about me
I'm Gail
My passion for sewing and design led me to study Fashion Design and Marketing in South Africa in the late '90s. It was during a student job making historical wedding gowns that I truly fell in love with bridal wear.
Flash forward through decades of designing, custom-making, and altering wedding and occasion wear: in 2019, I had the wonderful opportunity to take over the well-established Always & Forever Bridal. Since then, I’ve lovingly nurtured it into a true "Wedding Sanctuary", expanding the menswear department and building up an extensive collection of bridesmaid and special occasion dresses for mums and proms.
I'm Gail Sneddon, the owner of Always and Forever Wedding Sanctuary, near Barnstaple, North Devon.
I’m Gail, the owner of Always and Forever Wedding Sanctuary in Bideford, North Devon. Being an independent wedding shop allows me to offer an attentive, unhurried and genuinely warm experience tailored entirely to you.
Whether you’re stepping into the wedding sanctuary for the very first time by yourself or bringing your special guests along to share in the special moment, I am here to guide you through every step.
When you visit the Always & Forever Sanctuary, you aren't just browsing rails, you’re receiving experienced, professional guidance to help bring your vision to life in a relaxed and welcoming space.
MY STORY
1983-1986
Really looking at my parents wedding album for the first time properly as a child and falling in love with the most beautiful dress and fancy suits! Making my dolls matching clothes using the offcuts from the dresses my Mom made for me
the 90's
Discovering a love and a natural gift for sewing through home economics at High School. Also my best friend's mother was a seamstress, the friend would go out and party while I stayed home with her Mom and sewed!
1996-1998
Headed off to Fashion College to learn everything I could about my passion, worked as a student with a designer making historical wedding gowns and proudly graduated as top student in my year with distinctions in every subject.
2019
Took over the reins at Always and Forever Bridal with my lovely friend Emma and we had the most fun renovating the shop during lockdown drinking vast amounts of coffee and prosecco!
1999-2019
Worked as an independent specialist bridal and formal wear seamstress in Edinburgh, Belfast and Devon.
2024
Became the sole owner of A&F and expanded and nurtured it into the Always & Forever Wedding Sanctuary that it is today.
I love my Sanctuary and sharing it with everyone who walks through the door. My goal is simple: I want everyone who visits to feel genuinely listened to, cared for and completely stress-free as they find their perfect look for their special occasion.
Coffee drinking, cowboy boot wearing, country music loving, with a healthy dose of glitter, pearls and pink! That’s me, Gail, the proud owner of the Always & Forever Wedding Sanctuary.
Born in South Africa to Scottish parents, I moved to the UK at 21. Through every chapter, one constant has remained: my absolute love for pretty clothes, sewing, and being creative.
I’ve practically had a needle in hand since childhood! Thanks to my mom’s encouragement (and my dad for footing the bill!) I graduated top of my Year from Fashion College and turned my lifelong passion into a dream career.
Decades and hundreds of dresses later, I still adore what I do. Nothing brings me more joy than helping you find the perfect outfit for your special occasion and tailoring it to feel custom-made just for you. I’m here to listen, guide, and support you through every step of your dress journey and I’m always up for a bit of good-humoured banter with cheeky grooms' parties too!
From start to finish Gail was fantastic and so welcoming. From helping me find my dream dress to helping us with suits for the Groom and best man. Always and Forever Bridal is the perfect one stop shop for all your wedding outfits needs.
Emily & Tom Bennett
