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A (Brides)made to measure wedding dress

A (Brides)made to measure wedding dress

by | 25, July, 2019 | blog, guest post, tips

Wedding dress shopping can feel like a fairy tale to some but can also be a little overwhelming. Oftern bridal dress shops have a sea of (generally) white dresses laid out before the lucky bride to be which can leave some feeling a little daunted.

There are a few routes to take when thinking about finding the perfect wedding dress:

  1. buy a new wedding dress off the peg
  2. buy a second hand wedding dress
  3. borrow a wedding a dress
  4. have a wedding dress made to measure


Susie Grist Couture | Dale Stephens Photography | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court | Emma Goodwin Hair & Makeup | Yurga Makeup Artist

Here are some top tips from Susie Grist Couture on having a bespoke wedding dress made for your special day:

a wedding dress made just for you

By having your wedding dress made you can create the perfect gown with all the elements that you love. You are part of the design process, so you get to choose the style of it, the fabric, the colour, the type of lace, and any adornments. This means that the dress becomes part of you and will reflect your personality as this will influence the choices that you make. It will be a unique dress and no-one else will have exactly the same one, unlike if you bought one from a high street shop.

Another advantage of a bespoke wedding dress is that it will be tailor made to fit you, no matter what size or shape you are, so that you will feel confident on the day. When you buy a dress from a high street shop they come in standard dress sizes. As most people are not a standard size you will most likely have to pay a seamstress to have some alterations made for it to fit you properly.


Susie Grist Couture | Dale Stephens Photography | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court | Emilee’s Hair

designing a wedding dress just for you

Inspiration can come from many different sources such as bridal magazines, Pinterest, royal weddings, red carpet events, television and films. Or perhaps you have a favourite dress or top that you like the neckline or sleeves, or a favourite style of skirt. Or maybe you’ve tried on some wedding dresses and like certain elements about them but not the overall look.

To start the design process, it is helpful to collate your ideas and take them to an initial design consultation. By talking things through with your wedding dress designer you can pinpoint the best ideas and amalgamate them into the perfect design. Through asking the right questions, the designer will guide you through the design process even if you are a bride who is not quite sure what you want.


Susie Grist Couture | Dale Stephens Photography | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court | Emma Goodwin Hair & Makeup | Yurga Makeup Artist

wedding dress designer

The relationship between the wedding dress designer and the bride is a collaboration and it is important that you get along as you will be spending quite a bit of time together.

As you go through the various stages of making your bespoke gown ,the design will evolve and may even change as ideas progress. If at any stage throughout the process something is not how you envisioned, or you have a new idea it is important to tell your designer as soon as you can. They will help talk through the ideas and changes with you to see if they would work. After all, they are there to bring your dream dress to life and want you to love it.

You will have to make quite a few decisions along the way, but the designer is there to help point you in the right direction so don’t be afraid. It is a very exciting, satisfying and worthwhile experience.


Susie Grist Couture | Dale Stephens Photography | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court | Emilee’s Hair

made to measure costs and timescale

One of the first things everyone thinks about is the cost of a bespoke wedding dress. It may not be the cheapest wedding dress option, however it doesn’t have to be wildly expensive either. And it will be made to fit you exactly.

It is a good idea to research bespoke dress makers in your area and talk to them. You will need to know how much they charge, what is included in the charge and what is extra, when each instalment will be due for payment and how long it will take to make your bespoke dress.

Susie Grist Couture | Dale Stephens Photography | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court | Emma Goodwin Hair & Makeup | Yurga Makeup Artist | All About Flowers

fitting of a made to measure wedding dress

Just as with any wedding dress fitting, it is a good idea to buy the shoes and underwear you will be wearing as early as possible to wear to your fittings as this can influence the fit and length of the dress.

It is also nice to bring along accessories to your fittings so that you can try them on to see if they are working with your dress design.

If your size changes in the build up to the wedding, then having a bespoke dress is ideal as you will have several fittings throughout the making process and at each stage the dress will be altered to reflect your size.

