Brisbane wedding gown maker Wendy Makin announces retirement

A globally renowned Queensland wedding gown maker has revealed why she made the “emotional” call to retire - but not before offering “massive” discounts.

Wendy Makin is recognised as one of Australia’s best bridal wear designers.

Globally renowned wedding gown designer Wendy Makin has announced her retirement after 45 years in the bridal industry.

The Brisbane designer has been at the helm of her multi-award-winning label Wendy Makin Bridal Designs for 33 years and took to social media on Monday afternoon to share the news of her retirement.

The Instagram post revealed Ms Makin would be “hanging up her tape measure and retiring in September this year”.

Aditi Singh wearing Wendy Makin. Picture: Chi Yeung (Momento Road Photography)

“We are delighted our English agents, Libby and James from Yes Bridal Studio will continue to carry on the Wendy Makin Ready to Wear and French Collection in the UK,” the post read.

“To our current brides, rest assured that Wendy and her team are still available to you for fittings and alterations as per your agreed timelines.

“For future brides, this is your last opportunity to purchase a Wendy Makin gown during our massive sample clearance sale.”

Kalico-Pearl Hammond, a winner of Queensland Brides magazine "Cover Girl Search" in a dress designed by Wendy Makin. Picture: Drew Fitzgibbon

Regina – Wendy Makin Bridal

Recognised as one of Australia’s best wedding dress designers, Ms Makin’s company started in 1993 and made couture and ready-to-wear gowns for thousands of brides in Queensland and across Australia as well as in New Zealand and the UK.

The clearance sale would be held at her flagship store in East Brisbane.

Ms Makin said the decision to retire had been “something she had been thinking about” for a while and was also due to a number of reasons.

“To be honest, I’ve had one knee replacement, and I need another. So it was sort of a little bit for health reasons in that way,” she said.

“But during Covid, we also had to sell our building and rent next door, and we have been really happy here until they decided last year to put it on the market.

“They did end up selling it, and so we had six to 12 months to stay here. But we just took it as a sign, and we really just thought it was time, and that has been really emotional.

“(My husband) Geoff said that it was a sign, and we’re of the age to retire, and we’ve got other plans of travel and things we’d like to do.

“Geoff has been in the business for 33 years with me, and pretty much the only travel we do normally is for work.

“It will be really nice to just do some slow, retirement travel, and we’re looking forward to that, and just looking after ourselves.”

The last 24 hours had been very emotional, Ms Makin said, particularly after being contacted by so many past brides and staff.

“So many have said wonderful things, and it was quite a surprise, actually, yesterday hearing from so many people, and even last night and today, messages were still coming in,” she said on Tuesday.

“It’s been quite overwhelming, the lovely response and everybody wishing us well.”

Ms Makin said one of the most special moments over the past year had been helping clients whose mothers’ wedding gowns she had also made.

“That has been really lovely and quite a full circle moment,” she said.

“Even a bride phoned this morning to say if she could come in? And she said, ‘You made my mum’s dress’, which is quite amazing.

“We’re just on that cusp of the next generation coming through, which was really lovely.”