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5 reasons not to dismiss the idea of a ‘bespoke’ dress for your big day

When suggesting a bespoke wedding dress, your immediate thought process would most likely be it’s too expensive and a lot of the time unattainable, so it becomes a passing thought that’s brushed away. However, bespoke simply means a garment made to fit a specific person or body.

Of course, there are high-end designers that create couture designs that may not suit everyone, but as a local, independent boutique we thrive off being a small part of our bride’s wedding journey and watching them see the vision for their dream dress come to life without breaking the bank and making it a relaxed and once-in-a-lifetime experience!

The last couple of years have hugely changed how and where we shop and have highlighted the importance of supporting your local businesses, helping the areas we live and work to continue thriving. We have also noticed the huge uncertainty and worry brought upon a lot of brides with delayed production and delivery times as a result of clothing being made all over the world, but every one of our brides who had their dress made by us mentioned how much more convenient and enjoyable the whole process was despite navigating a pandemic because they knew they would have the perfect dress for their big day.

Not only do you have the guarantee of knowing you’ll be wearing a beautiful dress on your wedding day, but even for brides who are planning a wedding with limited time and maybe only have a couple of months until their wedding day, it is important to not rule out the idea of having a new dress. Yes, when talking about off-the-rail the general guide to buying your dress is to order it about 9 months prior to the wedding date, however, when it comes to having a handmade dress we don’t have the 5-6 month waiting period for your dress to be delivered as all of our fabrics and stock are here ready to be turned into your dress of dreams.

We completely understand one of the biggest hurdles with a bespoke dress is visualizing the finished gown and trusting the process of it being built step by step in multiple fittings, rather than buying off the rail and knowing exactly what you’re getting. This is why we have a collection of handmade samples in our boutique so you are able to try on different styles and feel the fabrics, discussing your ideas in detail with our resident designer and dressmaker, to compose a sketch and see your vision come to life! It’s so important to ask us as many questions as you would like and we encourage you as much as possible because we’re well aware of how daunting it can be to buy something that doesn’t yet exist, which is why we spend the time getting to know and understanding you and what you are looking for in your dress. The beauty about bespoke is it doesn’t end with a sketch. At almost every stage of your fittings, especially at the beginning, you’re able to change any detail you may be questioning, as well as bring new ideas. Our sole purpose is to ensure you absolutely love your dress.

Above all else, having a bespoke gown gives you the freedom to create a dress that shows off the best of you not only in the design but also in the fitting as it is made specifically to your measurements, not to fit a size chart. In a world providing almost too much choice, the decision to choose the ‘perfect’ dress is overwhelming for most brides because most likely there won’t be a single dress that can provide every detail you are looking for. Yet still, everyday brides say they are looking for a dress that’s different from anything they’ve seen before, so what better way than to create it. A handmade dress allows the opportunity to have something that’s completely unique and just yours, combining elements and inspiration from multiple dresses into one that will never go out of style.

And what day could be better to have that one-off special dress than your wedding day!

Managing your wedding day image.

It goes without saying that every bride wants to look her absolute best on her wedding day. Naturally, you will want all your pictures to tell the story of your perfect day well into the future. So, to that end, how far are you willing to push yourself to achieve this and what lengths will you go to? How do you manage your own expectations for your wedding day image?
It never fails to surprise me how much pressure some girls put themselves under to feel that they have done everything to look like the bride they have always dreamt of being.
Strict diets and detox, personal training and gym sessions daily, it’s all very dramatic. It’s totally understandable though and when all eyes on are on you of course you are going to feel that you need to go through this to look your best.
Or do you?
When we sell a wedding dress here at Daisy’s, our best advice to our customers is “if you feel that you have to change anything about your self to look good in your dress then it’s the wrong dress”. We prefer to help you find a dress that looks great now. Obviously, we know that most of our brides want to tone up or lose a couple of pounds but there is a real danger of taking it too far.
Now we are not here to tell people what to do. However,we can share in our experience and try to help people set realistic goals and expectations.
In terms of dress fittings (which is when we see the difference) we like to start this process about six weeks before the date of the wedding. Sometimes we carry out routine alterations (nips and tucks and hems etc) but other times it’s more substantial and this is usually due to last minute weight loss and a change in body shape.
As a rule of thumb, we will size a dress down by one dress size. You can run into real problems altering a dress more than 1-2 dress sizes. For example, if you have ordered a size 14 and you come back in for your dress fitting a size 10, you can expect to have a some extra fittings and alterations.
More commonly when it comes to the final fitting a week or so before the big day, we often find that our brides have pushed themselves in those last few weeks and we have to carry out further alterations at the last minute.
So ideally, whatever your goals are, discuss it with your bridal consultant when you are ordering your dress. Make sure that you have reached that goal or adjusted it by the time you attend your first dress fitting. Be realistic and save yourself a lot of pressure and stress. A well fitted wedding dress will say it all.
Your partner obviously loves you just the way you are and although you want to be your most polished self on your wedding day, don’t arrive looking like somebody other than yourself. Be your beautiful self and literally soak up every magical moment.

