Our Story...
When you love what you do, you work harder than ever. You pour your heart into it, you stay up late making it better, and you refuse to let it fail — because it means that much to you.
Over the last decade, what started as one small idea has grown (and evolved!) into four thriving businesses — all built from passion, creativity, and a genuine love for helping others bring their visions to life.
We’ve been through a real journey of transformation - from a dining-room start-up to running some of the UK’s most-loved wedding fayres and social media brands. And we’ve learned that people don’t just want to work with a company - they want to know the people behind it.
So, this page is for that. For the story. For the faces. For the why behind it all.
If you’d like to follow along behind the scenes- the real-life chaos of running multiple businesses (and being a mum of 5 (2+3 bonus babies) in the mix) — you’ll find me sharing it all over on Instagram: 📸 @sophiesherief
Meet the Faces Behind DIVA 💍✨
So you know the faces behind the names, and the names behind the brand…
I’m Sophie, and my journey into the wedding world began back in 2010, when I got engaged at just 20 years old. Like so many brides, I’d dreamed about my wedding for as long as I could remember — the flowers, the décor, and of course… the dress.
But living in Hereford at the time, there wasn’t much on offer when it came to wedding styling or décor. Determined to create something spectacular, we started searching further afield - and eventually found a company in Cardiff, around 70 miles away.
When my mum (and now business partner!) Jacqui and I arrived, we quickly realised it wasn’t the right fit. The ideas were limited, the passion was missing, and it just didn’t feel special.
We left with a brochure and a price list, sat in the car feeling deflated, looked at each other and said the words that changed everything:
“We can do this - and we can do it SO much better.”
That moment sparked the beginning of what would become our business - built on creativity, heart, and a shared passion for helping couples create the weddings they’ve always dreamed of.
Around a month later – In September 2010 - Divas was born. 👗✨
Like so many girls, I’d always dreamed of having my own wedding boutique. So, while planning my own wedding (and endlessly flicking through bridal magazines!), I thought — why not now?
With the help of my dad, we transformed the back room of my house - my dining room, all 3m x 3m of it - into a tiny boutique and office. I found a local dressmaker who created my very first batch of bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses, since the big designers understandably weren’t ready to take a chance on a 21-year-old running a business from her dining room in Hereford!
A friend built me a simple website, I launched a Facebook page, and suddenly, Dresses for Divas was born. I was also working full-time as a teaching assistant and studying for a degree in Primary Education - so life was busy, to say the least.
In those early months, we sold just one bridal gown. One. I was gutted… but giving up wasn’t an option.
That’s when my mum, Jacqui, saw how much this dream meant to me and decided to join forces. Together, we changed direction - shifting from bridal to bridesmaid and prom dresses, and reimagining the business as a fun, accessible brand for young women.
At a trade show, we met Giles from Eternity Bridal, who took a chance on us (that I will forver be grateful for) and let us stock the Tiffany Prom range. Within four weeks, we’d sold over 10 dresses and realised we’d outgrown my little dining room.
So, we moved into the basement of Jacqui’s house - our first “official” showroom - and kept pushing forward. That year, we sold 23 prom dresses (many of those girls are now brides who visit our wedding shows — which feels like such a full-circle moment!).
Before long, we started getting requests for chair covers, centrepieces, and wedding décor - things no one else in Hereford was offering at the time.
So, in January 2011, we officially registered Diva Weddings & Events Ltd, and just a week later, we had our first booking.
By the end of our first year, we’d completed 36 weddings and events, and our name was spreading fast.
We couldn’t yet afford a physical shop or advertising, so we rented a room at Holmer Park and hosted regular pop-up boutiques — long days, heavy lifting (thanks, Dad!), and countless hours of preparation… but it worked. It was the very start of something special.
By 2012 and 2013, both of our businesses were thriving, and we knew it was time to take the next big step. In September 2013, we opened our very first showroom - a huge milestone, and honestly, one of the scariest (but most exciting!) leaps we’d ever made.
That same year also brought the arrival of our smallest Diva - our very own “Baby Diva”, who’s been part of the business since day one. At just 20 months old, she was already “helping” to fit chair covers and stealing the show at our events!
These days, she’s grown into quite the assistant - proudly parading around our wedding fayres most Sundays, soaking up every bit of the magic (and attention!) that comes with being part of the DIVA family. You'll even find her registering you now at some of our shows 💕
By 2014, our little business had blossomed beyond anything we’d imagined. That year alone, we helped to decorate and support over 200 brides on their wedding days - each one unique, beautiful, and filled with DIVA sparkle.
We also took another huge step forward, moving into our brand-new showroom, complete with a private bridal boutique and a dedicated hire and décor area. It was a proud moment - seeing how far we’d come from those early days in the dining room and basement - and the beginning of an even bigger adventure ahead.
Growing the Dream 👑
💍✨ The journey of Diva Wedding Fayres
Diva Wedding Fayres was born in 2014, kicking things off with one of Hereford’s biggest ever wedding fayres at the stunning Lyde Court. With almost 100 exhibitors and over 250 couples plus their guests attending on the day, the bar was set high - and from that moment, we knew we were onto something special.
What started as a spin-off from Dresses 4 Divas quickly became our full-time passion. We made the decision to focus fully on DIVA Wedding Fayres and our growing events business - and we’ve never looked back.
As the shows grew, so did our ambitions. By 2015, it was time to streamline and dedicate ourselves entirely to building the DIVA brand. We sold DIVA Weddings & Events that August - and looking back, it was one of the best decisions we ever made.
The Growth
Over the past decade, Diva Wedding Fayres has hosted over 130 luxury wedding shows across the UK. At one point were running 40+ events per year in some of the country’s most breathtaking venues. From Stanbrook Abbey to Chateau Impney, Sixways Stadium, Charlton Atheltic FC, Birmingham Symphony Hall to multiple ARC Racecourses, our shows quickly became known for their incredible lineups of trusted suppliers, stunning locations, and that signature DIVA touch.
2020 - The Pivot to Digital
When the world stopped in 2020 and large events were put on hold, we - like so many others - had to pivot. Every single exhibitor who had booked with us was treated with fairness, honesty, and flexibility. Refunds, transfers, support… we pride ourselves on having made sure no one was left out of pocket.
That’s when DIVA Media came to life.
With years of marketing experience already under our belt, we shifted online - helping wedding venues and suppliers keep their visibility and momentum through digital marketing and social media management.
In just one year, DIVA Media grew beyond anything we imagined - supporting over 20 wedding and event professionals with full social media management, and mentoring 60+ suppliers through our community, The Digital Diva Society.
Today, a decade on, we’re still just as passionate about creating unforgettable wedding experiences - for our suppliers, couples, and venues alike. Whether its one of our franchisee areas who are all vetted and trained by us to hold our high standard, or whether its us in person, every show is planned with heart, care, and that unmistakable DIVA energy that brings it all together.
DIVA Media is now one of the leading Social Media Management and Wedding Business Growth Coaching Companies in the South West and we continue to support all our suppliers, online through The Haus of Social - our membership portal which helps Wedding Suppliers Show up, Sell and Scale online, and offline in person, at our 10+ shows per year.
We can’t wait to see what’s next for the DIVA journey… and to welcome you along for the ride.
With love,
Sophie & Jacqui x
✨ Bringing the magic to your wedding planning journey since 2014 ✨
