To Strap Or Not To Strap? That Is The Question

We have many brides come into the shop, immediately saying they definitely want straps or they definitely don't. For some, though, the decision is harder, and it's all about what looks right with each dress. We try to stock dress with a variety of necklines, with or without straps, but we are able to add straps to any of our dresses. Some lend themselves to a halter, some to one strap, and some to sleeves, and depending on the style, we can order the right fabric for the dress.

Take, for instance, sleeves. Most requests for sleeves are for lace ones, to go with our more vintage styles. We order in a lace that matches the dress if it already has some on; otherwise we can show you plenty of lace samples for you to choose your favourite. However, we can make sleeves from tulle, organza, satin or taffeta, whichever goes best with your dress.

To show you the style of sleeve we can make, here are before and after photographs of our dress Monique. A customer had a winter wedding, and loved this dress. We thought that adding sleeves was a great idea. It looks like two different dresses. Monique can be found on our website here. 

Some people like the idea of sleeves, but don't want them to be there all the time. For these people, we have the jacket. We know what you're thinking, surely jackets are only for winter weddings? well, you thought wrong. We sell jackets all year round, in many different shapes and styles. Many have full length sleeves, some have simple capped sleeves, and others are a back-to-front style, with buttons running up the back. These are brilliant for adding a bit extra to a very plain dress, or customizing a dress to make it unique to you. Then, if you decide halfway through the big day that you're ready to 'let loose and dance', you can take off the jacket and transform your dress! Here are a few that we have in stock, although we can make to order as well.

 This cover-up is exactly that, it has a very high neckline and adds something different to any wedding dress. The button up back and ribbon edged bottom finish it off perfectly, along with the pearl embroidery.

































This jacket is also a button up back, but it has long sleeves, and isn't at all beaded. It's quite a soft and romantic style, perfect for someone looking for a vintage style dress. The lace on this jacket is absolutely stunning, with the sleeves reaching the elbow.

For those who want a sleeve length that is
something in between the two previous styles, then these are the jackets for you. One is in the same design as the others, with a high collar and buttons up the back the other, however, is a bolero. The bolero is a very popular style in our shop, maybe because on the wedding day it is easier to take off, the others take some time to unbutton (a minor problem for the effect achieved)

 The edging on the bolero is particularly detailed and finishes the style off perfectly. It's a personal favourite of ours, but don't tell!





So, we're sure you've seen enough lace jackets to last a life time. Perhaps we should moving on to, as the title of this post suggests, straps (you may think it's a long time coming!). Usually, when deciding what kind of straps to have, we usually advise the customer to look at the neckline of their dress. A sweetheart neckline often lends itself to slightly angled straps, or maybe a halter, a neckline with pleating wants straps that follow the pleat direction. To make lace straps, we order extra lace, cut out the right shape, and usually line it with an organza fabric for the brides comfort. Here are some of the straps we have made before.

 On the left is a thick lace strap with minimal beading. This is to go with a specific dress, the lace matching exactly. The strap on the right is a beaded style stitched onto organza fabric and tapered at each end, the effect is stunning.

Here is an example of when the same strap can be made either as a halter or as two straps. We simply increase the strap length, and make sure - if a halter - fits nicely around the neck so it doesn't stand away.

Left: The front of the strap.
Top right: The strap as a halter neck.
Bottom right: The back of the strap.


We hope we have given you some ideas about your own dress, maybe you've decide a bolero is definitely the way forward, or a halter strap would suit your dresses neckline. Comment below to let us know what you thought of this instalment of Wedding Wednesday, we always love reading your feedback. Until next week.

Make a Stationery Statement

A table plan is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when planning a wedding, but things like this are very important if you want the big day to run smoothly. Many people choose to make their own invitations and place cards, but this can just add more stress to your planning. Brides have enough to think about already, without the pressure of choosing the satin ribbon or the organza one for their postbox (yes, some people do have postboxes, we didn't make that up). So, if this is you, and you simply don't need anything else to think about, what are your options?

The Online Shop 

We all know that the internet is vital for your wedding, whether it be to find the shop with wedding dress of your dreams, or to read through the many internet wedding magazines, even to find your wedding theme. However, when it comes to purchasing invites, the internet unfortunately has its flaws. With a physical shop, you can go in and check on the progress of your stationery at any time, using proofs to make any amendments you feel are necessary along the way. Most online stationers have started providing proofs, which is a big help; you want to make sure what appears on the screen is actually what you're getting. We say that if you are unable to request a proof from an online store, don't take the risk! Wedding invitations go quite a way in setting the tone of your wedding, and you don't want to trip up at the first hurdle. Another difficulty with buying your invites online is that if you want to match up your invitations, save-the-date cards and table plan (a subtle but chic idea that the keen eyed among your guests will notice...and appreciate) it can be hard to recreate an invitation design by yourself on something else. To overcome this problem, many sites have started to offer a package deal, where all the necessary items can be bought together and personalized, which is a great idea. There is, however, a last problem to the online store, the fact that your invites may lack that unique quality. There is probably someone out there ordering the same invites as you right this second. This doesn't matter, we hear you say, because each customer writes their own message and date and name on their invites, so they would be different. But picture this. You've just ordered your dream invitations online, very pleased with yourself for finding such an elegant style at such a fantastic price. Then the post arrives. You pick it up, and recognise one of the envelopes, but you don't know why. Once you open it up, you realise with a sinking heart that this is an elegant invitation to your best friends wedding. And the reason you recognised it so quickly? Why would your heart be sinking? You've just ordered the exact same style!

