SAYING THANK YOU TO OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES WITH THE BLUE LIGHT CARD DISCOUNT

We recognise the amount of work the NHS staff & emergency service workers have done for the UK, particularly during COVID-19 lockdown, so this is our chance to give back!

We know how many nurses, doctors, NHS staff & emergency service workers are getting married! We cannot wait to celebrate with you!! Let us say Thank You to each of you, by helping us give back!!

Offering every health worker a discount towards their wedding dress. To claim 10% off your wedding dress, you must be the Blue Light Card holder (Bride only). Get in touch today to find out more.

WE’RE A PURPLE TUESDAY PARTICIPANT

Purple Tuesday is a programme created and co-ordinated by Purple, a disability organisation that encourages businesses to make changes and to improve the customer experience for disabled people. It takes place every November but is celebrated all year round.

We recognise the need for change and the need for us as a business to be more inclusive. We believe that every bride should have the opportunity to have a wonderful experience when buying their wedding dress regardless of ability, race, gender or sexuality.

Here at TDR Bridal we have pledged to improve our customer experience for disabled people.

PROVIDING A FULLY INCLUSIVE BRIDAL EXPERIENCE

ADAM FAMILY

We won’t stop here though because we want to be able to celebrate with everyone, inclusively.  We are continually working hard to address the less obvious disabilities too, like autism, dementia, hearing and sight.

In 2021 we learnt sign language so that we can Say Yes To The Dress and celebrate with our deaf brides too!  We would love to hear any suggestions you have for how we can be even more inclusive for 2025.

INSTALLED A DOWNSTAIRS BATHROOM

ADDED RAMPS TO OUR ENTRANCES FOR EASIER ACCESS

INCREASED THE SIZE OF OUR CHANGING ROOMS TO ACCOMMODATE WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

GIVEN EXTRA SUPPORT AND TRAINING TO OUR TEAM

EXTENDED APPOINTMENT TIMES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

TDR made my journey, as a disabled (wheelchair user) bride, beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined or hoped for.

I recently visited TDR with the hope of finding my wedding dress. I had looked at many online, but not visited any bridal shops. I made TDR my first stop purely because I was so blown away by the inclusivity displayed on their stand at the national wedding show; they had a mannequin in a wedding dress, sat in a wheelchair amongst all the other mannequins. In fact, they were the only stand with a mannequin that represented me! As you can imagine, this immediately made me smile and I just knew they were the place to go, being a wheelchair user myself.

In terms of my access, TDR have step free access, space to wheel around the shop in order to look at dresses, fitting rooms big enough to wheel into (though I did not, as I am able to walk a little), and a bathroom I could use too! All things one would think are easy to find, but sadly that is not always the case. As a wheelchair user I needed a dress that would work with my (manual rigid frame/active user) wheelchair. I had always said my “dream” dress, if I wasn’t a wheelchair user, would be very different to the dress I would need to have. My “dream” dress was something somewhat fitted at the bust but not overly fitted on my hips, with quite a lot of body to it and a large train – you know the type, a very ‘princessy’ dress! I’d decided already that I wanted to try on a dress of that style even though I knew it was not at all practical or doable. I suppose it was to ‘confirm’ that it definitely wouldn’t work with my wheelchair, and to see what I would look like in said dress too. Paige didn’t mind helping with that at all. My “practical” dress needed to be something not overly fitted, with a little train but not too much train, that did not get caught in my front casters/wheels, could be managed sitting down, was comfortable both sat down and stood up, and was flattering when sat down. I expected it would be very difficult to find the dress, and I expected that I would have to compromise quite a lot on the dress due to the natural practicalities and requirements that come with being a wheelchair user bride.

