INVESTING in a town centre shop to create the bridal boutique she had dreamed of was a decision Cila Estevinho took very seriously as she had built up her business selling gowns from home.

So when she opened The Bridal Rack in Station Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, in October 2019, Cila had every reason to be pleased at being able to offer brides-to-be a special experience, as well as beautiful dresses at great prices.

Looking at that date now could make a less courageous person shudder, knowing with hindsight what was to come, but Cila is one of those people with the kind of spirit that offers up an enthusiasm and hopefulness that's hard to resist.

"I think that as a community of independent businesses, we need to work together to help people see that Burnham-on-Crouch offers a great place to visit, not just for a trip to a particular shop.

"If someone visits my boutique, I hope I can make them see it as a lovely day out with the other shops and places to eat and drink nearby, with the Town Quay and the atmosphere. If we work together in the town to offer people that experience, I think we will all benefit. It is a beautiful place and after this pandemic, everyone wants to get out and find something new, to enjoy real experiences again."

For Cila the pandemic has been especially hard. Wedding businesses have been badly hit with the cancellation of events and some understandable hesitancy from brides-to-be about setting a date and "saying yes to the dress", for fear of disappointment.

Yet for all that, Cila remains both positive and grateful. Having grown up in Brazil, she has a big appreciation of the support she has received to help keep her business alive.

"I know that in many other countries I wouldn't be likely to receive a penny and I really am very, very grateful for it," she says, "because without it I would have had no way to continue."

And there can be no doubt that for Cila, this is more than just a job. She discovered her interest in beautiful bridal gowns in her search for her own wedding dress and now she hopes to bring that same magic to her clientele.

"In the shop I feel like I can really help the brides – I like to let my customers feel relaxed and not as though they have to rush," Cila explains, "whether they buy a dress or not, I love to see their faces and know that they're going home feeling good about themselves."

You can find The Bridal Rack Facebook page by using the link and the Bridal Rack website by using the link [L]https://www.thebridalrack.co.uk[L+]here.