Good morning, brides-to-be! I hope you babes woke up bright-eyed and bushy tailed because boy do you need to on it for today’s post. We’re showcasing the 2017 bridal fashion trends from across the globe that you need (NEED) to know about for the coming year!

From serious seventies influences that’ve produced the bell sleeve trend and brought back the pussy bow neckline, to some seriously luxurious gowns (think head to toe in shimmering sequins or luxe silk slips) it’s gonna be one wild ride!

We’re welcome new shapes for 2017: from shoulder grazing capes, to the reimagined backless gown and there might even be a few structured shoulders!

We’ll also take a look at the fabulously intricate fabrics of the 2017 collections: big bold print lace, 3D floral adornments, layered ruffle shoulders and elegant peeping sheer skirts.

Then come the statement details, truly unforgetable: the lace up gowns, the bursts of coloured embroidery, 2017’s take on the ever-popular fringe trend, a few delicately feathered dresses, a few crisp minimal lines and a revival of the chic tea-time length gown.

Let’s kick things off with the major trends we’ve been seeing (and obsessing over) for 2017, and then towards the end of the gallery, we’ll move into a few of the more designer specific, minor trends that seem to creeping into the collections. As always, click the images to source the image and designer!

Gosh. Are you as excited as I am?! Let’s go!

Sculpted Florals

Bell Sleeved

Shimmer Shimmer

Laced Up

Ruffled Layers

Big Bold Lace

Slip into Luxe

Caped Shoulders

The Pussy Bow

Backless Reimagined

Tea-Length Time

2017’s Fringe

Sheer Skirts

A Structured Shoulder

Clean Lines

Wisped Feathering

Coloured Embroidery

We are passionate about brides feeling exactly themselves on their wedding day and, my goodness, there’s plenty of scope for that in the 2017 collections! The bridal world has seen such an influx of incredible designers over the past few years; pushing boundaries, breaching sterotypes and opening up the ‘bridal look’ to a sense of true self expression.

…Oh to be choosing a wedding dress again!

Have fun choosing yours, babes.

Peace + Love

Clare XO

Ghost Orchid Bride are proud UK stockists of this revolutionary L.A bridal label Odylyne the Ceremony and couldn’t be more excited to be bringing UK brides this limited opportunity to try Odylyne’s complete brand new Starcrossed Lovers collection of stunning wedding dresses!

ODYLYNE THE CEREMONY

~ STARCROSSED LOVERS ~

Trunk Show

@

GHOST ORCHID BRIDE

10^TH – 12^th February

+ Tarot Reading / Cocktails

If you are planning a wedding and your vibe is unique, authentic and bohemian, I can guarantee you will have come across some of Odylyne’s mystical dream like imagery already.

Stephanie White, the designer behind this innovative and beautiful collection, takes the idea of bridal fashion into a whole new majestic realm, capturing the raw romance and spiritual essence of her inspiration which she draws from music, poetry, theatre and art. Stephanie transcends this mood into each luminescent, draping, bell-sleeved, flowing gown. The result? Each dress stands alone as a timeless work of art in its self.

Totally set aside from the crowd, Stephanie has an authentic vision that perfectly blends a cool Californian vibe with gothic timeless romance. Odylyne doesn’t just capture the mood of the time, they seem to set it.

Stephanie’s newest collection is inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s beautiful interpretation of William Shakespear’s Romeo and Juliet, of which she has to say…

“When the stars align ever so perfectly a passionate, fiery romance manifest into two hearts. We love William Shakespeare’s idea that star crossed lovers are working against fate to preserve their love. A love story that has been written in the stars and the force that has brought them together would soon try to tear them apart.  With a love that burns that bright comes a youthful immortality that is preserved.  We are infatuated with the idea of the preservation of a young and innocent love. That kind of child like love is full of magic.”

Special Offer For One Lucky Bride….

