Newly-wed opens bridal shop after struggle to find perfect dress

Speaking from experience, Rebecca Lord-Lyon knows only too well the difficulties a bride-to-be can be faced with when trying to source the perfect dress.

While trying to find the gown of her dreams, the 26-year-old was left red faced after she was unable to fit into the sample sizes available.

Rebecca, who has previously worked in bridal stores in both the UK and Australia and is a size 14 waist and size 16 top, said: "It was embarrassing. I was going into a store and I couldn't fit into the dress.

"One time I tried to fit into a fishtail dress but I couldn't even get my leg into the skirt."

Edith & Winston, which is based in Knutsford and stocks bridal collections by a number of renowned designers, is unlike other wedding stores as its sample gowns start from a size14 and range to a size 32 plus - although the gowns can be purchased from a size six.

"Typically shops store dresses starting from much smaller sizes with bigger sizes shipped in on request so I wanted to open a shop which made everyone feel comfortable," she said.

"Most of the shops only have dresses to try on up from a size 12 to 14 which meant I couldn't put them on.

"It is because of how I felt during the experience that I decided to do something about it."

For her wedding to husband Callum, Rebecca quickly gave up on her hunt to find the perfect dress and enlisted the help of her mum, Janet Lord.

The mother-daughter duo was able to make the dress that Rebecca had always dreamed of to walk down the aisle in at All Saints Church in Thelwall.

But Rebecca understands that few people have the skills set to make their own dresses when they are faced with a difficult search to find the perfect gown.

It was during this time that the idea of opening a wedding store with bigger sample sizes for the average body started to take shape.

For more information visit edithwinston.co.uk, call 01565 228080 or visit the store on Princess Street in Knutsford.