We recently flung open the doors (in a stylish flourish, of course) to Marrime’s brand new forever home: St George’s House in Jesmond. But, did you ever wonder where this Newcastle upon Tyne bridal boutique’s story first started?
Not only have we been dressing the style-conscious, cool bride since 2000 when the stars aligned and we first opened Marrime bridal’s doors, but as Marrime’s founders we’ve long been thriving off a daily diet of sartorial magic and inspiration. Brought up in the 80s and 90s and enveloped in a blur of Barbies, the glossy pages of Vogue and the glitz and glam of the Blackpool show biz scene (not to mention our Mother’s influence – she created the most wonderful bridal wear and occasion wear for friends and family), occasion dressing and the drama of it all had seeped into our bones from a very early age. And, as we each graduated from our respective colleges (Honey from the celebrated London College of Fashion and Cheri from the esteemed Central St Martins – where the likes of Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen and Riccardo Tisci had previously set foot) and set about assisting at London Fashion week, it was one single moment that planted the burgeoning Marrime bridal seed. A final bridal look took to the runway to close the show, and with that the dream of Marrime was born.
The Beginning
Equipped with the dream of injecting our fresh perspective and spirit into a somewhat tired industry at the time, we knew we had to deliver this energy in the form of a North of England bridal boutique. We wanted to create a bridal store that challenged the status quo; that reflected our innate understanding of fashion and challenged the traditional bridal store approach and service. July 2002 played host to the opening of our first bridal store in Kendal, South Lakes. Debuting a large, open plan showroom with a bridal gallery situated on the top floor, brides would excitedly indulge in our curated edit of gowns, browsing the dresses (that hung from custom black wrought iron rails with a bespoke heart design) and changing behind French dressing screens.
Following the Kendal store’s success, the leafy, bustling streets of Jesmond beckoned. During a visit with family in Newcastle, the charming streets of this area with its bijou coffee shops, independent boutiques and welcoming bakeries stole our hearts (and the heart of Marrime too). Consequently the Marrime bridal Clayton Road store opened its doors in September 2016 and, with it, we unveiled a new era of wedding dress shopping – one that brought together a unique and unbeatable blend of style and service. Located in a conservation area with original period features, not only did we endeavour to honour the building and its heritage, but pepper it with some truly contemporary flourishes. Parquet oak floors were laid, sitting sublimely against fresh Farrow & Ball Wimborne White walls and Vera Wang-inspired black custom rails (which offered up a nostalgic nod to our original rail design from 2002), not to mention a bridal edit that was not only contemporary, but highly coveted. What followed was a fully booked diary and an ever growing line up of global bridal designers, swiftly pursued by the need to find another new forever home for Marrime: enter St George’s House.
Marrime 2.0
2023 was the year that Marrime bridal found it’s ultimate location: the space that truly embodied everything Marrime bridal has become. Located in the heart of Jesmond, St George’s House sits proudly amongst the bustling streets of this welcoming suburb, with close rail links and easy access to the city’s metro. A must, seeing as our brides are not only logging multiple hours to travel across the country – but air miles – in order to experience the coveted Marrime bridal experience. Finding St George’s House was no easy feat, however. Endlessly inspired by trips to New York and Europe (where they effortlessly amalgamated heritage buildings with contemporary bridal design) our pursuit for the perfect space was a truly considered one. It was essential to us that the new Marrime store brought a sense of light and spaciousness that would effortlessly frame our curated bridal edit in all its glory. Set over three floors, St George’s perfectly exudes our ultra-modern, cool girl vibe whilst gently nodding to our heritage and the values the modern bride holds when exchanging vows in the 21st Century.
Walking into the first floor studio gallery which houses our bridal gowns, brides will have the opportunity to indulge in each and every design (drenched in light due to the studio’s dreamy floor to ceiling windows) before heading upstairs to the Loft where a floor to ceiling, Scandi-inspired linen backdrop beckons, alongside charming stripped back beams and our statement 3.5 metre wave curtain dressing room, all prepped and ready to provide every bride with that essential ‘WOW’ moment. And, with an entire floor dedicated to accessories, you can rest assured that we understand the importance of those final finishing touches.
It’s Not Just Hours, It’s Air Miles.
With brides travelling to our North East bridal boutique from the likes of the United States to Australia and Dubai, we’re proud to admit the Marrime bridal reputation has spread way beyond our wildest imagination. Not only do we ship our gowns all over the globe, but can safely say that our brides won’t let a few thousand miles stand in their way when it comes to ‘the one’.
The Studio
Our spa-like vibe patiently awaits each and every bride from behind Marrime’s white doorway at St George’s House. Beyond the door, brides will step forth into a beautifully curated, deliciously calm bridal oasis. Drenched in an aura of contemporary elegance, every single moment has been carefully considered, with 23 years of experience serving brides fuelling every design choice, every room fragrance selection (it’s a hand-selected scent from Neom, FYI) and every personalised styling moment. We don’t just dabble in one of a kind, we seriously delight in it. Get ready to bask in the glow of our light-filled, airy studio and our curated edit of heart-stirring gowns surrounded only by interior design notes that reflect Marrime’s innovative spirit (think Triptych & Wave mirrors, Sofia Lind wall art, Mario Bellini-inspired sofas, floor to ceiling dressing rooms, crystal cut champagne coupes and serene marble counters) all in a private space dedicated to you and your special guests.
The Team
At the heart of the Marrime bridal experience is, of course, our ever-expanding, all-girl team. Driven by our endless love for style, devotion to impeccable customer service and dedication to delivering the coveted Marrime bridal experience to each and every bride, you only need to read our customer reviews to know how our Marrime Brides feel about their Marrime journey. We really are the full five stars!
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Honey & Cheri x