In true Californian style, Ghost Orchid Bride are offering one lucky bohemian babe-to-be and her party a fun spiritual evening of tarot and speciality cocktails! Get an exclusive two hour long evening appointment in Ghost Orchid Brides softly lit, incense infused showroom where you and your bridal party will spend the first hour getting your tarot cards read by an expert in the field, while sipping on complimentary cocktails. The second half of the appointment though is when the magic really happens. After an informal chat with Katey, the owner of Ghost Orchid, about your expectations and desires, you can get your newly diamond adorned paws on the stunning gowns, ensuring you have enough time to try on all of your favourites….which we are using our spiritual powers to predict might just be all of them.

Spaces are limited and by private appointment only. Contact Ghost Orchid Bride now to book your space on 01482 642015 or email info@ghostorchidbride.co.uk

Image Credits: Odylyne The Ceremony Lookbook and Catherine Laura Photography.

Online independent wedding dress label Dreamers and Lovers have always been known for their beautiful boho wedding dresses but I have to say that their new collection, Cloud Nine, has taken beauty to a whole new level. This collection is just simply stunning and we have fallen hook line and sinker. It’s seductive but classy, bohemian yet elegant, delicate yet sophisticated and, above all, it celebrates the female form.

The collection, featured here in a beautiful editorial shoot captured by Lara Lam, is inspired by that ‘cloud nine’ feeling when you first fall in love. When your relationship is full of excitement and romance and you just know in your heart that this is something special. The confidence and security that comes with knowing that you will always have each other, no matter what life throws at you, is something that designer Yanique really wanted to capture through each piece…

Being in Love is also about the element of seduction, intimacy and the confidence that comes along with that feeling of being on Cloud Nine. These are the facets I’ve allowed to really shine through in this collection. Out of all our previous collections, I believe this one to be the most unapologetically seductive, with that little bit of extra attention paid to the female form, it’s graceful curves and subtleties, in all its glory. 

Brides to be that are still searching for your wedding dress, be prepared to be wowed.

Stars In Your Eyes: Dancing On Cloud Nine

Words by Yanique

Love is a rich and multifaceted emotion, undoubtedly the foremost wonder of life. It’s an emotion that I’ve always endeavored to convey, in each and every one of my designs. Comfort, freedom, beauty, youthfulness: everyone of these is a facet of Love and a facet I’ve considered and hopefully expressed in the designs of Dreamers and Lovers simple, laid back wedding dresses. The all new Cloud Nine collection is no different, only…this time I thought I’d add a little something extra. 

Seduction, Intimacy and Confidence….

Being in Love is also about the element of seduction, intimacy and the confidence that comes along with that feeling of being on Cloud Nine. These are the facets I’ve allowed to really shine through in this collection. Out of all our previous collections, I believe this one to be the most unapologetically seductive, with that little bit of extra attention paid to the female form, it’s graceful curves and subtleties, in all its glory. 

You’ll still find that same attention to detail, the same top quality, lightweight and luxurious fabrics, the same consideration for comfort and the simplicity that has become synonymous with boho and Dreamers and Lovers…however, this time round, we’re letting you flaunt a touch more of that shape that makes you a boho goddess and, of course, that skin which your groom-to-be can’t seem to get his hands off! 

The Spirit Of Boho….

We know that the spirit of boho, of the laid back bride, is the spirit of all strong, authentic, creative women throughout the ages and so it’s no surprise that I found my inspiration for Cloud Nine in an unforgettable fashion and music icon, one who seems to have found the secret of eternal youth: the unforgettable Cher.

It was an early picture of her at an award show, in a figure hugging paneled gown: she looked like she felt that she owned the room. Outspoken, daring and exquisite… throughout her career, Cher conveyed timeless elegance in a way that was also, somehow, ahead of trend and always unquestionably her own. We want our brides to be able to do the same. We want you to feel like you’re on Cloud Nine, it’s that simple. 

Bohemian Rustic/ Simple Wedding Dresses….

