About Elizabeth · Micklegate, York

Anything but ordinary

The story behind a curious little bridal boutique on historic Micklegate, where alternative brides find a dress — and a welcome — that was never cut from the ordinary cloth. Every body, every love story, one bride at a time.

IMG · portrait of Elizabeth, founder

About Elizabeth

I'm the founder, owner & resident bridal maven

Believe it or not but since 2003 I have also been a practising family lawyer. Perhaps an odd path to running a wedding dress boutique, but I have always had another side: a love of art, making things, sewing and of vintage clothes and style.

Growing up in Edinburgh I would regularly haunt the charity shops for vintage 1960’s and 1970’s dresses to customise and wear. My prom dress was a 1980’s bridesmaid gown — mint green with puff sleeves and lace because what I really wanted was to look like Sarah in the ballroom scene of Labyrinth, complete with ribbons in my hair. I still love that look!

I have always embraced alternative style and in particular all things quirky and gothic. Maidens & Ravens grew out of that – a boutique for brides who like me, never saw themselves in the traditional white dress and veil but wanted to feel like the most incredible version of themselves.

My passion is to help every bride find the perfect dress of their dreams, whatever that may be, whilst ensuring you have a relaxed, non judgemental and enjoyable shopping experience.

Thank you for letting me be part of your exciting wedding journey.

Elizabeth

Two worlds to draw from

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Maiden

Straight out of a fairytale — ethereal, floral, sparkling and romantic. Medieval queens and faerie-core forests, ballgowns and soft enchantment.

Two worlds to draw from

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Raven

The dark side — gothic, witchy, dramatic and mysterious. Deep colours and black lace, corsetry and cathedral trains, for brides who want a little shadow with their romance.

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Doing things properly

A good place, not just a pretty one

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Planet Care

We do our best to be as sustainable as possible. Our dresses are made to order by designers who never discontinue their styles so we are never making dresses that go to waste.

We keep the planet in mind in all our practices. From recycling our boxes and all our waste to having cardboard price tags and string, we avoid unnecessary plastics and packaging.

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Fair & ethical

Real care for everyone who crosses our path. From the queens and their guests who come to visit, to the designers and supplier friends we work with, I aim to treat everyone respectfully and with kindness.

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Affordability

Budgets from £400 to £2,000, and never any pressure to stretch further than you wanted to.

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Your Appointment

Unhurried, Relaxed and Private

The boutique to yourself

One bride at a time. No browsers, no rails to fight over — just you, your people, the dresses and me.

No pressure

A private and relaxed 2 hour appointment with plenty of time to try on whatever you want.

Making the dress your own

Choose your dress and make changes to suit your style.

Bragging Rights

What my brides say

    
 
 
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   Suzy Frost 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I met Elizabeth during a styled shoot, and just knew she was who I had to go to for my own dress. She is so sweet, knowledgeable and an all round a wonderful human! Her shop feels a lot less clinical and welcoming than other bridal shops. An LGBTQIA+ positive and a neurodivergent inclusive space. I cannot adore and recommend Maidens and Ravens more.
  
 
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   Becky merriman 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I found maidens and ravens on Instagram around a year ago and was so excited to have my appointment! I tried on the one I had been eyeing up for ages and fell in love with it ❣️ Elizabeth let me try on many other styles and I found another gorgeous one so was a hard decision! She was so so helpful with recommendations and what could work the best with my theme x but in the end I went for the first one 🥰  can't wait to wear her x Thank you ☺️
  
 
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   Ameena Al-Janabi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Magic✨

I absolutely loved getting my wedding dress from Maidens & Ravens. If you're looking for something a little different from the traditional bridal experience, I couldn't recommend them enough.

Elizabeth was so lovely throughout the whole process. She really listened to what I wanted and helped me create a dress that felt completely unique to me. I loved that I wasn't limited to an off-the-peg design and was able to personalise my dress with alterations such as off-the-shoulder straps, a leg split and deciding on the train. It made my dress feel truly one of a kind.

Communication was great throughout, and Elizabeth kept me updated when my dress arrived. She also arranged for my dress and veil to be taken straight to the seamstress ready for my first fitting, making the whole process so much easier.

