A breast cancer survivor gave up a high-flying job in banking to open her dream business – helping create fairytale weddings.
Lisa Cywinski started the Wedding Bliss boutique in Prestatyn’s High Street three years ago and now many girls a year walk down the aisle in one of her stunning dresses.
Ten years ago the 42-year-old mother of two overcame breast cancer to forge a high pressure career with a major High Street bank, in charge of five branches and looking after the personal wealth of high earners.
But she gave it up when the chance came along to start her own business: “I was a premier bank manager, really a personal banker for people with high net worth,” she said.
“I had two little girls in primary school and I was trying to rush back to pick them up and it wasn’t always possible.
“I wanted to get the work-life balance right because it was all work but it was just coincidence that this business came up.”
She has just moved the business to new premises in a prime position on the town’s High Street and is able to enjoy her life with partner Graham, a financial consultant, and daughters India and Scarlett.
Not that Lisa is putting her feet up. Her business has grown and diversified. Wedding Bliss is now accompanied by Boutique Bliss which caters for special events with a range of gowns and dresses while further up the High Street is Outdoor Cymru, with everything for walkers and campers.
Then there is Cafe Cymru, down on the front near the Nova Centre and open from April with a range of Freetrade teas and coffees and often locally-sourced drinks, meals and Welsh ice-creams.
Her business switch has been helped along by Denbighshire County Council’s Business Support Team and Team Manager Sue Haygarth is delighted that Lisa’s hard work and business acumen has resulted in such a successful string of businesses for Prestatyn.
She said: “Business people like Lisa who have the drive and ideas to make things work can do so in any economic climate – grants such as the North West Wales Local Investment Fund can assist in providing help with website development and capital purchases which can really help ease the financial burden while a business is growing.”
In all Lisa now employs up to 20 full-time and part-time staff and Outdoor Cymru sells over the internet too.
Outdoor Cymru’s balaclavas, tents and sleeping bags are a far cry from the glamorous creations that line the clothes racks at Wedding Bliss, visions in shimmering silk and chiffon.
The gowns cost anything up to £1,000 and are complemented by sparkling accessories, stunning shoes, outfits for doting mums and guests and a hire service for the gents.
The much-seen TV programme ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ amazed audiences with its depiction of the marriage celebrations of Britain’s travellers but not Lisa who has provided elaborate gowns for gypsy weddings.
It’s a job that Lisa loves: “Every day I look forward to coming to work,” she said: “It’s a lovely, happy environment and so rewarding.
“When a girl comes in and actually chooses their dress they’re so excited when they’ve picked ‘the one’ and I get too know them from start to finish and then the big day arrives and there’s all the excitement – it’s just fab.
“Most girls have just one big day – I have so many every year.”
Often the dress is chosen long before the wedding and Lisa is already taking orders for next year but final details can also go right to the wire with her team of seamstresses burning the midnight oil to make final alterations.
It’s all for that perfect fairytale effect and Lisa added: “I want to make them look like princesses.
“I love the moment when the girl puts on the gown that is ‘the one’ and their mum bursts into tears.”