About Susie Grist Couture

Susie Grist Couture specialise in designing and making individual bespoke wedding gowns. Based in Abingdon-On-Thames working from a home studio.

She has over 18 years of professional sewing experience and has been designing wedding dresses for nearly 6 years. She makes bridal gowns, bridesmaids and flower girl dresses and even outfits for mothers.

susiegrist

facebook logo@susiegristcouture

instagram logo@susiegristcouture


image credits:

Dresses | Susie Grist Couture | http://www.susiegristcouture.co.uk
Venue | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court, Clanfield | www.silverpearweddings.co.uk
Photography | Dale Stephens Photography | www.dalestephensphotography.com
Hair (purple lace dress & aqua blue with ivory lace dress) | Emilee’s Hair | www.emileeshair.co.uk
Hair (blush & ivory dresses) | Emma Goodwin Hair & Makeup | www.emmagoodwinhairandmakeup.co.uk
Make up (blush & ivory dresses) | Yurga Makeup Artist | www.yurgamakeup.co.uk
Flowers (ivory dress) | All About Flowers | www.swindonflorist.co.uk

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Finding the perfect wedding dress

Finding the perfect wedding dress

by | 10, October, 2018 | blog, guest post, tips

For many, picking a wedding dress may be the most exciting purchase that you make and, some may say, one of the best (and hardest) decisions in the wedding planning process.

wedding dress trends

Finding the perfect wedding dress is no mean feat and wedding dresses over the years are an example of fashion trends of their day (material, styles, length & colours). Pick a dress that you love rather than one that happens to be on trend now. Take a look at wedding dresses wedding through the years.

style of wedding dress

Think about the venue, theme and mood of your wedding and fit your dress not only to you but the style of your big day too. Also think about when you’re getting married – both the time of day and time of year will affect your wedding dress buying decision. Make sure you feel not only glamourous and gorgeous in your wedding dress but comfortable too (did someone say dress pockets?!)

Here are some top tips from Heart Accomplice on picking the perfect wedding dress:

THE wedding dress

Many dream their whole life of this one special day with the man or woman they love. This one moment when you walk down the aisle, your heart is beating and all eyes are on you. You just want to look perfect for the love of your life.

To find the perfect bridal dress, you not only need time but also to understand what kind of bridal dress you want. Do you opt for a new or a preloved one? A long or a short dress? White, ivory or a colourful dress? Do you want to look around in a classic bridal dress store or do you want to order online?

budget

Before you start to search for your dream bridal dress give yourself a price range and stick to it. If you don’t or can’t spend too much money, have a look at second hand bridal dresses. You can find a beautiful bridal dress, a designer trend or the newest collection for a fraction of the price.

research

Do some research and collect pictures from bridal magazines of the styles and colours you like. Visit wedding fairs to get inspired where you can see and feel dresses. Look online for styles that suit your silhouette.

shopping

Make an appointment with a bridal dress shop as soon as possible because sometimes it takes 4 to 6 months to produce a dress, plus once it arrives you might need some time for alterations. If you don´t have much time, you can order online and a few days later your bridal dress will arrive.

support

Make wedding dress shopping an interactive and inclusive part of the wedding planning process and involve your mother, maid of honour, bridesmaids or friends with you to enjoy this important day and get their valued opinions, in a shop or at home.

alterations

When you have found THE bridal dress, a bridal dress store can order your dress in the right size and you may need some small alterations (don´t forget to plan the costs in your budget).

If you decide to buy a preloved bridal dress I recommend to buy it in 1 or 2 sizes bigger and allow for alterations to fit it perfectly to you. Too big is better than too small.

final fitting

On your last fitting wear the lingerie and take the shoes that you will be wearing on your big day. Then you can make sure that the length and fit of the bridal dress is just right.

accessories

Often less is more. Too much detail and too many wedding accessories can detract from the wedding dress. Make sure that you match your accessories to your bridal dress in colour and material and don’t forget your ‘Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’ nor the silver sixpence in your shoe.

