A lover and a fighter

From war zones to wedding dresses, etc’s Tegan Chapman talks to Private Harriet Woodgate on her latest line of work

Private Harriet Woodgate may just be the most unlikely soldier you would expect to find.
The part-time model from Ashington,Northumberland, spends her weekends learning how to fight in war zones and is preparing for deployment to Afghanistan in 2013.
But now she has turned her attentions to an all together different vocation and has set up Claiss Bridal Boutique, an online wedding dress hire shop.
Harriet, 23, is a vital part of the Territorial Army’s Fifth Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, but has decided to set up Claiss Bridal Boutique with fellow fusilier Captain Chris Hall.
“There is a real market out there for people who are on a budget but who don’t want to scrimp on style,” said Harriet.
“This website offers the ideal solution for women who are on a tight budget and would like to hire a lovely dress for their big day.
“Claiss Bridal Boutique offers the chance for brides-to-be to wear the dress of their dreams without the large price tag.
“It also solves another problem, as a lot of people don’t have the storage space to be able to keep their dress.”
Claiss Bridal Boutique also offers a variety of other essential wedding accessories for hire.

Visit Claiss Bridal Boutique at www.claissbridalboutique.com or email harriet@claissbridalboutique.com