growing demand for these ?
Yes , our bridalwear collection is predominantly off-the-peg sample dresses and we also have a small preloved range .
With couples being more careful with wedding budgets , we have seen a demand in brides looking for a high-end bridal look but with a lower price tag .
What kinds of designers and dresses do you stock ? Our carefully curated collection has over 120 gowns from a wide variety of the most sought-after wedding dresses designers including Madi Lane , Justin Alexander , Essense of Australia , Pronovias , Milla Nova and lots more .
Style wise , we have everything on our rails from popular simple , classic satin and mikado fabric dresses , right through to lacy bohos and dreamy tulle whimsical gowns .
How much could a bride save ? Hundreds , if not thousands ! An off-the-peg dress will typically be up to 60 % lower in price than if you were to have it ordered in . You will get such a wonderful dress with your budget ; dresses you thought were out of reach , no longer are !
Do you have a favourite style or dress designer at the moment ?
I do love a big dress , and right now my favourite style has to be a plain mikado or satin ballgown with a statement embellishment such as a big bow at the back .
What do you think 2025 brides will be looking for ? Simple , elegant styles with clean lines and a fresh modern feel are what we are selling fast for 2025 brides . Dresses that really show off the beauty of the bride and aren ’ t too fussy are what we will see down the aisle next year . Bows , leg splits and pearls are also popular trends for 2025 .
www . chilhambridal . co . uk
When we source dresses we look for the very best quality fabrics , beautiful cuts , exquisite embellishments and all round dream dresses .
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