A Dalbeattie businesswoman has paid an emotional tribute to her mum after scooping an industry accolade in Glasgow.
Julia Wong was overjoyed when her outlet Isobel Florence Bridal won South Wedding Boutique of the Year at the Scottish Wedding Awards.
It was a poignant moment for entrepreneur at the glittering ceremony in the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
“The shop is named after my mum,” Julie told the News afterwards.
“I used to be a nursing sister in the eye department at Dumfries Infirmary.
“I gave up my work to look after my parents, who both had cancer.
“My dad, James Houston, passed away in December 2013 and my mum Isobel in September 2014.
“She was very proud of me being a nurse and felt guilty that I had to give up nursing to look after her.
“She would have loved this.
“She would have been so proud of me for opening a wedding shop.
“This means everything.”
Julia, 54, opened Isobel Florence Bridal three and a half years ago in the former Royal Bank of Scotland on High Street.
Not long after starting up the business suffered a blow when main supplier Alfredo Angelo went bust in July 2017.
Julia, who attended the ceremony with husband King and daughter Yasmin, said: “Three quarters of the dresses were theirs and I had invested heavily in
them.
“They came after us for the money and we tried everything but eventually we settled on half.
“It’s been an incredible journey – we started off with three dresses now we have over 200.”