At Dreamers & Lovers we specialise in handcrafted (and gorgeous) bohemian and simple wedding dresses. All of our wedding dresses are made-to-order, and can be customised using your exact measurements. Many of our brides have selected our dresses for their small and intimate weddings – bohemian weddings, rustic weddings, destination weddings, second marriages, vow renewals, and their backyard weddings. Whatever your venue or wedding theme, if you are a more relaxed bride who loves a simple, effortless and romantic aesthetic then the Dreamers & Lovers dresses were designed with you in mind.

For more details and to view their UK shipping information, please visit their website.

The Line Up

Dresses: Cloud Nine Collection from Dreamers and Lovers
Photography: Lara Lam
Floral Installation: Amy Nicole Floral
Settee Rentals: Etablir Shop

Yorkshire Brides still looking for your wedding dress, listen up! Ghost Orchid Bride, named after the most mysterious of the British wildflowers, is a new modern bridal boutique based in East Yorkshire who provide breathtakingly beautiful boho-luxe, ethereal, modern and classic wedding dresses. We’re talking dresses from the likes of Daughters of Simone, Odylyne The Ceremony, & For Love, Howling Moon and many more. Their mission is to offer their brides an extra-ordinary bridal boutique experience and service where you feel comfortable and relaxed. Finding that ‘one’ dress isn’t always easy so finding a boutique that makes you feel like you can be yourself is so important and that’s what Ghost Orchid Bride strives to be.

We asked Katey and Nicole, the owners of Ghost Orchid Bride, a few questions about their gorgeous boutique, the dresses and accessories they stock and the sort of brides their boutique will appeal to the most.

Tell us a bit about yourselves?

Ghost Orchid Bride is a fashion orientated Yorkshire bridal boutique. The concept evolved from my passion to help people feel good through their unique interpretation of clothes and fashion. I’ve always found beauty in the unexpected and feel people’s individuality should be celebrated not diluted. When is there a truer expression of yourself and your story than your wedding day? Why then do we see the same old gowns over and over again? At Ghost Orchid Bride we have a fun, unpretentious yet stylish take on bridal and offer totally luxurious designer bridal gowns and accessories in a modern relaxing showroom. I’ve always been more of a behind-the-scenes kind of girl, working my magic to help others shine and with Ghost Orchid Bride I’ve never been happier than when i’m helping our brides to feel amazing on their wedding day.

If you had the chance to go to one music festival which would it be and why?

When I had more spare time, I would religiously go to Glastonbury Festival. There’s just something magical about the atmosphere there. Year after year me and my friends would gather round first thing on that Sunday morning when the tickets would go on sale and make it an almost military mission to get them. A military mission with buttered crumpets and pots of tea of course. Now though, I would LOVE to got to South by Southwest in Austin. I’m pretty obsessed with all things American and I feel it has really kept it’s integrity, showcasing known and unknown credible artists without selling out too much commercially. Plus it looks like a blast!

What made you start Ghost Orchid Bride?

As a child I was a keen little wannabe artist, sketching fashion designs and wedding dresses. I channeled this and studied fashion design  while working in stores amongst labels such and Moschino, Dolce and Gabbana and Versace. The aim was always to work in the bridal fashion industry. Long story short, life took me on another career path but I always kept an eye on the industry. It’s just such an exciting time for bridal right now, with couples really going all out to reflect their personality in to their wedding in so many different creative ways. I’ve always been one to champion the differences and quirks that make people  beautiful and this just made it the perfect time to open a  boutique that really focuses on celebrating the non-traditional while keeping an eye on style and fashion trends.

What makes your boutique stand out from the crowd?

Although serious about helping brides find their wedding outfit, we want to keep the whole bridal experience as light and fun as possible. We are all about saying “sees ya later” to boring stuffy old cliched bridal rules and saying “oh heyyy” to the modern, cool and exciting. Having said this, it is by far the amazing global designers that we carry that make us stand out from the crowd. We really want to keep our selection exclusive yet desirable and have put a lot of research into our collection. For example, we are the only UK stockists of our Canadian brand & FOR LOVE and have brides coming from all over the UK for these edgy unique gowns.

