Looking Back On 2019
I am struck by the vulnerability of the women walking into our doors at Mrs Fray.
There was nothing about our business plan that had me thinking about this beautiful highlight, but I’m humbled every day that I enjoy appointments with the women who come in to see us. Because we’re in the business of weddings, we’re in the business of love, marriage, connection, grief, vulnerability, insecurities, complex relationships, difficult conversations, joy, and celebration. We built a bridal concept shop and inadvertently we constructed a temple and a safe haven for the loved-up, heart struck, anxiety-filled brides-to-be in Canberra on the hunt for their dream wedding gown.
This looks different for everyone we meet. For some, the experience of shopping for a wedding gown is one they’ve been looking forward to for years. They bring their whole crew, they welcome champagne, and they drink up every delicious second of sauntering around the shop to browse the racks of silk gown goodness. They’ve been looking forward to this day and they thrive in the moment they get to open that curtain and be the centre of everyone’s attention and affection.
Others come in alone, or with a friend or two. They tentatively browse racks and mildly choose one or two to try, while announcing that they’re happy to not wear any traditional gown anyhow. They cautiously stand in front of the display mirror and wait for the criticism to roll in (even when it doesn’t). They say things about their bodies and shapes that make us wince, but also, relate, because we all have one or two ‘things’ that we badger about ourselves, don’t we?
Although these brides are in no way similar, the one constant for us needs to be the way they feel when they walk out our doors. Dress sorted or not, we do our best for the 90 minutes we’re with them to make them feel happy and at ease with their experience.
Others walk into our doors and remember a time looking for their own wedding gown decades ago. They reflect on the evolution of their marriage since then -the kids they’ve had or not had, the places they’ve traveled together and apart. So often since we’re sitting in our shop that is built for those at the beginning of a marriage journey, it’s easy to get caught up in the wedding and not think about the marriage that comes after the party.
Recently a beautiful woman came in from the street and said she was passing by and just had to take a look. As she browsed gowns she mentioned that her marriage had recently fallen apart and she was at the beginning of a completely new and uncharted time of her life. She said seeing this shop felt like a sign for her; the promise that maybe she could one day find a new love, that one day she might be able to make an appointment with us and come try on these beautiful gowns herself. My heart broke for her just as quickly as it lifted with her.
Little did I think about or know that when we were building our doors to open at Mrs Fray, that we were building more than just a shop.
As we approach the new year, I’m easily slipping into this space of reflection, nostalgia, and thanks. And today I wanted to thank you all (all six of you, one of which is my mum - hi mum!), for taking time out of your busy lives to not only read this but to spend time with us in the shop, to trust us with your vulnerabilities, and to share your journey with us.
We are in awe and we are grateful for what we’ve been able to create together and with you all over the past 5 months. We wouldn’t be here without you and we cannot thank you enough.
In 2020, many of you are getting married (yay!). This will mark and honour a great love for you, a beautiful time in your life, and a fresh beginning in many ways. Embracing not only your wedding but your marriage for the ever-changing gift that it is makes it one of the best journeys you can be on. We wish you all a gorgeous New Year and we raise our glass of sparkling to you, Mrs. Frays, for the beauty and adventure of the new year ahead.
Happy New Year. See you in 2020.
xx Andi & Amy