Thank you so much for helping me find my dream dress. I felt absolutely amazing wearing it, and it was everything I had hoped for. I would highly recommend Maidens & Ravens to anyone looking for a beautiful, unique wedding dress and a personal bridal experience.
  
 
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   Jennifer Jackson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I couldn't be happier with the service from Elizabeth throughout the whole process, and the end result of my dress is just phenomenal.

I was so scared of going into a bridal boutique that I was going to just buy online until my auntie found this fabulous alternative place. I was so scared of not being able to find one that would fit me, or being made to feel frumpy as some fashion retailers can. However, all those worries melted away as soon as I got there.

Elizabeth made me feel so welcome and made the atmosphere so relaxed and informal. I absolutely loved the quirky decor too. Special shout out to the fabulous raven!

So far removed from overly white and clinical bridal boutiques that I wouldn't be seen dead in!

The dresses are so varied in style and size. She asked me what sort of styles I was looking for, and then just handed me dresses to try on without even telling me what size they were, so I was able to just have fun playing dress up without feeling self conscious or worrying about sizes.

She's very inclusive, and she'll more than likely find you things in all sorts of styles to try on whatever size you are, but if you're worried you can always ring and make sure she has specific sizes in certain styles in advance. She really does go above and beyond to give you an amazing experience.

I found that I loved the style and colour of the Samara dress, but that I loved the flowers on the Stevie dress, and I wanted short sleeves; so Elizabeth was able to mix and match to have this bespoke piece made for me at an entirely reasonable price (no more than I would have paid for the Samara dress as it was).

I couldn't have asked for a better dress, and the service really took away all the fear and made the experience really fun.

I'd highly recommend Elizabeth and Maiden & Ravens to anyone.
  
 
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   lisa agnew 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. OMG. No words can express how lovely Elizabeth is and her dresses.
I had a lovely day 27th June, trying a selection on. There is so many amazing dresses, all unique and it was hard narrowing down my favourites, that was until  I tried on “The One”. I was instantly In Love with it.
The shop and Owner definitely work well, relaxed atmosphere and made to feel
welcome from the moment the door opened to it was closed.
Thank you so much in helping we choose my dream dress, I am so looking forward to wearing it on my wedding day.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Louise Williams 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. As the mother of the bride-to-be, I cannot recommend Maidens & Ravens highly enough.
From the moment we arrived, Elizabeth was incredibly kind, caring and thoughtful. She made the whole appointment feel so special, relaxed and fun, creating wonderful memories for us both. Her warmth and genuine enthusiasm immediately put my daughter at ease and helped boost her confidence throughout the experience.
Elizabeth has a stunning selection of dresses and an impressive knowledge of her stock. It was clear to see her real passion for helping brides find the dress that feels right for them. She listened carefully, offered honest advice, and made my daughter feel beautiful every step of the way.
We had a fantastic time during our appointment and left feeling excited, happy and truly looked after. Thank you, Elizabeth, for making such an important milestone such a wonderful experience.
I would absolutely recommend Maidens & Ravens to any bride-to-be looking for a personal, caring and unforgettable dress-shopping experience.
  
 
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   Katie Madsen 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Travelled 4 hours to visit this bridal shop and I was not disappointed! It exceeded my expectations which the choices of dress, I had no idea how customisable the dresses would be too! The whole experience was amazing and fun, but the best part of it was being assisted by Elizabeth. She truly understands alternative brides and helps you find your dream dress, I guarentee you will not find a better dress shop than this. The follow up communication after visiting was amazing too, Elizabeth truly takes so much time to look after you and make you even more excited about the experience x
  
 
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   Cammi M 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Elizabeth could not have been more helpful and friendly. She has a beautiful selection of dresses to suit everyone,  particularly if like me you don't want a conventional white dress. Definitely worth a visit in person as there's even more in store and Elizabeth has great advice about how dresses can be altered or what colours are available. I managed to find my perfect dress as you can see!
  
 
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   Marie Kempster 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Elizabeth has the most stunning dresses! If you are looking for a truly special gown I would highly recommend a visit to her boutique.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Nadia Violin 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Maidens & Ravens is such a unique and beautifully curated alternative wedding boutique. Elizabeth has created a truly special space with an incredible eye for detail and individuality! Every dress feels thoughtfully chosen and full of character! Each of them even has names! Highly recommend if you’re looking for something a bit different and truly memorable! 🖤