How would you best describe a Ghost Orchid Bride?

A Ghost Orchid Bride is a woman who wants to celebrate her individuality and capture the true spirit of her and her partner in their wedding day. A Ghost Orchid Bride wants to feel like the best her on her wedding day…but ultimately still her! She wants to wow her partner and guests with an awesome dress but not shock them by walking down the aisle looking like a totally different person, just because of a set of out of date “bridal rules”.  Ok…ultimately she is a total bad ass, cool as hell, strong woman who isn’t afraid to break the rules and push the boundaries in the name of staying true to herself.

Tell us about your wedding dresses and the designers that are available to your brides?

At Ghost Orchid Bride we have a really well thought out curation of bridal gowns. So much time and energy was spent choosing the perfect designers to capture our vibe. Because it’s our mission to champion the unique, we really wanted a variety of styles to cater to all cool brides. From minimalist chic, to romantic boho, urban glam or ethereal princes we are really proud to have such an array of gowns in just one place, while really keeping the focuses on style and fashion. Our awesome designers who have enabled us to do this are: 

& FOR LOVE

Daughters of Simone

Odylyne the Ceremony

Chantel Lauren

We also advise joining our mailing list to keep ahead of the game in terms of new designers we will be adding and special trunk show events.

And you stock bridal accessories too?

We have a great choice of bridal accessories from the ultra stylish Naturae Design who (as the name would suggest) uses the beauty of nature to inspire her pieces. Whether woodland, celestial, lunar or oceanic, Naturae Design really capture the moods of the moment. We are also so excited to be stockists of Howling Moon who use powerful healing quartz crystals to make the most stunning distinctive crowns and tiaras. We are totally loving what’s coming out of Canada right now and newest to the collection are the amazing headpieces and veils from Canadian Olivia the Wolf. The range with Olivia the Wolf is great and we are loving their minimalist swarovski crystal headbands alongside their boho halos and waxed leaved hair clips…you really need to check them out.

What sort of service can brides expect when visiting your store?

At Ghost Orchid Bride we are super friendly and super laid back.  While ensuring brides get the professional and knowledgeable service they deserve, we are totally down to earth and want to give brides the breathing space to express what they want and listen to their instincts. We invite you in for an informal chat over a nice cold Prosecco or beer to get an idea of your expectations and desires. We will then assist you throughout the rest of your private appointment to explore and try all of your favourite pieces. We appreciate that although it is SO exciting choosing your wedding dress, it can also be a little overwhelming with brides sometimes feeling bewildered. Our aim is to make brides feel comfortable and at home. We don’t want brides to feel intimidated by this new experience, we want them to feel relaxed and to have loads of fun!

What’s your best piece of advice for brides trying to choose their wedding dress?

It might not be very glamorous to acknowledge this but…wait for it…you might find more than one “the one” (I know, shock horror right?) I think there is an expectation that you are are going to get this lightning bolt feeling with just one dress, that in comparison all others fade. Sometimes, this is in fact the case but you might also be just as lucky to find a number of dresses that you love equally, that all look amazing on you. Not recognising this as the blessing that it is, brides sometimes continue the search for this one “lightning bolt” gown only to realise after months and months of looking and more confusion, that it doesn’t always work this way. Listen to your inner voice, even if it means going back to try the gowns on alone. Forget what other people will think. Ask yourself, which gown can you just not get out of your head? Envisage your wedding day, which is going to allow you to have the most fun? When all is said and done, your wedding day is a personal celebration of your love and don’t let the search for other people’s idea of perfection dampen that.

Finally, whats your life moto?

In Lewis Carol’s novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, when the Mad Hatter asks Alice if he has gone totally mad, Alice replies…

“I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret, all the best people are.”

I think this is true. It take’s a few wonderful “bonkers” people to set the pace!

You can read more about Ghost Orchid Bride in our Festival Wedding Directory.

