Carol Button, Paula Norman and Allison Smith tending gowns.

From restoring generations old gowns to creating sparkling bespoke show stoppers, the motto at Camilla Brides is “anything is possible”, writes Rachel Buller.

A beautiful bespoke gown from Camilla Brides.

Glancing around the fitting room at the back of Camilla Brides it is clear that this is not just a business, but a labour of love.

Photographs of beaming brides and heartfelt thank-you notes cover the walls, ceiling and even the back of the door. The bespoke dresses, lovingly created in that very room, are there for all to see adorning their brides.

“We change the photos every year, but there are some we just can’t bring ourselves to take down,” says Paula Norman glancing at the collage.

The company was set up by Paula initially in her garage after she was made redundant from a wedding dress shop.

A beautiful bespoke gown from Camilla Brides.

“I named the business after my daughter Camilla and hoped she would follow into the business, but she is studying criminal psychology in Liverpool, it couldn’t be more different,” she laughs.

Camilla Brides on North Walsham Road in Norwich has been open for nearly three years and the team is three strong, with Paula, Carol Button and Allison Smith.

“Our business is purely based on recommendations. We often make dresses for every bride in a family and we have customers from as far away as Bath and Blackpool.”

Making a bride her wedding dress is an incredibly personal process, so inevitably they get to know the girls and their families very well.

“They come in for advice and you do get so involved,” Carol says with a smile. “Sometimes when we have finished the dress and the big day is over, it is really sad.

“It is often a really emotional process and we never lose sight of how much our customers trust us. It is the most important dress they will ever have. We are there through the whole process, often right up to dealing with any last minute dress wobbles or emergencies on the day.”

Paula says they never tell a bride what to wear but can help guide them on what suits them and which fabrics look best.

“Some will come in with a photograph, some have no idea. We have dresses on display so they can have a look at the different styles and we pride ourselves on knowing our fabrics extremely well, but ultimately it is their choice.

“We ask them lots of questions about the venue, the style of wedding, how many guests. It helps us understand what sort of dress would fit the bride and the wedding best.

“We deal with lots of unexpected things along the way, especially weight changes. But if you are a size 20 and tell us you want to lose weight before the wedding, we always say chose a dress you feel fabulous in right now, then if you lose weight that’s great. We can alter the dress as we go, but also you know if you don’t lose weight you will still look amazing.”

And it isn’t just dresses they know all about – they also have a vast knowledge of countless venues across the region.

“I also feel as though I know every church and every vicar, although I was caught out by the Outer Hebrides once,” laughs Paula. “It is important though, for example, if I know there is a long aisle I could suggest a long train to the bride.”

Most customers give themselves a year to get the dress designed and made, but there are times when a dress can be needed a lot sooner.

Over the years they have been on hand to help make brides’ dreams come true at the drop of a hat, sometimes for happy reasons – such as an Armed Forces wedding making the most of surprise leave – and sometimes tinged with sadness, for a last minute wedding due to terminal illness.

“Anything is possible, we firmly believe that,” says Carol.

They have successfully restored and fitted vintage dresses generations old, some with great emotional attachment to the bride, some worn by the bride’s mother. They recently spent hours hand tipping hundreds of white feathers black to fulfil a bride’s vision.

They also like to add some very special personal touches to the gowns.

“Some people want a piece of their mothers dress sewn into the gown we are making and we always sew a little blue crystal into each dress as well – that’s the something blue. We also often put a little pocket in the dress so then if the bride has an old trinket, perhaps from a close relative who has died, they can carry it with them. It means they can keep it close, also it can be there something old.

“Everyone has a story,” says Paula. “I think that is why we love what we do so much.”

For more information call Camilla Brides on 01603 482641.