About Heart Accomplice

Heart Accomplice is a second hand online bridal dress shop offering new and good as new preloved bridal dresses, ready to make a bride happy for her big day. They stock a range of different sizes, brands and styles, so there should be something gorgeous for everyone.

It is also possible to sell your bridal dress (on a commission basis) to Heart Accomplice when you have finished with your bridal dress (in good condition).

twitter-1@HeartAccomp

facebook logo@heartaccomplice

instagram logo@heartaccomplice

image credits:

Venue | Sudbury House Hotel | http://www.sudburyhouse.co.uk/
Photography | Cat Stephens Photography | https://www.catstephensphotography.com/
Hair and make-up | Kamila Roberts for The Beauty Spot Cotswolds | https://www.kamilarobertsmakeup.co.uk | https://www.facebook.com/thebeautyspotcotswolds/
Dress | Heart Accomplice | http://www.heartaccomplice.com/
Flowers | Sophie Snow Floral | http://www.sophiesnow.com/
Accessories | The Wedding Fairy and Friends | http://www.theweddingfairyandfriends.co.uk/

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2018 Wedding fashion report from Lyst

2018 Wedding fashion report from Lyst

by | 22, March, 2018 | blog, guest post, trends

Absolutely delighted to share this year’s wedding fashion report from Lyst, a global fashion search platform where you can search thousands of online fashion stores at once, bringing together 5 million products from 12,000 of the world’s leading brands in one place. From emerging trends to worldwide fashion movements, Lyst is a unique source of global fashion intelligence.


Analysing search and sales data across 12,000 online stores and designers, global fashion search platform Lyst has compiled these 5 key insights about how brides are shopping for wedding outfits online this year:

1. Brides are breaking from tradition in a year of female empowerment

  • Searches for bridal jumpsuits and bridal suits have increased by 113% in the last year
  • Searches for wedding dresses including the words ‘backless’, ‘sexy’ or ‘nude’ have doubled year on year
  • But modest dresses are popular too; ‘long sleeve’ and ‘high neck’ styles have seen a combined 47% increase in views year on year

2. Wedding dresses are getting cheaper

  • Last April the average price of a wedding dress on Lyst was ​£832, 25% lower than in 2016. This year it has decreased a further 5% and is currently £790
  • Wedding dresses from Topshop, Coast and ASOS are the most wanted cheaper options, along with contemporary brands Needle and Thread and Reformation

3. The Meghan Effect is a big deal for bridal brands

  • Brands that Meghan Markle could wear on her big day have seen significant increases in wedding dress searches; Erdem (+43%), Ralph & Russo (+82%), Misha Nonoo (+79%), Roland Mouret (+38%)

4. 2018’s weddings will be the most colourful yet

  • Searches for coloured bridal dresses are becoming more popular.  White is still the number one most wanted option, followed by rose, yellow and red
  • Searches for ‘black bridal dresses’ have increased 18% year on year

5. 1920s bridal accessories are having a moment

  • Sales of hair clips and headpieces have risen 39% in the last year. Simone Rocha is currently the most searched for brand
  • Brides are five times more likely to opt for jewel encrusted or coloured shoes with their wedding dress than cream or white
  • There are 24% more feathered bridal products on Lyst than this time last year

The Top 5 most influential celebrity weddings of the last year Lyst looked at spikes in search and sales of some of the last year’s most talked about celebrity weddings to analyse which brides really set the trends:

1. Pippa Middleton married James Matthews, 20th May​ ​2017​ (Wedding dress by Giles Deacon)

  •  Giles Deacon saw the largest spike in searches of any wedding dress designer, with search increasing 148% in May

2. Serena Williams married Alexis Ohanian, 16th November 2017​ (Wedding dress by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Wedding dress 2 and 3 by Versace, with bejewelled Nike sneakers)

