Page 70 • The HERALD • 29th October 2026 v SHOP LOCALLY FOR SERVICE AND VALUE v ASK A PROFESSIONAL Helen Sparks Mortgages & Financial Services Offering professional advice since 1985 Mortgages Residential Life Time Equity Release Buy to Let – first time landlords Property Portfolios Help to Buy Insurance Life Assurance Critical Illness Income Protection Business Protection YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS This firm usually charges a fee for mortgage advice. The amount of the fee will depend upon your circumstances and will be discussed and agreed with you at the earliest opportunity. Some forms of buy to let mortgage are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 023 8084 4108 enquiries@helensparks.com Helen Goodall T/A Helen Sparks Mortgages & Financial Services is an appointed representative of PRIMIS Mortgage Network, a trading name of First Complete Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Sanders Design SERVICES LTD BUILDING PLANS AND DETAILED DRAWING SERVICE Complete professional service for extensions, conversions, new houses and commercial projects • Computer Aided Design Drawings • Free Initial Visit and Quotation 95 Cedar Road, Hythe, Southampton SO45 3PX Tel: 023 8020 7195 Email: info@sandersdesignservices.co.uk Web: www.sandersdesignservices.co.uk A Southampton bridal boutique recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with an extraordinary gathering of brides, iconic fashions and five decades of memories. It was a celebration of fashion, friendship, laughter and a few tears as 50 brides from ve decades came together in Southampton on 22nd September to celebrate the 50th anniversary of family-owned Brides of Southampton. Among the extraordinary collection of wedding dresses on show was a complete bridal out t dating back to 1976 – the very year Brides of Southampton opened its doors. Worn by a 70-year-old bride who originally wore the out t 50 years ago, it provided a remarkable reminder of just how much bridal fashion has changed – and how some memories never go out of style. From classic 1970s silhouettes and iconic 1980s styles to the fashions of the 1990s, 2000s and today, the anniversary celebration brought ve decades of bridal fashion to life, with each bride wearing her original wedding dress. The result was a spectacular catwalk in Southampton, as brides aged from their 20s to their 70s walked the red carpet from Maison Carlton to the Brides of Southampton showroom on Carlton Crescent, accompanied by music from the decade in which they were married. Bringing the procession to a tting nale were Brides of Southampton Director Shelley JoryLeigh and her longstanding manager, Gemma Parsons, who have worked side by side for many years. But it was the people and the memories behind the dresses that made the occasion particularly special. ere was laughter, tears and plenty of reminiscing as brides reunited with the boutique that had played a part in one of the most important days of their lives. For some, Brides of Southampton had dressed several generations of the same family, with mothers, daughters and even granddaughters becoming customers over the years. e event also reunited designers with gowns they had created decades earlier – some of which they had completely forgotten about – providing a unique opportunity to see their designs once again, worn by the original brides. Designers present were: Veni Infantino and Luke Prokopiou, Steve Tomkins - Mori Lee, Nick and Chris Day - Justin Alexander, Rosie Leamy and Amy Buckle – Madi Lane and Evie Young. The 50th anniversary celebration began at Maison Carlton, where the brides gathered before crossing the road to Brides of Southampton. At midday, the red carpet came alive as the brides walked through the decades, from the 1970s to the 2020s, creating a unique living timeline of bridal fashion. They were joined by family, friends, designers, former models, VIP guests and invited press before gathering for a special anniversary photograph outside the iconic white columns of the Brides of Southampton showroom. And there was one nal surprise… at around 1pm, professional dancers dressed in wedding gowns launched a spectacular weddingdress ash mob in the street, with more than 50 brides joining in the dancing and bringing the anniversary celebrations to an exuberant close. At the helm of the celebrations was Brides of Southampton Director Shelley JoryLeigh, who has spent 35 years running the family business a er rst joining the shop as a 10-year-old Saturday runner. Alongside her role in the family business, Shelley has enjoyed an extraordinary career in powerboat racing, becoming British Champion and World Record holder. Over more than 25 years of racing, she has competed in approximately 400 races and covered 31,000 miles – almost one mile for every bride Brides of Southampton has dressed during its 50-year history. 50 Brides, 50 Years and a World Champion at the Helm 50 Brides of Southampton Customers from 5 Decades (Credit: Alisa Roberts) For Shelley, however, the anniversary was ultimately about the people who have made the business what it is today. Shelley Jory-Leigh said: “Fifty years, 30,000 brides and one incredible family journey – I never imagined we would be celebrating this milestone. Brides of Southampton has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I’m incredibly proud to see the family legacy continuing into the future. What made the celebration so incredibly special was seeing brides from five different decades come together. The dresses were amazing, but it was the stories, the friendships, Continued on page 71
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