Images by Annabelle Dalby from Your Dear Image

 

Good afternoon lovelies. Today I have the honour of introducing you to one of WWW’s newest sponsors; eco luxe bridal label Minna.

Minna creates dreamy whimsical dresses with a focus on affordability and environmentally friendly UK based production. With dreamy ethereal designs Minna‘s pieces are sure to make every bride feel utterly fabulous. With an amazing friendly service and bespoke options too, dress shopping just got even more fun.

Plus WWW readers get 15% discount in October on standard size dresses. (Excluding alterations charges, be-spoke dresses, children’s clothing, and lace fabrics.) Just use the code WHIMWONDWED at the checkout. WOW.

Let’s get to know Minna and take a peek at her stunning new collection…

 

Hi Minna, could you firstly tell WWW readers a little bit about you?

 

I grew up in a beautiful part of Finland near the Russian border. My childhood was very idyllic. Roaming free in the countryside, riding horses, picking up blueberries in the autumn, swimming in lakes and playing basketball. I have always been very outdoorsy and a real tomboy.

I found myself in London when I met my husband in a bar in Helsinki. That was 16 years ago and in the beginning of September, we celebrated our 11^th wedding anniversary. Alongside running my busy business with offices in London, Helsinki and Dorset, I have two gorgeous children, dogs and horses. In my free time, I train for a triathlon and ride my horses.

 

 

What do you love/dislike about your job?

 

I definitely love receiving the lovely thank you emails and letters we get from happy customers. We feel a real connection with each piece we make. I never got that when we were doing ready to wear collections. Wedding dress is the most important dress a woman will every buy and to be part of that process is amazing! I also love the creative part of the business. Needless to say, I absolutely hate spread sheets and admin!

Despite the fact that the positive bits outweigh the negatives ones, I find it impossible to switch off. Now that I have two kids and house full of animals, my goal is to find a better work/life balance. Something that I have struggled to find for years…

 

How did you get into fashion and into the wedding industry?

 

I started my label back in 2008 as a ready to wear brand, showcasing collections at the London Fashion Week. Our customers started buying our lovely lace dresses for weddings, which gave me a light bulb moment to put together a small bridal capsule collection. That was the end of 2011 and we have never looked back! Over the years, we have fine tuned our pieces for something very wearable without being overly bridal. I want our pieces to be easily recognisable and our collections strong so there is something for every single bride, whether they are having a beach, countryside or a city wedding.

 

What do you aim to achieve for your clients?

 

I want out clients to enjoy the process of buying their dress. Our approach is very laid back, as are our designs. I believe that wedding dress should reflect your own personality, rather than forcing you to buy something that you do not feel comfortable wearing. We also do not have strict appointment rules. If you want to bring children and lots of friends, we really do not mind. Our designs are very affordable but that does not mean that we lack on service. I would say the opposite. We keep in touch with many of our clients and they have become part of the “growing Minna family” which I love.

 

 

 

What style is your work?

 

I am not a fan of over styled photography, lots of make up, fake nails, glitter and cupcakes. I think it is a reflection of who I am. I love soft, natural light and minimal make-up. I love shooting outdoors and incorporating beautiful scenery. Lot of our shoots have been done either in Finland or in Dorset, where I live.

 

 

Could you tell us some information about your packages/prices?

 

Our dresses start from GPB 400 up to GBP 1300. I call the GBP 1300 our threshold as I do not believe our standard gown should cost more than that. We charge extra for alterations and our be-spoke dresses start from GBP 1300. We love customising dresses, which is a huge bonus since we make in London all our designs. Lot of our customers choose this option as they want to slightly change our standard designs to personalise their dresses.

We also have a huge selection of lace fabrics that we can use for our dresses. We also offer discounts and regularly run offers and discounts. Lot of our clients approach me with a smaller budgets and I do not think I have ever turned any one away… maybe I am not that good business woman after all…

Apart from few designs, all our designs can be purchased online. Our turnaround times are between 10-16 weeks but we are known to have made urgent orders within seven days….

 

 

Do you have any tips for couples in selecting their suppliers?

 

I think the biggest investment should be the photographer, venue and good caterer. I do not believe spending thousands for a dress. At the end of the day, most dresses are worn only once whereas the memories of a good party will last forever.

I would start reading blogs as a source of inspiration and lot of a good suppliers can be found that way. Word of mouth is always a best reference. We get so many customers knocking our doors through recommendations.

Do not be afraid to ask help from friends and family. The most gorgeous and memorable weddings I have seen are the ones where family members and friends have helped to decorate the venue, bake cakes etc..

 

How can we get in touch with you?

 

Fire me an email or connect with us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Our website is updated on a daily basis and it is worth subscribing to our newsletter as this is how we announce any special offers, events and discounts.

 

Oh my! Now I want to go wedding dress shopping for sure. Take a peek at the Minna online shop to see the full range of beautiful designs XOXO Lou

 

 

*Minna is a Whimsical Wonderland Weddings sponsor.