Hello, I’m Nicola
The Wedding Dress Surgeon.
By now, you’ve probably found your dream dress and are looking for some skilled hands to make some wonderful alterations.
That’s where I come in.
my experience
I’m a third-generation seamstress and dress designer, having graduated from the London College Of Fashion with a first-class honours degree back in 2005.
In total, I have over 30+ years’ experience in the bridal industry, and with that, still bring bags of enthusiasm, creativity and love to what I do.
I’ve studied and completed courses in bridal corsets and beading and have a postgraduate certificate in creative pattern cutting. As well as wedding dress alterations, I can also create sleeves, bustles, beading, hoops and support garments, shrugs and stoles and I craft bespoke, made-to-order veils.
I truly care about every bride I meet and have a real passion for achieving the perfect fit. As a teen, I was never an off-the-peg size and so my mum (and then I) was always adjusting my clothes to fit perfectly. The transformation from an ordinary dress to ‘extraordinary’ is what The Wedding Dress Surgeon is all about, allowing you to feel your best self and completely comfortable on a day when you’ll be the centre of attention.
From my days as an apprentice working on flower girl dresses to stitching the impeccable wedding gowns I do today, I’ve learned so much
– and enjoyed every second of it.
Behind the Scenes
I’ve had many roles in my career in the wedding industry, from working on the client-facing shop floor assisting brides to find the perfect gown, to designing for some of the most well-known names in the industry, creating bespoke commissions and manufacturing my own line of bridesmaid gowns.
Bridal alterations are genuinely one of the most rewarding parts of the whole process. Taking that beautiful gown you have selected to wear for your most magical day and ensuring it fits like a glove, perfectly, is both an honour and a joy.
Today I work from our studio just outside Maidstone around my partner and our six shared children. I offer school hours or evening appointments to a 12-8-4 week booking system ahead of your big day.
I believe every bride has the right to feel amazing on her wedding day. Just because the gown isn’t perfect yet – it doesn’t mean it can’t be with a few tweaks and some creative input. I’m professional, approachable, creative… and I care. Ready to make some magic?
I can’t wait to meet you and your gown.
Nicola x
Meet the Team
Tracy
A wedding dress specialist!
There is nothing she doesn’t know about wedding dress shopping, styling and fit. Tracy’s journey in the wedding industry started in the family wedding gown boutique where she quickly learned the joy of helping brides fulfil their bridal dreams. Now with more than 25 years experience her talent and knowledge are an asset to The Wedding Dress Surgeon team, and her care and commitment to you all is obvious in her work ethic.
Tracy and Nicola have worked together for years and so their understanding of each other’s skill set and technique is unrivalled. Tracy’s attention to detail means she is perfectly suited to not only fitting your gown but the hand sewing elements of the alteration process. When she is not out at one of our affiliated stores she can be found prepping gowns for stitching by carefully removing appliques and opening seams or finishing with her neat hand stitching.
Tracy’s favourite part of the job is the fittings, meeting each bride with her unique story and requirements, hearing about all the plans for their special day and assisting in that vision coming to life. The reactions of the bride seeing her look come together with the adjustments and her bespoke additions is by far the most fulfilling part.
“Seeing a brides face glow at that final fitting with the effect of their dream dress is the best feeling”
Jo & Di
Where it all started.
For those of you who don’t know our story, Nicola and Tracy both were a part of the family business Bridal Gowns at Jodi. Owned by twin sisters Jo and Di. Jo and Di are an inspiring team who themselves set up an alterations and dressmaking business for wedding dresses back in the early 90’s.
Although now both retired, in the height of a busy season they can be found in the background putting their years of skilled work to use still with us.
That talent is ever present and like they worked together seamlessly, now Nicola and Tracy fill those roles in The Wedding Dress Surgeon team.
Jo
Our newest sewing expert
We’re thrilled to welcome Jo to The Wedding Dress Surgeon team!
My journey with Jo started back in 2022 when I had the pleasure of adjusting her wedding dress. During our fittings, we discovered a shared love for sewing and a passion for running creative businesses.
