The Perfect Bride : More 2 Love Bridal Feature with Co-Founders Monika & Laura

Apr 3

It’s not everyday that we get to dive into a project that embodies every girl’s dream : Bridal gowns! We had so much fun working with Monika and Laura of More 2 Love Bridal and being inspired by their colourful vision to design this gorgeous retail shop.

The goal was to craft a bridal shop environment that is different from the standard bridal shop in terms of look, feel, finishes, furniture, accessories and of course experience. We added lots of warm colours and touches of gold details throughout to create a truly inviting space that every woman would love and feel pampered in.

Each area was custom designed to create a unique and memorable bridal experience for the beautiful curvy bride!

Read on to learn more about Monika and Laura, entrepreneurs & co-founders of More 2 Love Bridal in Toronto!

ND - You both envisioned creating a beautiful experience for curvy brides to find the dress of their dreams! How did you want your clients to feel when they walked into your space?

M2L - We wanted our brides and their guests to feel at home in our space. A Lot of our brides are very apprehensive about gown shopping and we wanted a warm and inviting space where they feel comfortable and safe.

ND - What do you find is the most common reaction to your space now that More2Love Bridal is open!?

M2L - When guests arrive they most often say that they love the store, that it’s beautiful, and that they really love the spacious/private changerooms.

ND - Do you have a favourite spot in your store that you feel the most inspired by? Tell us where and why.

M2L - The front of the store - the greenery and the accessories, the M2L sign on the dark green wall. It just gives a great taste of what we are all about. We are bold and fun with a touch of luxury.

ND - What was your favourite part of the design / build process? What did you love most about the experience of creating your physical store?

M2L - We loved thinking about the experience of our brides, and how they will interact with the space, what’s important to them in terms of design and function. And then of course watching it all come to life was amazing!

ND - What is your curation process when it comes to selecting the beautiful dresses available at More2Love Bridal?

M2L - This was the one of the most challenging parts of everything. Because we are a niche store that is specifically for curvy and plus size brides we need to develop partnerships with bridal designers who understand the needs and wants of our brides. We also need to make sure that we have a diverse selection of silhouettes, necklines, fabrics, and sleeve options so that our brides feel as though they have tried on a good variety.

ND - You’ve been through it from start to finish, so what’s your biggest piece of advice for someone hoping to open their first retail store?

First of all, trust your instincts. Sometimes we underestimate ourselves, but trust your vision and your knowledge. Secondly, hire experts for crucial aspects of your business, it’s impossible and unrealistic for you to think that you can do everything yourself (our best money spent was on NOLA’s services, branding and a social media manager).

ND - A lot of retailers have had to be very creative during this pandemic to make things work. What have you done to innovate for More2Love to keep thriving?

M2L - Luckily bridal is by appointment, so it has made things less challenging. During lockdown we offered virtual appointments and it was successful. It also opened our eyes to different ways that we could think outside of the box.

ND - We can’t wait to see what is next for More2Love Bridal! Any news you would like to share?

M2L - You never know what we have up our sleeves - but for now we are trying to set ourselves up for success as we enter into the wedding boom!

Visit more2lovebridal.com