Calling all UK brides with a major love of Aussie bridal designers. The Aussies are coming to UK shores, bringing with them rails worth of boho beauty and effortless style!

New-wave wedding planners Knot & Pop have brought together their favourite Australian designers to showcase their wares at an exclusive pop up Salon at Town Hall Hotel in London.

Bo & Luca, Cathleen Jia and Nevenka are the directional and much-coveted Australian bridal designers that will be welcomed to London this March 2017, Thursday 2nd – Sunday 5th. If you’ve long swooned over these designers (like we have endlessly on Instagram) but not been able to get your hands on their collections then consider your wedding wardrobe woes solved.

Both Cathleen Jia and Nevenka aren’t yet available in the UK so this is the time to get a dress that you can’t get anywhere else in the country. Bo & Luca is bringing their full collection to Town Hall Hotel, so again, a chance to get a dress like no-one else!

The Dresses….

Bo & Luca brings together intricate artisanal skill and a boho sensibility for a collection that has amassed a global following. Based in Sydney, the brand conjures a mood of glamorous yesteryears, instinctual style and timeless appeal.

Cathleen Jia is based in Melbourne and is famed for her signature vintage-inspired gowns and head-pieces. Her designs unify classic with contemporary to create an ever-lasting style.

Nevenka is a luxury Melbourne based fashion house, specialising in both custom made and ready to wear collections that take inspiration from the designer’s Eastern European heritage. Perfect for the alternative and style savvy bride, Nevenka designs speak of effortlessly bohemian appeal with a contemporary twist.

The Venue and Show Details….

Set within Town Hall Hotel  – a gorgeous venue that plays host to weddings with it’s famed deco architecture and design-led interiors winning the hearts of many modern minded couples – the Salon will have plenty of floral inspiration with the mighty Grace & Thorn dressing the space. What’s more, Grace & Thorn are offering a lucky prize for one bride to win their wedding bouquet.

An event designed to spoil brides, the ticket also includes a bridal goody bag full of treats, not tat, with gifts from the likes of Pai Skincare, Evermore London, Mast Chocolate and more. Special prizes for lucky brides include the Win Your Wedding Bouquet, Win A Nights Stay at Town Hall Hotel and Win A Three Month Subscription to Not Another Bill, plus the chance to get a free 2 hour consultation with Knot & Pop.

Alongside the Bridal Salon, Knot & Pop will reveal Shop Knot & Pop, a shop space within Town Hall Hotel with expertly curated bridal essential buys available – expect the best of candles, lounge wear, scent, maids gifts, jewellery, organisers and more. Brands such as Desmond & Dempsey, Zoe & Morgan, Nailberry, Lucy Kirk, Lazy Glaze, Monti and more.

One To One….

One-to-one designer appointments with exclusive Australian labels, complimentary bubbles and nibbles, floral inspiration, great goody bags, prizes a plenty, plus wedding planning words of wisdom from Knot & Pop – this is a pop-up not to be missed.

We’re so pleased that these incredible designers are coming to our shores, and giving modern minded UK brides something different for their ultimate dress quest experience.

By appointment only.

Tickets available from Town Hall Hotel

Special Valentines Offer

£75 a ticket. – now £37.50 with a special Valentines offer.

Tickets include:

• 2 hour appointment
• Includes bride plus 3 guests.
• Bridal and guest champagne and nibbles.
• Bridal goody bag.
• 1-2-1 designer appointments with exclusive Australian labels.
• Knot & Pop consultation couch for expert wedding planning tips and styling advice.
• Floral inspiration from Grace & Thorn
• Special prizes!

Book Tickets….

To book your tickets and for available appointment times, please click here.

Afternoon Lovely Peeps. Yes I know it is unlike us to post on a weekend but we have a very cool shoot to share with you today by Velvet Johnstone which is inspired by the Most Curious Wedding Fair’s 2017 theme ‘Pinktopia’ and features some of the talented suppliers that are exhibiting at the fair.

