A BRIDAL boutique shop will celebrate its first birthday with a party to raise money for a charity supporting premature babies.

Treasured Brides, in Angram, near York, is supporting the work of Needles & Hooks Angels & Preemies, a charity which turns donated wedding dresses into clothes for stillborn or premature babies.

The charity’s founder Bea Macdonald, has been invited to speak at an event at the shop on Monday, March 13, to celebrate the boutique’s first birthday.

Zoe Cornwell runs Treasured Brides at Manor Farm Barn and started to support the charity when she donated her wedding dress to them.

The business sells a range of wedding dresses and Mrs Cornwell also runs an events package company, Treasured Occasions, alongside the dress shop.

The converted barn has four sections and the event will host different displays and a talk.

Mrs Cornwell said: “Some people put their wedding dress in the back of the wardrobe or they don’t want to sell it because they might only get £150 for it, but I sent mine away and it was made into 12 outfits.

“They also sent me a make up bag I could keep and to me it is such a special charity.”

The charity, based near Newcastle, serves to take the stress off parents who would otherwise have to find tiny clothes for their babies.

The evening begins at 7pm and includes a pianist and singer, champagne and canapes.

It will celebrate a strong first year for Mrs Cornwell, who says her shop is going from strength to strength.

The Business graduate studied a module in Events and decided to take what she had learned into setting up her Treasured Occasions firm.

She added: “I loved being creative and decided to go into styling.

“And after five years I set up Treasured Brides.

“We are celebrating a really good year and for every 10 brides who come in, nine buy dresses.

“I think it’s different for me because I’m in a converted barn in the countryside and it’s a lovely experience for people.”