Wedding Dress Parties with Shella Bella Bridal

Wedding Dress Parties

Michelle Heron began her very unique business, Shella Bella Bridal in January 2009. Shella Bella Bridal offer 'wedding dress parties' in the comfort of the brides own home. Michelle travels across Victoria to offer brides in all areas the opportunity to have the perfect wedding dress.

Shella Bella Bridal wedding dress parties allows brides to try on dresses in their own home and brides can have their friends and family there to watch and ooh and arrrr over all of the dresses.

When Michelle, creator of Shella Bella Bridal, became engaged she was excited that she could now shop for her perfect dress, unfortunately for Michelle, she found that there was a huge gap in the market for larger brides, busy brides and brides who lived in regional areas. Due to the inconveniences Michelle faced she too understands that finding the perfect dress can be a long and daunting process and from her own experience found that bridal stores are intimidating and do not cater for large women.

Michelle faced many challenges finding her ideal dress and so the Shella Bella Bridal service was established. The service is convenient for women who are intimidated by bridal stores and their employees or brides who have trouble fitting into the 9-5pm opening hours. As Shella Bella Bridal travels state wide it is easy for brides who live in rural areas of Victoria, where there isn't always a bridal dress store down the road.

Shella Bella Bridal allows the client to organise a fitting appointment on weekdays, weekends or evenings. Best of all, the dresses are under $800, most are around the $500 mark. Shella Bella Bridal stocks a range of dresses from size 12 to size 20 and any of the dresses can be altered from a size 4 to a size 26. It costs $50 for Shella Bella Bridal to come to your home. There is no obligation to purchase a dress but if you do purchase a dress over $600 you will have your original $50 refunded.

Shella Bella Bridal hopes to expand their business to parts of South Australia and New South Wales in the near future.

Interview with Michelle Heron from Shella Bella Bridal

Where did the idea come from?

Michelle Heron: I came up with the idea when I was planning my own wedding, in 2008. I hated my experience of shopping for wedding dresses. Being a bigger girl, I felt intimidated by the sales staff, the dresses I could try on were often a size 8, and I ended up leaving the shops feeling really bad about myself (sometimes in tears). I spoke to some friends about my experiences, and many of them had had similar experiences. I thought about buying a dress online, but at that stage I didn't really know what kind of dress would suit me.

Then I thought about how good it would be if I could try dresses on in my home. So I began researching. I probably spent a good eight months researching wedding gown wholesalers; I actually used my need for a wedding dress as a reason to order samples from a number of wholesalers. I wanted high quality dresses to offer my clients. When I finally found some wholesalers I was happy with, I began planning how I wanted the business to run. I knew I wanted to aim my business at bigger brides and brides in rural areas in particular. A friend set up the website, and I began advertising in a few of the online wedding directories.


How did you create a name?

Michelle Heron: I wanted something catchy, and I wanted something that reflected my name. I got called shellsbells a lot as a child by my parents, so I came up with Formal and Bridal Wear by Shella Bella Bridal


What do you think is most beneficial about your business?

Michelle Heron: Trying on dresses should be one of the greatest experiences of planning a wedding. I think my service allows brides who might feel intimidated or embarrassed dress shopping do it in the comfort of their own homes with their friends and family around. It's also convenient, and much more affordable than many dress stores offer.


How important to you was creating a unique business?

Michelle Heron: Very important. I wanted to offer a service to a bride that was different. I know how I felt when I was dress shopping, and if I can provide a better experience than I had for just one bride, then the business is already a success!


When did you start your business and what motivated you to begin ShellaBellaBridal?

Michelle Heron: I started at the end of 2008. I was motivated by shopping for my own wedding dress, and planning my own wedding.


What tips do you have for other women who want to start their own business?

Michelle Heron: First and foremost research. Make sure there is a market for what you want to do, and have a hook, something that makes your business stand out from the rest. Don't expect it to become a success overnight. It can take a long time to build a business up. Most of all enjoy yourself. If you are doing something you love, you will be more likely to end up with a successful business.


What success do you see in regards to the service you offer?

Michelle Heron: I initially offered the service in Melbourne. My first ever client lived less than 2km away from me. That consult was just me and her. She was a bigger bride who was dreading wedding dress shopping to the point where she wanted to elope. I took the dresses to her; she tried them on and fell in love with one.

I do a lot of consults in metro Melbourne, and rural Victoria. I have gone to Gippsland, and Bendigo as well as the Mornington Peninsula. Since moving to Mildura, I block consults into a weekend and go down to Melbourne once a fortnight. I have also started offering consults in Adelaide, Sydney, Victoria-wide and the response to that has been great. I have only been advertising my consultation service for Adelaide for a week, and I already have my first weekend booked in. Every bride who has used my service has commented on what a fantastic idea it is. The feedback has been amazing.


So far what do you see as your biggest achievement?

Michelle Heron: I have made several international sales, which I see as a huge achievement. And also going from offering the service only in Melbourne to offering it in other states I see as a huge accomplishment.


What do you have planned for the future for your business?

Michelle Heron: I am in the process of setting up a proper online cart system to make it easier for brides to purchase my dresses online. I also plan to offer consultations in other states. I will also be expanding my business to include cocktail 'everyday' type dresses, lingerie, and eventually, men's suits.


How do you keep your prices low?

Michelle Heron: I don't have a shop front, I do all my selling online, and from home, which means I don't have the overheads other businesses may have, and I am happy to pass those savings onto my customers.


Do you have a website?

Michelle Heron: If you mention this article when book and purchasing a Shella Bella Bridal dress you will receive 10% off your purchase.

www.shellabellabridal.com.au