Bys Vyken Bridal – Celebrating a Fantastic First Year

What’s the next big celebration after a wedding? An anniversary! And believe it or not, Bys Vyken Bridal Boutique in Bristol is about to celebrate its first year of helping across the South West to find their dream wedding dresses. To mark the occasion, what better than a proper catch up? I’ve been sent some great questions to help reminisce over my first year in business…

October 15, 2025

1. Has there been a moment that made you think “now I KNOW I’m in the right job”? If so, what was it?!

This actually happens quite a lot! But recently I’ve reached out to a couple of new followers on instagram to say hi, and they both said things along the lines of “I’m so happy I found you – you seem so down to earth and the vibe at your boutique is exactly what I’m looking for”. That’s what it’s all about – being able to make someone’s wedding dress search the best experience it can be and providing something a little different from the standard experience. It’s so lovely having the ethos you hoped to bring to your business be the exact thing brides say in their feedback!!

2. What advice would you give to yourself if you could go back in time and do your first year again?

Trust yourself. I’ve had some times where I’ve gone by what I thought I should do, rather than what I would actually like to do. Be that something as simple as what I wear to buying events (dressing to fit in with the industry standard vs wearing what I feel good and comfortable in), or choosing what dresses to stock. Turns out I know what is good, I know what my brides will like and what they won’t, and that being myself is really important when you want to provide a personalised and authentic place for someone to find their wedding dress and feel comfortable in themselves whilst doing it!

3. Has anything surprised you about running your own bridal boutique?

How the days fly by even if I don’t see any brides!! There is so much to do outside of appointments that my time just disappears! Also, the amount of marketing you need to do at the start of a business far exceeded what I thought it would! But I’ve learned so much this first year to take into my second year.

4. What’s the best thing about your job?

The people. I have the absolute best brides!! I love hearing everyone’s love stories, their wedding plans, the stories that come out when they’re hanging out with the best people at appointments… It’s just joyous. The energy when everyone is having a lovely time at an appointment and especially if they then go on to find their dress is just electric and I really feel so lucky to be able to share that with so many wonderful brides.

5. What do you hope for from the next year of running Bys Vyken Bridal?

Next year I hope to see more brides as my little studio becomes more established. I hope to be able to offer an even wider selection of bridal wear, tailored to the types of wedding dresses my brides love – and provide an even better size range to cover all brides. I’m looking forward to some fun collaborations and getting to know other local suppliers even better – there really are so many lovely people in the bridal industry! I also want to get involved with more diverse photo shoots – so do get in touch if that’s something you’re interested in!!

Of course, the very last question is not for me, but for all of you wonderful nearly-weds out there!

Are you a bride-to-be, searching for a boutique that will give you a relaxed, inclusive experience, where you’ll have the time and space to find the wedding dress of your dreams without feeling rushed or under pressure? If so, I really hope you’ll consider making an appointment with me at Bys Vyken Bridal Boutique in Bristol! I’m incredibly proud of the welcoming, personalised experience I’m able to provide to my brides – and of the gorgeous selection of modern, boho and beautiful gowns I have for you to try on! So, if you’re looking for something a little different from the traditional wedding dress shopping experience, come along and let’s see if we can find you your perfect dress!