Hi we are the Harding family (Nadine, Sean, Reid and Ella), the owners of The Ivory Suite.  

For myself (Nadine) I have always been an entrepreneur at heart.   From a very young age, it was always my summer vacation goal to earn enough money to purchase my full wardrobe for the upcoming school year.  You  can see where this story is going: entrepreneur at heart + love of fashion.  I have always dreamed of owning my own clothing store, I used to sketch clothing that I would want to sell.   My entrepreneurial resume as a kid consisted of lemonade stands, picking and selling blueberries and partridge berries, collecting used items from family and friends for yard/garage sales……and making boxes at the local fishplant.  

Of course, as many I finished high school, went to university and college and headed out into the corporate world.  This never really felt right to me….

Fast forward to when I met my now husband, and I went wedding dress shopping.  Well I completely, whole hearted fell in love with everything bridal.  I loved the gowns, I loved the idea of the perfect little boutique and the atmosphere to match and felt that the St. John’s area was really missing that full bridal experience.  This created the spark……

I went to my then fiance and said “I want to open a bridal boutique”, I talked to him about my ideas and he was like ok sure.   Days/ weeks went by and I nonchalantly  researched and researched and worked on my business plan, submitted it to the bank and secured the funding for what you know today as The Ivory Suite.

I will never forget the look on his face when I told him  the bank loved my business plan, and we are approved for the funding!  Thank goodness he  agreed to go along with my crazy idea…… Thank goodness my husband is also very handy and was able to make my boutique vision a reality.  From the dressing rooms, front displays, crown moulding to the installation of our staff kitchenette…..it was all constructed/installed by him. 

Fast forward to today, after eight years of working my corporate job, growing our family to four, growing our boutique and building our Ivory Suite fam,  I am finally able to say my goals and dreams have become reality.   I am now a full time entrepreneur, with a successful business that I am “oh so” proud of.  Through all of this the Ivory Suite mission has  always stayed the same:  to become the top bridal boutique in Newfoundland,  known for creating a full bridal experience consisting of personalised service,  private relaxed shopping atmosphere,  and an exceptional collection of hand chosen bridal gowns.