Does your wedding dress set the tone for your wedding day?

 

When it comes to finding the perfect wedding dress how important is it for your dream dress to suit your venue and how will it set the tone for your wedding day?

From recent experience, I find that most couples don’t have a particular theme as such for their big day. They do however have some specific ideas about flowers and colours etc and what they might like to wear. Obviously, there are some that have a very themed wedding (those couples who take part in “Don’t tell the bride” for instance) but in general I find that the wedding dress plays a big part in getting ideas flowing and brings all the small details together.

The question I get asked the most by brides to be is “do you know what will suit a bride the minute you clap eyes on her”? My answer is always the same. I can usually tell what won’t suit her, but I am surprised all the time. The reason I mention this is because the best advice I can offer any bride, and I quote, is to “keep an open mind”.

If we are too set in our ideas it can make for a difficult decision when you find a dress that you absolutely love but did not anticipate. On countless occasions, I have seen a bride torture herself with a debate over the dress she thought she would go for over the dress that she absolutely didn’t think she would go for.

The important thing is that you feel amazing in the dress and that you feel comfortable and body confident. We can all stand back and tell someone how we think they look but if the person wearing the dress is not feeling it, then it will never fulfil its potential or be fit for purpose.

Girls, do yourself a huge favour and trust your gut instinct. Ditch the doubts and suspicion. If when you look in the mirror and you love what you see and you feel excited by it, then how can it be wrong?

The venue and then the dress combined will definitely start the juices flowing and shove the creative side of your plans into full throttle. Keep your options open and let the fun begin.

 

The significance of 2020

I have been long debating the significance of the year 2020. Is it just another year or is there more to it?

According to the Bible, the number “20” is representative of a complete or perfect waiting period.

If you are planning to get married in 2020 (MMXX), and have waited patiently for that proposal or have enjoyed a long engagement, then by all accounts your union will be blessed and divine.

In “Angel” terms, the number 20 stands for love, faith and trust. All great attributes for those of you planning to make that promise to spend the rest of your lives together.

Personally, I think it just sounds nice. 2020. “We got married in 2020!” Just rolls off the tongue doesn’t it?  It reminds me of being a kid and thinking that 2020 was so far in the future. I remember thinking that people would probably be getting married in silver jump suits and have their honeymoons on some far away exotic planet or space station (but then I was born in the 60s)! The millennial bride may view it very differently these days, but I do believe it’s a year to be remembered and celebrated. Actually, I wasn’t too far off, as this year metallic is very on-trend.

But it’s almost here and no matter when you were born, it is pretty awesome to be a part of it.

For one thing, it’s the 20th year of the 3rd millennium. It’s the 20th year of the 21st century and it’s also the 1st year of the 2020’s decade. It will never come again. What an amazing year to have printed on your wedding invitations.

I wonder if this decade will promise as much history and notoriety as the roaring 1920s. The fashion back then was certainly timeless. I have lost count of how many brides I have helped over the years who have sought to find a unique vintage styling from that era. Will it be the same in 100 years time I wonder?

Nowadays, there is so much choice out there for a new bride looking to find the perfect dress. If you are a 2020 bride in the making, then take a moment and think of how one day you will look back on this momentous year.  What will you recall about the day that you wore your dream wedding dress? You will be making history not only for yourself but for all the family that come after you. Can you imagine when your great grandchildren are searching for their ancestry and they see that their grandparents got married in 2020? Pretty special!

I think it’s fair to say that I am totally enthralled by this number, but with good reason, I think.

Bridal fashion trends for the year ahead.

2019 promises to be a real standout year in terms of bridal fashion trends. Needless to say, the “Megan Markle” effect has seen some major influence amongst wedding dress designers and as a result we are being wowed with chic, elegant and truly timeless designs.

We are seeing this very much so in our own boutique. Our brides are opting for understated grace and elegance and easy to wear. Our brides want the wow factor of course, but they want it in the form of a dress that provides the impact but is also low maintenance. No fussy corsets or extended trains. They need a dress that they can wear all day long and dance a Caley or two without having to think too much about it.