  • Serena had 3 designer wedding dresses, but it was her bejewelled Nike Cortez sneakers that got the world talking; searches for Nike Cortez increased 8% that week

3.​ ​Emily Ratajkowski married Sebastian Bear-McClard, 23rd February 2018​ (Suit by Zara)

  • Searches for Zara suits increased 58% week on week following Emily’s super Instagrammable marriage to Sebastian Bear-McClard in February. Searches for mustard yellow across all categories also saw a boost

4. Miranda Kerr married Evan Spiegel, 27th May 2017 ​(Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior)

  • It was Miranda’s Stephen Jones headpiece that caught brides’ attention in Australia, prompting a 43% increase in AU searches for bridal headpieces

5. Chanel Iman married Sterling Shepard, 3 March 2018​ (Zuhair Murad)

  • The Victoria’s Secret model tied the knot earlier this month, and her embellished cape led to a 29% increase in demand for lace capelets in the US

See more at ​https://www.lyst.com/articles/2018-wedding-fashion-report/

 

Wedding traditions: What colour to marry in

Wedding traditions: What colour to marry in

by | 3, May, 2016 | blog, traditions

There are many traditions, rituals and customs that people uphold and perform in connection with weddings. Some of these have now lost their relevance in modern society and sometimes we are not even sure why we undertake them. However we continue to perform them for fun, family tradition and superstition, especially as many of them have derived from efforts to bestow the happy couple with good luck.

Photography by Farrow Photography

There are many superstitions surrounding what the bride wears (see our post Wedding traditions: Don’t forget the silver sixpence in your shoe!) and it is often said that is unlucky for:

  • the bride to make her own dress
  • the groom to see the bride in her dress before the ceremony
  • the bride to wear her entire outfit before the wedding day

Bridal wear is really seeing a big shift in trends to provide new, innovative and unusual styles to make sure the bride makes a statement and is different to any other on her big day. Trends that are appearing on the catwalks include: mix & match separates, crop tops, high necklines, off the shoulder, asymmetric hems, backless dresses and plunging v necks on the back. For the more daring and alternative bride there’s fringing, jumpsuits, palazzo pants, peakaboo skirts or even capes.

Rather than a plain dress, some brides are opting for a floral one or even camo print (which is starting to be really popular in the US – not necessarily in classic hunting camo but more pink or snow camo, or accessorising the traditional camo with orange accents!) Plus the recent bridal fashion shows for Spring/Summer 2017 also saw a shift towards pastel and even black dresses.

This may seem like a turn away from the traditional white wedding dress, however, it’s not that long ago that white wasn’t the usual colour to wear for your wedding day either. White was actually seen as quite an impractical colour as it would show the dirt and therefore you’d probably only get one wear out of it. So it was seen as a colour worn by the wealthy and not common as a wedding dress colour. Whilst modern culture symbolised white as a pure colour, you nearly always see the Virgin Mary depicted in blue as it reflects calm and purity. In fact, until the 15th century in the UK, white was seen (and is still in some cultures) as a sign of mourning.

Until Queen Victoria in 1840, most British royal brides wore silver. However her beautiful white lace court dress influenced the trend for white dresses in all brides as before this time they would’ve worn their Sunday best dress. In fact, red dresses were often a popular choice and this colour remains popular (and lucky) in Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian and Korean cultures. Then during World War 2, brides wore nice tailored suits or even their uniforms.

As the wearing of white wasn’t such a common occurrence, it’s no surprise that there was a rhyme to determine which colour would bring the most luck:

Married in white, you have chosen alright.

Married in grey, you will go far away.

Married in black, you will wish yourself back.

Married in red, You will wish yourself dead.

Married in green, ashamed to be seen.

Married in blue, you will always be true

Married in pearl, you will live in a whirl

Married in yellow, ashamed of your fellow.

Married in brown, you will live in the town

Married in pink, your spirit will sink

Whichever customs and traditions you decide to incorporate into your big day, we wish you health, wealth, happiness and all the very best in your married life.