A HAMPSHIRE-based boutique has been named Bridal Retailer of the Year, London and South East at The Wedding Industry Awards.

Brides of Winchester took place, at Millbridge Court, Frensham are voted for by customers.

Winning the regional award puts Brides of Winchester in the national finals, the winners of which will be announced on January 12 at the Cafe de Paris in London’s West End

Laura Ward, director of Brides of Winchester said: “We are incredibly excited and absolutely over the moon to win this prestigious award and it’s such a huge honour to be named the best bridal retailer in such a huge region - London and South East.

"To be recognised by our own brides and the judges of TWIA, is a true testament to the hard work and dedication that the entire team puts in to achieving the highest quality products and service levels.

"We work hard to ensure our business is always Bride centred so we are absolutely delighted to be recognised in such a public way.

"The fact that this award is judged based on feedback from our own lovely Brides makes it even more rewarding and I can't thank everyone who voted for us enough.”

Brides of Winchester has gone from strength to strength since starting up in 2010 and is one of feer than a hundred shops inthe UK meet the stringent membership requirements of Retail Bridal Industry (RBA).

Laura opened her first shop at the top of the High Street in Winchester.

Two-and-a-half-years later the businesses moved across the road to its present larger premises across the road.

After college my career was mainly Laura worked luxury hotels and worked in two country house hotels as a wedding organiser, before joining the corporate team of a large international hotel company.

After a ‘gap’ year to go travelling she decided she wanted to be her own boss and after extensive market research, a combination of a chance meeting with a Winchester retail boss and discussions with dress designer n Brides of Winchester was born. 

"In everything I’ve done I have always wanted the customer to be the main focus and the products I work with to offer the highest quality and luxury, so it was natural that BOW follow the same ethos,"said Laura. 

The BOW team is made up of five full-time staff plus two experienced freelance couture seamstresses.