We have already added to our collections this simple styling, incorporating subtle lace and beading detail, balanced with a plainer skirt whether it be fit and flare or A-line.  Striking bateau boat necklines and off shoulder are bang on trend, enhancing the beauty of shoulders and collar bones (or “décolletage” to use the fancy phrase).

The “millennial” bride typically has very specific ideas on how she wants to look. The wedding dress must showcase her as an individual. A dress that can say “This is me. This is my inimitable look”.

To achieve this, you don’t have to necessarily opt for a dress that is head to toe in detail. Although a lace or beaded dress can look absolutely amazing, the right silhouette for your body shape and subtle detailing can make an unforgettable impression.

So what else can we expect to be impressed by in the wedding dress fashion stakes for the year ahead? Well, champagne and blush tones are in demand, and we are seeing more and more metallic options hitting the catwalks. Rose gold, gold and silver are putting in an appearance and are increasingly popular.

Of course, here at Daisy’s Bridal Couture, we are extremely fortunate to have the facilities to inspire and create with our own bespoke designs. The Shamali collection is set to dazzle our brides this year.

Watch this space……

 

How to choose your perfect wedding dress

When you start on your list of things to do for your wedding then make sure that high on your list of priorities is an action plan on how to choose your perfect wedding dress.

Clearly, finding the venue and saving the date will be number one on your list. But what comes next?

Well I think it’s fair to say that the wedding dress that you choose, no matter what style you go for, will play a major part in all the styling decisions that you make thereafter. The venue and the bride’s dress really will set the tone for the whole occasion.

With this in mind, how do you go about this task and make the most of the experience without overwhelming yourself?

Make a plan.

Start by having a look on line just to see what styles are drawing you in. Nowadays, brides are so lucky as there is so much information available out there. For example; the brand new “Wedding Style Collective” has launched and this does so much of the work for you. Take a look at  https://weddingstylecollective.co.uk//.

Wedding boutiques and wedding dresses at your fingertips. It couldn’t be easier to get started.

My advice would be to start as close to home as possible. When it comes closer to the date of your wedding you will be so glad to have your dress fittings and to be able to collect your dress somewhere locally. It’s all about minimising the workload and making life as easy as possible.

Two or three well-chosen boutiques should do the job although maybe not all in one day.

Make a bit of a day of it and take along your nearest and dearest and plan a nice relaxing lunch. I would recommend one morning appointment and one in the afternoon as you will get tired and you will have a lot of information to digest.

When choosing who to take along with you to choose your wedding dress, its always a bit risky to take an entourage. Of course, it’s always nice to get someone else’s opinion but remember to “dress to impress yourself”. If you are going to choose a dress with the help of a judging panel, you will undoubtedly find it all very confusing.

Remember to ask questions. For example: How long does the dress take to order? Do you have an in- house alteration service? How much will this cost?

Even if you do have an idea of what you like, keep an open mind. I can guarantee that you will be surprised. You learn a lot about yourself when you try on wedding dresses and it’s always a bit of a revelation. Try on a good cross section of styles too.  The bridal consultant should help you with this. Start with the more fitted styles and work up to an A-line and then something fuller. This will help you keep focus on what suits you and what doesn’t.

Look for balance in your dress. Do you love the whole look? Neckline, waistline and hemline? Do you like the detail? Can the boutique offer bespoke changes to the dress to make it more to your personal preference?

Concentrate on the dress and don’t get too fixated on accessories at this point. When you bond with a dress and you think it could be a contender, then ask to try on some veils etc. If you try on accessories with every dress, you will use up all your time: time that you need for the actual dresses.

If you like the very first dress you tried on, then go back to it at the end of the session. The first dress is always a tough one to gauge as at that point you have nothing to compare it to.

Remember, buying a wedding dress is an emotional purchase. If a dress excites you and makes you feel sensational, then what else are you looking for? Go with that feeling. Trust your instincts and you will find it a whole lot easier to say, “yes to the dress”.

Good luck! 😊

 

Stress bust your way to a perfect wedding

A topic that is very relevant and receiving a lot of press currently, is combating stress and anxiety. This comes from a variety of issues but one area is obviously of particular interest. Your wedding. How can you stress bust your way to a perfect wedding?

I am always mildly amused when I hear from my brides after the big day and they say that they are so relieved that ‘it’s all over’. Many, in fact most of them, say to me “it’s so nice to have my weekends back and get my life back to normal!!! What’s that all about? Well it’s because planning a wedding, no matter where or how big or small, can be, and is, rather stressful. It’s such a shame as it doesn’t have to be. So why is it?

