Happy anniversary to Bristol bridal boutique Clifton Brides

The lovely Michaela Gair and her team at Clifton Brides started 2020 by celebrating the boutique's 30th year and a beautiful refurbishment. We caught up with Michaela to find out more...

What have you done to celebrate this milestone?
We invited past, present and future brides to the shop for some bubbles and to preview our latest collections and the new-look store. We'll also be running discount evenings and designer events throughout the year. Follow us on Instagram for the heads-up on these.

What's changed in 30 years?
Styles have changed so much – no more Bo Peep meringues! When we started it was mainly just the mum who helped choose the dress. Now, many ladies shop alone or bring a best friend or even their fiancé – whatever's right for them. We now have more space so don't have to restrict brides on how many people they can bring. It always used to be that most weddings were a church ceremony with a reception at a local hotel. Today, there's so much choice when it comes to venues, so we get to see a fabulous mix of styles, and trends are always evolving.

What can we expect from the refurbishment?
With some walls knocked down, we now have a beautiful spacious area for customers to move around in the dresses. Huge mirrors allow gowns to be viewed at every angle but we still have total privacy for our brides and their guests. We also now offer a bespoke service with the addition of two amazing seamstresses, Jane and Keziah.

Visit www.cliftonbrides.co.uk