Our Shopfront profiles give you the chance to take a peek behind the scenes and get to know some seriously talented humans. First featured in Issue 23, today we e-introduce you to The Bride Lab, a gorgeous bridal boutique in Adelaide, South Australia. To show you around, Dan Evans visited the premises and you can see all the pics, plus our interview with the owner, Laura Watson below…
Tell us about your boutique… We just celebrated our third birthday! The Bride Lab is located on King William Road, in South Australia. It’s one of the major high streets around Adelaide. We are spoilt for choice on the road with awesome cafes and restaurants, so it’s easy to make a day of it! South Australian brides love having a bit more choice available to them without having to travel interstate to find that perfect gown. We are open by appointment on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It’s best to book online.
What inspired you to get into the wedding industry? I studied Biotechnology at university and spent 12 years working in the research field, covering topics from IVF to the ancient DNA of Russian Woolly Mammoths. But after getting married in 2014 (and experiencing the lack of diversity on offer for wedding dresses in South Australia), I had one of those light-bulb moments. I spent time working in Anna Campbell’s Armadale boutique before I opened, which gave me invaluable experience.
What is your favourite thing about your gig? I love being able to help guide each bride with what she feels amazing in. I also love seeing wedding day photos – how the bride styles her gown, hair and make up, flowers, etc.
Three of your fave local vendors? Israel Baldago Photography – a lovely person and an amazing photographer. Sweet Nothings Flowers – give Carolyn free creative direction and I promise, you will not be disappointed. The Wed Life – Teneille Nuske, a celebrant who is so down to earth, plus great fun to be around.
What designers do you stock? Anna Campbell, Rue De Seine, Alexandra Grecco, Lovers Society, Rachel Gilbert, Theia Bridal, Marquise, Hera Couture and Amaline Vitale. The majority of our gowns are priced between $2500 – $4500. We have a sample rack too, which can accommodate brides with a lower budget or who are on a shorter time frame! We also have a beautiful range of veils, jewellery, headpieces, belts and specialty underwear available to complete your wedding day look.
Most popular designs… The Adelaide gown by Anna Campbell – with its vintage art deco embellishments and romantic skirt, it’s so flattering on all shapes and sizes! The Fox gown by Rue De Seine. It’s the perfect mix of boho and romantic, and really well suited to a variety South Australian venues, which helps explain why our local brides love it so much. And the Lewis gown by Alexandra Grecco. It’s 100% silk, which means it has the most amazing movement and drape, hand made in New York, and somehow encompassing minimalist, chic, modern and classic, all in one perfect gown!
Advice for brides looking for their dream dress? Have a good think about your own personal style, considering comfort, particular areas of your body that you would love to highlight/hide, budget, etc. This will go a long way with helping us make suitable suggestions. Do some research on the boutiques you are planning to visit – do they stock the style of gown you’re looking for? Are their gowns within your budget? Also, not everyone gets that waterworks moment, so don’t worry about a gown not being ‘the one’ if it doesn’t make everyone’s eyes leak. What you want is a gown that makes you feel amazing, something that you don’t want to take off, and something that you can imagine yourself wearing on the day that you marry the love of your life! It’s like committing to your partner, once you have found the person that you love, (even though there may be other attractive and intriguing people in the world), you stop looking!
What are you most proud of? I love Adelaide and think it’s an amazing place to live. But of course I do understand that we can bit a little bit forgotten and (dare I say it…) sometimes a little behind on current trends. I’m working hard to change that in the bridal space, and I love it when a bride tells me that she was planning on travelling to find her gown, but didn’t have to after visiting The Bride Lab! I’m also really excited to announce that we offer a more comprehensive range of sample sizes, with a selection of sample gowns available to try on in sizes up to 20.
For a real bride’s review, who shopped up a storm at The Bride Lab, you’ll find Nicola & Henry’s Adelaide Wedding on the blog, as well as their directory listing with us for more info here…
CREDITS Photos Dan Evans Photography Bridal Boutique The Bride Lab.