You can imagine, in over 20 years of working in the bridal industry, I have spoken to literally thousands of brides (yes, I did say thousands, and lots of grooms too) and have gained a massive amount of perspective all based on their stories and their experiences. It really saddens me when I hear them relay their tales and hear about some of the anxiety they have gone through. I’ve been witness to a few tears and tantrums in my time as project “for better or for worse” can take a wrong turn. The main issues tend to be around time restraints. Too much to do and so little time. The whole wedding journey puts a strain on your time, your finances and ultimately your relationship (if you’re not careful) which kind of defeats the object right?

Over the years my customers have told me how they have found it incredibly hard to juggle all the arrangements whilst managing the cost of the whole shebang and finding time for each other. On top of that, how many couples do you think are doing their best to get into shape just for the occasion?

How many times have you heard someone say, ‘it’s just one day’? Well, yes, it is just one day but in actual fact the planning should form part of your overall wedding experience, shouldn’t it? Making every moment special and creating lasting memories. Happy ones??

How do you plan the “perfect” wedding and minimise the stress and all that comes with it?
Now let’s focus on the positive and how easy it is to avoid all this negativity. You will be pleased to know that there is a way of combating the potential stress, making time for each other and getting into shape. Happy and healthy, that’s the aim.

When you start making a list of things to do for your wedding, make sure that at the very top of that list you write: PRIORITY #1 – Date night/Date day, eat together (healthily), exercise, social time.
If you do this then you will balance out the more stressful stuff as you will undoubtedly feel more empowered to deal with it.

Talk about your concerns with each other and any of the wedding vendors that are helping to make your day special. Don’t keep it all bottled up. When a problem or potential problem arises, tackle it head on and do it together. You should expect great customer service from each of the vendors hired to make your day amazing. Set the bench mark high and communicate this from the very start. Be realistic in your goals but also make it clear what you would like and how you would like it.

If you can exercise together then what better way to blow of some steam and spend quality time together and at the same time getting into shape both physically and mentally for the big day.
Togetherness. That’s the key.

Take a deep breath. This is your wedding and IT WILL BE AMAZING!!!

Dress to impress yourself

Before you start your search for your dream wedding dress; ask yourself one very important question.

“Who do I want to impress when I say yes to the dress”?

You might find this to be a strange question to consider but trust me, as your journey in the search for the perfect gown progresses, you will understand exactly what I mean. In the twenty plus years that I have been dressing brides, it never fails to surprise me just how much pressure people put on themselves to meet the expectations of others.

How do I find a dress that everyone will like? When you say it out loud, it sounds impossible doesn’t it? Well of course it is. The only person that you need to impress is yourself. Dress to impress yourself always! A dress that suits your body shape, fits well and that you feel amazing in. That is all you need! If you can tick all those boxes, then you will radiate confidence and that will show in all your wedding photos and you won’t fail to impress.

Imagine the alternative. You wear a dress on one of the most important days of your life that you like but you don’t love. It’s the dress that got the most votes when you were trying on, but you never really felt that it was the one. Now we can all stand back and tell a bride how we think they look in a dress but the one thing that we cannot do is tell that person how they feel in it.

Inevitably, when your friends and family go with you to look at wedding dresses, they will be drawn to styles that suit their taste. That’s only human. But as sure as some people like marmite and some don’t, it all comes down to our own taste.

On this occasion, more than any other, you need to be sure that it is your taste that is satisfied and nobody else. If you look and feel great, then you will get the thumbs up. Once you have chosen your dress and you show it off for the first time, people are generally looking at it from your perspective then rather than their own.

This is your wedding day. This is your wedding dress.

Go with your instinct. If it feels right for you then it is right for you.

“To wear a veil or not to wear a veil, that is the question”

 

As a bridal consultant I am constantly asked for my advice as to what accessories brides are going for these days and my answer is always the same. It depends on the bride and what suits her.

Choosing a veil is very much like choosing a hat. Some people suit hats and others don’t.

First and foremost, the dress is the showstopper. Or should I say, the bride in her dress is the show stopper. The dress will make the statement on the day, not the accessories. Having said that, the right accessories can add to and compliment the look but what you want to avoid is for them to take over (unless you are a Royal bride and have a fabulous 5 metre- long veil of course)!