Now for those of you that have been sleeping under a rock for the past few months, Most Curious is a fabulous wedding fair which is taking place THIS WEEKEND at The Truman Brewery in London’s brick lane. It is a show that is just full to the brim of awesome suppliers so if you are planning your wedding and don’t have any plans for this weekend, get yourselves there! We are attending tomorrow and can’t wait to see what this years show has in store and to view the Pinktopia theme in all its glory!

Here’s what Velvet Johnstone has to say about the shoot and the pinktopia theme that inspired it…..

The beating heart of Velvet Johnstone

When I first saw the Pinktopia mood board for the Most Curious 2017 Wedding Fair, I was like oh my god that looks like something I would send to photographer Leoni Blue for inspiration on capturing my bridal range. It was like so many of my past mood boards all blended into one and got me super inspired. I needed to create for creating sake!

So I called up my long term dream team magic makers Leoni Blue (who has captured pretty much everything I have ever made) model Olivia (the beautiful face of Velvet Johnstone) and fellow Most Curious Wedding Fair girl gang Portraits Hair and Make-Up.

I delved into the Velvet Johnstone archives, called in my mega all time muses and revisited moments & ideas that had mesmerised my heart so many times before.  

Breathing new life into past creations, this shoot captures much of the magic behind the story’s that have inspired previous collections.. it’s like the beating heart of Velvet Johnstone…..

Velvet Johnstone is just one of the amazing suppliers that will be exhibiting at A Most Curious Wedding Fair this weekend in London. If you are at a loose end this weekend, its not too late to attend! The show will be running until 5.30pm today (18th March) and from 10.30am-5.30pm tomorrow (19th March.) Get your tickets now by clicking here.

To view more of Velvet Johnstone’s bridal collections, please visit her website.

The Line Up

Photography: Leonie Blue
Bridal Dresses & Accessories: Velvet Johnstone
Hair & Make Up: Portraits Bridal
Glasses: Love Specs

Morning Lovely Peeps. We have a gorgeous contemporary decor and bridal shoot to share with you today featuring some of our Festival Brides faves, The Little Lending Company, Swaffham Florists and Love Moi Make-Up. We have worked with the ladies from each of these companies in previous shoots and they rock! Pretty much everything they turn their hands too results in some gorgeous wedding inspiration and today is no exception.

Described as being contemporary, minimal, modern and feminine, today’s shoot is all about simple delicate details, a natural colour palette and modern design. We love the wedding dresses provided by Lara B Boutique and The Bottom Drawer Bridal, especially the Rembo Styling wedding dress (third dress featured) that just oozes bohemian cool. We are also huge fans of the wooden geometric props supplied by The Little Lending Company. They would make such unique and alternative backdrops to your ceremony or even as an art installation dressed with gorgeous blooms and hung above the top table.

Penny, the creative mind behind the shoot, talks us through the concept, styling and all the suppliers involved…..

Contemporary, Minimal, Modern and Feminine….

A contemporary, minimal shoot with modern feminine fashion. Luxe but simple details with striking honeycomb structures with wild and untamed florals.

The shoot came from my collaborative concept for the Most Curious Wedding Fair in Norwich back in April with Swaffham and Fakenham Florists. We wanted to incorporate lots of textural and tactile flowers and foliage using Pampas grass to really shape the arrangements, which would capture the imagination of the curious couples at the fair. A palette of washed taupe, dusky pink and a dark inky blue adds a some edge, mixing linens of cotton, linen and velvet through the shoot plus brass and gold candle holders for timeless appeal. A simple cake stack in brushed water colours reflected the palette too.

Paired back bridal fashion came from Maids to Measure with a soft pink tie back dress, Rembo Styling slim silhouettes with geo lave patterns and fresh, new gem stone pieces from Eclectic Eccentricity with slick footwear from Florence.

Undone chignon and tucked up pony’s for the hair and feminine soft pink dewy, iridescent make-up all part of the look for our girls.

