Retailer

Retailer Spotlight: Wediva

Explore ÉLYSÉE retailer Wediva's luxury bridal boutique in Hamburg-Ottensen.

How did your store first get started, and when did you start with ÉLYSÉE?

"You shop for your wedding dress only once in your life. When I was looking to buy my own wedding dress in the local shops, I was missing that special feeling I always had in mind when thinking about this. When starting my business, my main goal was to give my future brides an exclusive and memorable shopping experience. I opened my first showroom in an old villa in Hamburg Blankenese at the end of 2012. Now we are settled down in in the more vibrant Hamburg Ottensen in a bigger showroom and with a much larger team, together with an in-house alterations department. The beautiful ÉLYSÉE dresses are an important part of our collection since 2019."

What would you recommend a bride to do before/while shopping for her perfect gown?

"Finding the perfect dress is a bit like finding your future husband. You may fall in love at first sight or you may find it after several tries. Be open to any opportunity. If you book a dress consultant for your fitting, then openly communicate your thoughts with her and listen to her professional advice. Last but not least, always follow your heart and make sure you feel comfortable."

Gown Featured: Aimée ÉTOILE

What was a particulary memorable or special moment that occurred with you and an ÉLYSÉE bride?

"The 'typical ÉLYSÉE bride' is very charming and self-confident. She absolutely knows what she wants.

In 2017, we had a very lovely bride who fell in love immediately with a princess dress and decided to take the gown. Neither she nor we knew that on her big day, she will be nearly six months pregnant. When she called us, she was with joy, but also felt a bit lost. She made clear that she did not want to wear any other dress but the chosen one. So we invited her to come to our showroom and checked the dress on her together with our alterations department and ultimately provided her with a great solution. One week before the wedding, her breast was much bigger than we anticipated and the bride felt a bit exposed. So we all decided to take some lace from the skirt of her dress and put it on the neckline. It fit perfectly, and she felt very happy and more comfortable with it. In the end, everything went as she imagined, and our bride had a wonderful wedding in her dream bridal gown."

Gown Featured: Courtenay ÉLYSÉE