Jo brings a wealth of experience, having worked over 10 years in the Fashion Industry and also as a University Atelier Technician, before launching her own successful embroidery business, Mason & Mason.
This spring, she got back in touch to chat about the possibility of collaborating or working together. After a catch-up conversation, it was clear she’d be a perfect fit for the team.
Her incredible eye for detail and commitment to perfection make her an invaluable addition to The Wedding Dress Surgeon team.
Jo says, “It’s been truly wonderful joining the team, I’m loving being in the studio and working on some beautiful gowns (however challenging at times!). Nicola and I have a somewhat glint in our eyes when we discuss anything creative, bouncing off one another with ideas.
I really am excited for where things are heading and very much looking forward to the future.
Thank you for making me feel so at home and welcomed in such a short space of time.”
We’re so excited to have her on board while she continues to run her thriving business.
Watch this space!
Exciting collaborations are on the horizon, combining embroidery from Mason & Mason, accessories from Artisan Bride, and the sewing talents of The Wedding Dress Surgeon team.
We can’t wait to share what’s coming next!
Jeska
Introducing Jeska – A Collaboration Made in Bridal Heaven!
We are overjoyed to officially introduce Jeska as part of our extended team! Our story with Jeska began many years ago when our family business, Bridal Gowns at Jodi, dressed her in a stunning Ian Stuart gown. Over the years, we had the pleasure of dressing many of her friends too!
After relocating for a while, Jeska returned to Kent and popped back into our family boutique, curious if her First-Class fashion degree and remarkable talents might suit a role on the Jodi team. What followed was a delightful time of working together in our Canterbury store, filled with laughter and creativity, and the start of a treasured friendship.
In 2014, Jeska opened her own boutique, The Bridal Boutique of Jules, in Deal. Named in memory of her mum and their shared dream, it has become a much-loved destination for brides by the sea. Though our paths diverged for a time, we always stayed in touch and reunited in 2020 when Jeska invited me to collaborate. Today, we proudly provide the stitching to complement her impeccable pinning and visionary designs, creating unique and breathtaking additions to wedding gowns.
Exciting things are always happening at The Bridal Boutique of Jules, and we are thrilled to be part of the magic. A partnership built on friendship, shared passion, and creativity—it truly is a collaboration made in bridal heaven!
Fiona
Our Studio Manager
Fiona and Nicola go way back — all the way to when Nicola created Fiona’s custom wedding dress over ten years ago! Now, after a successful career in the construction industry (where she kept a mostly male workforce running like clockwork), Fiona has brought her legendary organisation skills to The Wedding Dress Surgeon as our Studio Manager.
You’ll find her at the end of an email, deep in a spreadsheet, or making sure we all know exactly what’s happening next — from which gown is on the cutting table to who’s the next bride through the door. Ask where something is, and Fiona always knows. She keeps Nicola’s to-do list (and the rest of us!) firmly on track.
She’s introduced clever new systems and processes, channelled our creative minds all season, and does it all with an infectious smile and impeccable style — often with a chic 1950s twist. We adore the colour, energy, and calm confidence she brings to the team every single day.
Amber
Our in-house content creator
Amber is our in-house content creator and the creative voice behind The Wedding Dress Surgeon’s social media! She’s the one keeping the world up to date with all the magic that happens in our studio — from breathtaking before-and-afters to behind-the-scenes moments that show just how much love and detail go into every gown we touch.
When she’s not crafting beautiful content, you’ll probably find her doing what she loves most — singing! Music is her passion and career path, and she brings that same energy and creativity into everything she does with us.
Amber’s also our resident model, our fresh pair of eyes, and the voice of youthful insight in the team. Whether she’s at her laptop, camera in hand, or humming away while editing reels, Amber helps us show the world what The Wedding Dress Surgeon is all about — beauty, artistry and heart.
specialist freelancers
Amongst our team are freelance specialists that we simply couldn’t do our job without.
To all those highly trained experts, thank you. Your tireless work on my accounts, website and some of my admin tasks means myself and the creative team can do what we need to be doing knowing the behind the scenes is in safe hands.
