Barrow's award-winning bridal shop celebrates 27 years in business

Marsha Lea Bridal Studio opened its doors in Rawlinson Street, Barrow, in 1997 but due to popular demand in 2000 they opened their larger store in Cavendish Street.

Due to their success, they also opened a sister company called DAPPER By Marsha Lea offering men's formal wear to buy and hire.

The dresses in the shop (Image: Submitted) Asking how she has been able to keep the three-floor shop thriving, the owner Janeen Newton said: "I just think I am pretty good in what I do. It works -  I get the right styles in and I think if you are good at your job and enjoy what you do it just makes your business thrive. 

"We have moved with the styles as well. We have not stayed stagnant, we have introduced new styles. 

"I was only 17 when I started my business so over the years I have changed with my business. I have grown, and the business has grown. We have moved together."

She explained that the dresses' styles have 'changed quite a lot' over the years - now being more 'simple and elegant'.

The shop's front (Image: Submitted)

However, she said the staple styles of when she started her business are coming back into fashion.

"It all goes around in a circle," she said.

"Tiaras went out of fashion and they are coming back. The older styles are trickling back in again with a modern flick they are not like the old fashion style."

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Janeen explained they are 'constantly busy' and they are already working for weddings up until 2027.

"Weddings are not a seasonal thing anymore. They are constant. We get people marrying from January to December," she said.

Apart from its local success, Janeen said they have had clients from as far as London to get their dresses.

She explained she has had interesting requests from brides including some who have ordered coloured dresses from black to lilac and red.

"I had one bride who got her first dress from me and she had white and then she got married for the second time and she got something completely different and she wanted me to do the wedding dress because she got such a good service," she said.

"But she did not want it all black because it is quite a gothy looking for a wedding so I embroidered gold thread through the dress and then I put gold beading on it and it was absolutely beautiful once I finished it - it took me nine months to complete it."