*Warning* Another happy blog post about how lucky we are to do the job that we do!
We met Lucy and her mum Jenny earlier this year while searching for the perfect dress. Lucy had a very clear idea in her head as to what she wanted her wedding dress to look like which meant our initial discussion went very quickly and after lots of laughing and cups of tea, we had a design!
Lucy wanted her dress to be plain but impactful so we focused on a more feminine tailored cut which showed off her figure and flared out to a statement shape at the hem. Rather than bulk out the skirt with layers of net, making it heavy, we opted for backing the main dress fabric onto cotton calico so the silhouette was held purely by the dress with no need for any additional support. The effect was perfect!
The dress was made out of one of our favourite fabrics, silk zibeline. It has an amazing handle and rather than being shiny or completely matte, it has a sheen that really kicks in when the light hits it as you can see in the photos below. Lucy wanted a fitted silhouette which showed off her figure while looking elegant at the same time. The only detail on the dress apart from the statement neckline were the pure silk covered buttons which extended down the back of the dress and also finished the 3/4 sleeves. We spaced the buttons a little more closely than standard to really accentuate this feature.
One of the main decisions was deciding what fabric to cover the band across the shoulders in. We talked about using hand cut lace motifs or sequinned fabrics but in the end, the sparkle trim was the clear winner. This fabric is covered in hundreds of tiny beads and sequins so it is delicate yet dramatic. We added over 40 Swarovski crystals to add to the effect and Lucy loved how it glistened in the light and thought that would mimic how it would look when she was walking down the aisle in Shrewsbury Abbey.
We usually say that in the 1st/2nd fitting we discuss veils and accessories to match your dress because we can try different ideas on to see what works with your design. Lucy had decided right at the beginning that she wanted a long cathedral length veil but wasn’t sure on the details on the veil. In the end, after trying on a few of our collection veils in the boutique, we all thought that the plain tulle kept the dramatic simplicity of Lucy’s design. The veil extended past the train of the dress and didn’t hide any of the silhouette or touch of sparkle, which is exactly what Lucy wanted from her veil.
After a few walks up and down and ‘sit tests’, Lucy felt comfortable knowing that she could enjoy her day without worrying about feeling restricted. That is one of the great things about having multiple dress fittings, it means we can keep checking the fit right up until the week of your wedding so that you feel comfortable and have one less thing to worry about on the lead up to your wedding day.
Lucy finished her look with a pair of Harriet Wilde silk satin shoes and a pair of statement earrings. No more was needed!
We absolutely love Lucy’s dress! From the swarovski beading to the timeless design, it was a dream to make and we are sure you will agree, Lucy looked incredible. In the words of her mum, ‘there wasn’t a dry eye in the Abbey’. Thank you so much Lucy for sending us such lovely photographs from your day and for all of your fittings which brightened our day. We really do have the best job in the world!
Image credit: https://www.jamiericketts.com/