Ask to try on a good range of veils. Start with a single tier, very simple finger tip length veil and then go to 2 tier. Add to that some lace or sparkle and then go on to try the longer length veils. Try to keep some focus on what you are trying and your first impression to each one. First impressions are usually the right ones when it comes to bridalwear.

Longer veils are all the rage currently, thanks to the lovely Duchess of Sussex, and I must agree that they do frame a dress beautifully and can dress up a plainer train.

If you are not very traditional and haven’t considered wearing a two -tier veil, then have a go and see what the “blush” layer looks like when it covers your face. You might decide that this is your one time to be traditional and it may well surprise you.

A two- tier veil can also offer more volume and a little drama even if you decide not to be the blushing bride and wear the second layer over your face.

Of course, veils can look very different, depending on how you wear your hair. Most up-do’s will require you to wear the veil at the back of your head and quite low which gives a very soft look. The higher the comb is positioned on your head, the more the veil will sit over your shoulders. That in itself can give some brides a little more confidence as you get that little cuddle from your veil when you walk down the aisle.

Maybe a bespoke veil is more your thing. Ask if you can have matching detail added to the veil. This could be by way of some beading or some matching lace. This will incur a bit more cost, but you will get a unique look and you’ll get exactly what you want.

Decide on whether to wear a veil or not to wear a veil and then look at what you want to wear in your hair. My advice is always dress, veil, headdress (tiara, comb, flowers for example) and then the jewellery, in that order.

Overall though, remember that a veil, tiara and jewellery are all accessories and they shouldn’t make or break the look. They are there to accompany and compliment your stunning wedding dress. Don’t let them steal the show.

Why support your local bridal shop?

When it comes to choosing a wedding gown, really, where do you start?

There is an ocean of information on line and a plethora of stunning gowns to be amazed by so how do you decide where to start?

Back in the day, and I mean almost twenty years ago, the internet had little impact on our beloved industry and you were lucky if you had a bridal shop in or near to your local area. Of course, now we have the whole world available to see online and dozens of places to try on dresses.

Long gone are those days when we would make at least a dozen brides very happy every weekend and selling a wedding dress was as easy as getting out of bed in the morning (well for some anyway)!

Nowadays it’s a question of surfing the net until you are blue in the face and then taking your pick as to where to visit first. It’s almost a lucky dip. Now don’t get me wrong, the internet plays a big part in getting us the business and we need it to get the word out there on how great we are and what amazing service we offer, but, (and you knew that there was a “but” coming right?) should you rely on the internet to seduce you into making a decision?

The one thing I have always stood by is the fact that a computer cannot take away the job of a bridal consultant. Although the internet has certainly made the job harder, “IT” cannot replace being helped into a wedding dress and cannot give advice on whether the dress shape may or may not be the right one for you.

Part of your wedding day experience is in the planning. So that it’s not all about “one day”. Making the right choices at the beginning will help to make each moment special for you and thus become part of your memories overall.

Choosing where to go to choose a wedding gown is as important as choosing who you take with you and has the ability to shape your whole experience thereafter.

Give your local bridal shop a chance. At the very least it will help you to bench mark your expectations, for better or for worse.

Why buy from a boutique rather than “off the peg”?

It’s probably quite well known by now, or at least suspected, that a large majority of wedding gowns are produced in the far east. Regardless of price tag, it is very likely that the origin of your dress is China. Now this does not diminish or in any way tarnish your wedding gown, in fact quite the opposite. The people that produce these garments are experts in their field and have a wealth of experience. That said, as with anything, there are some rogue manufacturers out there that will claim to be the real deal and sadly disappoint.

So how do you protect yourself from choosing a dress that might not measure up in the quality stakes?

Your local boutique will have gone to extreme lengths to source and supply the best in quality and value. Their reputation depends on it.  Hours and hours spent and mile upon mile travelled to attend all the latest wedding shows and exhibitions in order to secure the latest styles. And all on your behalf. We do the leg work, so you don’t have to.

Working in a bridal boutique is a vocation. It is a passion that is in your blood.  After over two decades in this job I can honestly say that I still get goose bumps when my brides find “the one”, it never gets dull. I remember their names, their wedding venues, their proposals, their bridesmaids, the whole kit and caboodle because I love it. And they remember me. That’s priceless.

You can order a dress on line or go to one of the many chains opening that offer “off the peg” but where is the fun in that? What memories will you treasure from that experience?

The time, the passion, the want to please is all wrapped up in your local boutique. You owe it to yourself to enjoy being pampered, understood and listened to. It’s your time and you deserve it. Don’t compromise. Make the right choice and make every moment special.