about
ELLIE
The lady behind the brand
When I opened Ellie Sanderson in 2007, bridal shopping felt outdated — too formal, too stuffy, and rarely joyful. I set out to change that.
Eighteen years later, our boutiques are warm, welcoming spaces where luxury and experience come together. With a fashion-forward, all-female team of stylists, we’ve created something truly special: a bridal journey that’s as unforgettable as the dress itself.
I believe in balance — in business and in life. My team and I have grown together through nearly two decades of weddings, babies, break-ups, bold new beginnings, marriages and menopause!!. We support one another, share in each other’s lives, and create a space where talent thrives alongside motherhood (yes, babies in the boutique are sometimes part of the charm).
They say I’m firm but fair. I lead with purpose and heart — and above all, I never lose sight of what matters: creating an extraordinary experience for every bride who walks through our doors.(Pictured with my lovely new husband of 3 years)
ellie x
Our personal
approach
Trusted by brides, respected by the industry.
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 18 years, our boutiques have won more than 26 national awards, including being named the UK’s Best Longstanding Bridal Retailer in 2020/21. I regularly write for both 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 shared obsession with excellence.
Our reputation speaks for itself — with brides travelling hundreds of miles to experience the “Ellie” difference.Â
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, and a shared obsession for all things bridal.
(Officially, she’s the boss… unofficially, she knows its 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.