On the day of my appointment, we arrived at the shop and it was just so beautiful! We were struggling to take a photograph in the beautiful pink floral phone box outside, when a lovely lady came out to take several photos for us. Upon entering the shop we were greeted warmly and picked drinks from their menu. The menu consisted of a variety of warm drinks, soft drinks, cocktails, gins etc. The bar area is beautiful, and the vibe of the whole shop is just so classy! It was clear they were very busy (we went on a Sunday, with a pre-booked appointment) however it didn’t feel at all busy; there was still more than enough room to look for what we wanted, and the way the room is divided means you never see any other bridal parties. There was no rushing, just a relaxed environment as if we were the only people in the shop.

I truly thought finding the right dress would be so difficult and frustrating, so much so we started our search 16 months before the wedding because we felt sure we would need extra time to travel around to various places. But it wasn’t difficult, and it wasn’t frustrating either. In fact, I don’t feel I had to compromise one bit on my dress, which is huge really. I expected this process to be the one thing that made me think “I wish I wasn’t in a wheelchair”. That never happened, I simply found the most perfect dress and had the most wonderful day from start to finish. There is so much variety, and so many different dresses to try on at TDR that I cannot imagine how one could ever leave without finding a dress! They have something for everyone, regardless as to what style you want, and what your needs are.

TDR made the process of finding the perfect dress feel just the same for me as every other (non-disabled) bride, and I will forever treasure that. They don’t just care about inclusivity on a surface level as a box ticking exercise, it is something that is evidently very important to them – and I felt that from start to finish. I couldn’t have dreamed of a more perfect moment to share with my mum and sister. The memories we made will last a lifetime, all three of us left there so happy having had a truly magical day.

Whether you’re a disabled bride or not, make TDR your first stop on the wedding dress buying journey because they really are phenomenal. But if you’re a disabled bride, just know that TDR have got you – you’ll be in safe hands every step of the way.

~ TDR Bride Lucy ~

I'm Already Wedding Ready Badge (with sparkles)

Doing our bit for the environment.

We have been enthusiastic recyclers at TDR Bridal but recently we decided that wasn’t enough. So we decided to team up with The National Forest to do our bit for the environment. As a result, for every wedding dress we sell, if a brides so wishes, we pledge to plant a tree for her.  We are proud to be supporting the National Forest with regular donations going towards the creation and management of new woodlands in the National Forest.

The National Forest Company is a registered charity number 1166563 and is responsible for leading the creation of the National Forest, a wooded landscape for the nation across 200 square miles of Central England.”

With your tree, you can dedicate it to whoever you like, be that a loved one or even yourselves as a couple. You will receive a personalised certificate and you can even choose the type of tree that you would like to have planted in your name.

Oak

The wise old oak tree. A symbol of strength and survival, this sacred species provides rich habitats for wildlife, with many enjoying its falling acorns as a food source.

LIME

With its wonderful red buds, beautiful bark spine, and large heart-shaped green leaves, the lime is perfect for birds and insects. Particularly, it is a favourite of the endangered honey bee.

Hazel

The leaves of the magical hazel tree turn yellow in autumn, covering our landscape in colour before creating a beautiful yellow pathway when they fall. A species perfect for dormice and caterpillars.

Silver Birch

The birch trees light open canopy provides the perfect conditions for bluebells, violets, grass and moss to thrive on the Forest floor. You may also find a nesting bird or two inside its trunk.

alder

Alder trees support a wide range of wildlife, including the spectacular yellow-and-black-striped caterpillar of the alder moth. Its catkins provide nectar and pollen for bees, and the seeds are eaten by finches.  These trees are both male & female in one, In spring, they have pendulous male, yellow catkins, and green, oval female catkins. Over the summer months the male catkins drop off and the female catkins harden and become reddish brown, and look like small cones.

HORNBEAM

Hornbeam gets its name from the strength of its wood – ‘beam’ means ‘tree’ in old English. This beautiful tree keeps its leaves over the Winter and so provides shelter for bird who will nest hear in the Spring when its leaves are a food plant for insects. In autumn, small birds like finches and tits eat the winged seeds that fall to the ground at that time of year.

Whatever tree you choose, you will be joining us in giving back to this wonderful world we live in, protecting the environment for generations to come.