Making The Day, the everyday

We caught up with Claire O’Neal to hear about the inspiration behind opening new wedding shop, The Day.

When Claire O’Neal decided to start a new chapter of her life, she didn’t expect to be using her passion to create the perfect day for others, every day!

When circumstances in Claire’s life gave her the opportunity to take a look at what she enjoyed doing, she decided to step away from her teaching career and think about what she was really passionate about. For years, Claire had loved to help family and friends prepare for their wedding days by providing special stationery and materials. When she noticed the vacant property on Wednesday Market, she turned to them for advice. Knowing what she had achieved for the weddings of those close to her in the past, friends were keen to encourage her to make the next step in achieving her dream.

Now, just a few weeks into her new business, Claire is the proud owner of The Day, a contemporary wedding boutique in the heart of Beverley’s retail space.

“For a long time now, wedding stationery has been a real passion of mine. I love how special the details become to a couple while making the arrangements for their special day and really enjoyed being a part of that. Now, thanks to putting the things I enjoy first, I’m able to make others’ special days part of my every day!”

Once she had the space of a whole shop to utilise, there was no need to stop at stationery. Claire has turned a one-time hobby into everything you could need for your perfect day under one roof, but she doesn’t see why your wedding day itself should be the only special day to celebrate. Customers at The Day are treated like royalty well ahead of their wedding, with a special area in the shop reserved for brides to be to take their family and friends for an all-inclusive dress shopping experience.

Claire said, “Choosing a wedding dress is one of the main parts of organising the perfect wedding, and generally women like to treat is as a special occasion in itself. With the room we have here, brides can bring their friends and make shopping a great time to remember. Of course, it barely needs saying that that comes with glasses of Prosecco for a great time!”

The Day describes itself as a contemporary wedding boutique, which caters for the tastes of various wedding styles. Where some couples opt for a traditional all-white theme, others love to inject a splash of colour into their day, and whether it’s dresses, accessories, stationery or gifts, you can find whatever it is you’re looking for to make your day The Day.

The Day of course sums up exactly what a wedding is all about. When talking about how she came up with the name of the shop, Claire describes it as a ‘eureka moment’.

“Everything about weddings is all about making the perfect day. It’s a long-planned celebration that neatly fits into a schedule of getting ready, having the ceremony and ending it all with a great reception party. Beyond that, anniversaries in years to come will revisit memories encapsulated in that day – so the name seemed a perfect fit.”

You can find The Day at 15a Wednesday Market and find them on Facebook by searching Thedaybeverley.