about
ELLIE
The lady behind the brand
I have always believed that finding your wedding dress should be one of life’s great experiences. Calm, inspiring and deeply personal – never rushed, intimidating or transactional.
That belief has shaped everything we’ve built at Ellie Sanderson. From the beginning, the vision was never to create a chain of boutiques, but a small collection of exceptional spaces across the Home Counties, each with its own personality.
Our all-female team shares that philosophy. We are fashion-led, experienced and passionate about helping every bride discover a look that feels entirely her own. We celebrate individuality, craftsmanship.
Behind the scenes, we’ve grown together through nearly two decades of weddings, babies, heartbreaks, new beginnings, marriages and menopause. We support one another through every stage of life, creating a business where talent and motherhood can happily coexist (yes, there are occasionally babies in the boutique!).
I’m often told I’m firm but fair. I care deeply about my team, our designers and, above all, the brides who place their trust in us. Every decision we make is guided by one simple goal: to create an experience that feels as unforgettable as the moment you find your dress.
Pictured with my lovely husband, fours years into our own next chapter.
ellie x
Our personal
approach
Trusted by brides, respected by the industry.
Retail and bridal fashion has been my obsession for as long as I can remember — and I’m just as in love with it today as I was at the start.
Over the past 19 years, our boutiques have won more than 26 national awards, including being named the UK’s Best Longstanding Bridal Retailer in 2020/21. write for national and trade publications and sit on the judging panels for several major industry awards — with the highlight being The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA).
What sets us apart?
It’s our absolute commitment to the details — from an expertly curated edit of designers to an outstanding fitting and alterations service that ensures every dress is flawless. Every label we stock is handpicked for its creativity, quality and excellence.
Our reputation speaks for itself — with brides travelling hundreds of miles to experience the “Ellie” difference.
Voted the UK’s top long-standing BRIDAL RETAILER 2020/21
We’ve won so many awards that I couldn’t possibly list them all but here are just a few highlights which we are very proud of.
- WINNER – BEST UK BRIDAL RETAILER 2021
- WINNER – BEST RETAIL WEBSITE 2017/19/ 23/24
- WINNER – THE ENGLISH WEDDING AWARDS 2019
- WINNER – PERFECT WEDDING AWARDS 2016
- WINNER – WEDDING INDUSTRY AWARDS 2012
- WINNER – FOUR COUNTIES WEDDING AWARDS
Meet the boss, Sarah
Sarah joined Ellie Sanderson over a decade ago and is now our powerhouse Business Manager. She leads our stylist team with unstoppable energy, genuine warmth.
(Officially, she’s the boss… unofficially, she knows it’s me! 😉)
Her passion for bridal fashion is as fierce as ever — constantly scouting the latest designers, obsessing over new collections, and keeping our edit fresh, fashion-forward, and exciting.
A true advocate for body positivity and inclusivity, Sarah plays a huge role in shaping the joyful, welcoming vibe our boutiques are known for. Her positivity is infectious, her standards are sky-high, and brides absolutely feel the difference when they’re in her world.
We are utterly obsessed with luxurious wedding dresses, unique customer experience & we love a happy ending.
In the MEDIA
I’ve had some fun featuring on several televsion programmes and you can catch them all here. (ps meet Red Messina, my magnificent Suzanne Neville dress – the love of my life)
