ABOUT
Cheshire Occasionwear is part of the award winning Maria Modes family, created to offer mothers of the bride and groom and special event guests a dedicated space to find outfits that feel truly special. We believe that choosing what to wear should be an enjoyable, confidence boosting experience, not a stressful one. Our carefully curated collection brings together beautiful styles, flattering designs and trusted designers, all selected to help you feel your absolute best for your big occasion.
What To Expect
Your appointment is your time. You’ll explore a range of outfits with the support of a dedicated stylist, try on pieces at your own pace and finish your look with coordinating accessories. With a wide size range, extensive choice of hats and fascinators, and in-house alterations available, the entire process happens under one roof. Whether you’re preparing for a wedding, race day or milestone celebration, we’re here to help you find an outfit that feels effortlessly right for your special occasion.
What Makes Us Different
Unlike traditional occasionwear departments, our focus is entirely on you; your style, your comfort and your confidence. Every element of our showroom has been designed with this in mind, from our private fitting space to the way we curate our collections. We take time to understand what you’re looking for and guide you towards shapes and colours that truly flatter. With years of experience across the Maria Modes group, we combine expert styling with a warm, relaxed approach that helps you feel at ease from the moment you arrive.
Our Collections
Meet the Team
Owner & Creative Director
Rachael is the creative heart of Cheshire Occasionwear, bringing her exceptional eye for style to every part of the collection. As our lead buyer, she curates the designers, colours and silhouettes that fill the boutique, ensuring we offer outfits that feel elegant, modern and beautifully flattering for every special occasion.
With a natural instinct for what women feel confident in, Rachael also conducts appointments, guiding guests toward shapes and tones that truly suit them. Her passion, creativity and welcoming nature play a huge part in making the boutique the inspiring space it is.
Senior Stylist & Head of Alterations
With years of experience and an instinctive eye for style, Sandra is exceptional at helping women feel confident, comfortable and completely themselves in their outfit. Her calm, reassuring approach makes her a favourite with mothers of the bride and groom, guiding them towards colours, shapes and fabrics that truly flatter.
Nothing is ever too much trouble and she has a natural talent for easing any last-minute nerves or uncertainty. Alongside her styling role, Sandra also heads up our Alterations Department, ensuring outfits are tailored to perfection in those all-important final weeks.
Stylist
Jo brings a wealth of styling experience to Cheshire Occasionwear, with an exceptional ability to help women feel confident and beautifully put together.
Alongside her role in the boutique, she also runs her own styling business, giving her a deep understanding of colour, shape and proportion and how to dress for any occasion. Her friendly, down to earth approach puts guests at ease from the moment they walk in, and she has a natural talent for guiding you toward outfits that feel authentic, flattering and effortless. With Jo by your side, you’re in expert hands.
Maria Modes Group Owner
Emma oversees the Maria Modes group as a whole, ensuring that every part of the business delivers the warm, polished and professional experience we’re known for.
Although you won’t usually see her in occasionwear appointments, she’s always working behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly, from the presentation of the boutique to the level of service our guests receive. If you do catch her in store, she’ll be the first to greet you with a smile and make sure you’re well looked after.
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend booking an appointment to ensure the best experience. An appointment guarantees you a private fitting space, dedicated time with a stylist and the chance to try on a full range of outfits without any rush or waiting.
You are very welcome to pop in for a browse if you’d simply like to see the collection first. Please note that trying on is only available when our fitting rooms and stylists are free, so an appointment is the best way to avoid disappointment.
Most customers visit us around 3 to 9 months before their special event, but we can still help you find the perfect outfit even if you’re working to a shorter timescale. Booking in advance gives you the widest choice of sizes, colours and styles across all designers and ensures you have plenty of time for any alterations you may wish to make. It also allows you to source coordinating accessories without feeling rushed, so everything comes together perfectly for the big day.
We stock a broad range of sizes across our designers from a UK size 8 to size 24. Each designer’s sizing can differ slightly and some collections do run a little smaller, so our stylists will guide you to the pieces that fit and flatter you best. Our priority is helping you find an outfit that feels comfortable, confident and beautifully tailored to you.
Our occasionwear dresses typically range from approximately £300 to £700. We also have a sale rail where selected dresses start from as little as £100, offering beautiful options at a lower price point.
For accessories, our fascinators start from £10 and our hats from £100. During your appointment, we can guide you through options that best match both your style and budget.
Most appointments last around one hour, sometimes a little longer, giving you plenty of time to browse, try on a variety of styles and work with your stylist to find the perfect outfit.
Yes, you’re welcome to bring up to two guests with you for support during your appointment. We find that keeping groups small helps you stay focused on what you feel most comfortable and confident in.
Please note that our showroom is located on the first floor and is only accessible by stairs. If this may present any difficulties, please get in touch before your appointment. We can often arrange for your appointment to take place in a ground floor fitting room within Maria Modes.
Comfortable underwear and a supportive bra will help you get the best idea of fit. If you already have shoes, accessories or a colour scheme in mind, feel free to bring them along. If not, that’s absolutely fine. We have a selection of shoes available in-store for you to try on during your appointment to help you visualise the full look.
Yes. We offer a large selection of accessories to help you complete your look. Our collection includes hats and fascinators in a wide range of colours, and we often have matching styles specifically designed to coordinate with many of our outfits. We also stock a curated selection of handbags and shoes. During your appointment, your stylist can help you explore different combinations to create a cohesive, event ready look.
Yes. We have the benefit of Maria Modes’ on site seamstress, who can complete your alterations right here in the showroom, so you don’t need to travel anywhere else. Alterations are an additional cost, and we can discuss pricing once you’ve chosen your outfit.
Many ladies also choose to personalise their look with custom changes. Whether it’s adding sleeves, adjusting the neckline or refining the fit, our seamstress can help tailor your outfit so it feels even more special and perfectly suited to you.
All of our occasionwear is sold off the peg, which means you purchase the exact outfit you try on in store. Occasionwear is not made to order, so additional sizes or colours cannot be ordered in and this is the case in the majority of stores. Because fit, feel and confidence are so important, we do not sell online.
Everything you see in the boutique is ready to take home the same day, and our team will guide you to the styles and sizes that work best for you.