The Stationer's Shop

If you think ordering online is a bit risky, what about going to the local stationer's shop. It resolves all the problems you may have had with seeing proofs before your final invites, or having emergency name changes halfway through their creation. One thing you do have to compromise on is price. It is well known that online orders are a lot cheaper, as you can usually get them at a discount. The invitations may take longer from a store as well, so remember to leave enough time to get them sent out to all of your guests. we recommend sending them out three to four months before your big day, to make sure everyone has time to put it into their diary, buy outfits and maybe book time off work. In our opinion, going to an actual shop to buy your invites seems to provide more peace of mind, you know the shops have a reputation to uphold, so are sure to make your invitations absolutely perfect. Going in to talk to someone who can give advice on what works and what might not is also a huge bonus, and you should value their opinion, although do remember that it is your design, and you have the final say. 

The Bridal Shop

This may seem an odd place to go to get your stationery, and if you ask in some boutiques, they may look at you like the stress of wedding planning has finally gone to your head. However, quite a few bridal shops do make their own bespoke stationery. a way to find out is to check out a shop's website, it will usually say on there, along with some pictures of the kind of styles they are able to make. The choice can be more limited than at a specific stationer's shop, but if you have a certain colour in mind, like the colour of the bridesmaid dresses, they will be able to get a perfect match on ribbons and such like. They are often very flexible, and will cater to your needs. We may sound slightly biased, because we make bespoke stationery at our bridal shop, but we understand that this way isn't for everyone. It isn't as cheap as it would be online, but it is a lot less likely that anyone will have the same style invitation as you!

We hope that this has helped you to decide on where you want to source you invitations and stationery from. This is an area of weddings that is often overlooked, or left to the last minute, but if you get invites and table plans organised early enough, you can avoid all the stress that comes with it. 

Never Too Many Shoes: Fabulously Vintage

We stock a lot of shoes in our shop, but none are more popular than the Perfect range. It may be the fact that their vintage styles are often adorned with lace, matching the in vogue dresses. It may be the comfort factor - forget slipping into your ballet flats halfway through, you'll last the entire day in these shoes. It might even be the outstanding quality of the brand, we don't know, all we know is that they fly off our shelves.
   When you think vintage, it might be that fancy, delicate and busy shoes spring to mind. On some accounts, you may be right, but Perfect seem to have made a shoe for everyone. They come in every shape and size, whether you like a 4 inch heel or none at all! Here are some of the best sellers.

This is Flo. Flo is a beautiful peep toe lace shoe, with a cluster of pearls at the front. The heel (9.5cm high, 3 and 3/4 inches in old money!) is covered in diamante crystals. They're the kind of shoes where people see it and go 'Aahh', and fall in love. We have to confess, Flo might be our favourite!





Then there is the lovely Dorothy, with a heel of about 6cm (2 1/4 inches) she is a lot lower than Flo, and has a completely different feel. Dorothy is an enclosed show with a soft ivory pattern all over. We think that she is the kind of shoe you want to show off, so could look amazing with a tea length dress. Make sure you buy the dress first though! No one has ever come into the shop asking for a wedding dress to match their shoes. We suppose there is a first time for everything though!





Violet is a really unusual shoe, in that she has a ribbon to tie around the ankle, as well as being a completely lace peep toe. The heel height is 9.5 cm, so it isn't one for those who  like their kitten heels, however it is still a really comfortable shoe. This is an especially good shoe for those dresses that are very fine lace, as there is no diamante on the shoes that the dress could get caught on.

 The final treat we have for you is Nelly. Nelly is actually a boot rather than a shoe, and a really stunning one at that. When we saw that Perfect were stocking it, we knew we just had to have it. The whole shoe is lightly patterned similarly to Dorothy, with false buttons up one side, and a small heel of 6.3cm (2 1/2 inches).  Nelly would be a great choice for a winter wedding, as the inside has a short-pile fur. You could even wear your fluffy socks and nobody else would even know. Toasty toes!

Even though we have only shown four styles here, we have many more available in stock. Check the Perfect section of our website by clicking HERE, you'll find all the other vintage styles, and some more classic looks. If you want to come and try on, and are travelling from a distance, be sure to call in advance to make sure we have your size available in stock. We may need to order a style in for you.

The Quest for Personalisation

One thing we love to be able to do for our customers is personalise items like jewellery and shoes to achieve their perfect style, although sometimes this is easier said than done. Today's project is making a gold version of a necklace we already have in stock, specifically for a customer order.

This is the current version, handmade by Sandra in store, and is priced at £65. The new jewellery is for a bride's mother, who can't wear silver and has a black and white outfit, so wanted this design to fit her outfit. Sandra has used her creativity to make a piece which is equally as beautiful in its own way. 

It's not all been plain sailing though. The chain needed to be specially sourced as we don't sell as much gold jewellery and didn't have it in stock. We found the gold easy to work with until you make a mistake. Then it was difficult to correct, because once you've put the chain in place, it's hard to undo the work you've done. A misplaced bead, and the whole thing needs to be started again. 

 

Luckily, the issue we had in connecting two pieces of gold chain were resolved, Sandra knows what she's doing when it comes to jewellery making, and the necklace is now complete. Here's the result of all the hard work, do you like it? We just need to contact the bride and her mother now, hope they love it as much as we do!