The Line Up

Concept, Styling and Props: The Little Lending Company 
Photography: Camilla Andrea Photography 
Flowers: Swaffham and Fakenham Florist 
Hair: Be Extended 
Make-up: Love Moi Make-up 
Dresses: Rembo Styling at Lara B Boutique & Maids to Measure and Sassi Holford at The Bottom Drawer Bridal 
Shoes: Florence at The Bottom Drawer Bridal 
JewelleryL Eclectic Eccentricity 
Cake: Buns of Fun 
Stationery: Wonderland Invites
Venue: Langley Abbey 
Models: Anna Ho and Nina Dalziel 

Sound the klaxon! Get out your diary or flip to your calendar because this feature contains details of an event that you’re not going to want to miss. The fantastic Lovebird Bridal in Ilkley, Yorkshire is here today to give us all the deets of their upcoming Odylyne The Ceremony Trunk Show and to tell us more about their boutique. Trust me when I tell you, this is all rather brilliant. Lovebird Bridal have just been listed in our festival wedding directory but, let’s be honest, this Trunk Show is something that you need to know about so I’m going to hand you over to Laura, the super lovely lady at Lovebird…

Tell us a little about yourself…

I have always worked in the creative industry and taught art and design before opening the boutique. I am mummy to three and opened the boutique soon after having my youngest. I am also a jewellery designer and have a beautiful little studio space in the boutique dedicated to jewellery and accessories where if I am not in a bridal appointment you will find me working away.

What made you decide to start Lovebird Bridal?

I had a small studio where I made jewellery and accessories whilst teaching part time. I had so many brides who visited telling me they had struggled to find a wedding dress and had become quite disappointed in the whole process and actually had not enjoyed their bridal appointments. I became aware that there was a real need for a boutique for the bride who was looking for something contemporary with a reflection of their own style with an informal, relaxed experience. The aim was to have a boutique with a welcoming atmosphere that offered a creative space where the dresses and accessories worked together to create the unique look that the brides were looking for. We carefully handpick designers who share our same ethos for quality.

Tell us a little bit more about your boutique and the designers that you stock…

We currently stock Charlie Brear, Jesus Peiro and Odylyne The Ceremony with bridesmaid dresses from Twobirds and Ghost and accessories from Laura Rhodes Bridal. We also have another exclusive designer making there way to the boutique very soon!

We know you’ve got an Odylyne Trunk Show at Lovebird on 16th June. We need the details!

We are so excited for this trunk show and have been obsessed with these dresses for some time! We will have all of the Star Crossed Lovers collection and a big selection from previous collections traveling over from Los Angeles to be with us for one weekend only! Places are limited and can be booked through our events page on the website or by phoning 01943 968220. There will be a luxury gift bag for each bride who orders her dress on the day.

What are the hot wedding dress trends that brides should know about right now?

We are loving big sleeves at the moment! The bridal additions still enable brides to tailor their own look which we love in the boutique. Adding colour with accessories is also something that I have noticed a lot more of recently too which is fantastic!

What are some of your favourite memories + experiences from previous weddings/couples you’ve worked with?

I love the whole process of getting to know our brides and learning about their wedding day, its quite emotional when they collect their wedding dress as you are really excited for them yet at the same time its quite sad to say goodbye. I love it when they send us pictures after!

We had a bride who was over visiting family from Australia who wanted to try dresses on with her mum but didn’t really expect to buy but she just fell in love with a dress there and then. We had to ship the dress over to Australia but in that moment their reactions were priceless and she was so happy!

We have had two occasions where brides have written about their experiences in a blog without me knowing at the time. Reading them made me quite emotional!

If our readers were to visit you, what should they expect?

When brides visit the boutique they will be greeted by me and have exclusive use of the boutique. We will sit and have a chat about what they are looking for and the style of wedding over a glass of fizz or cup of tea. Brides can expect a relaxed atmosphere to look through our selections by the designers we carry without the pushy sales.

“I can’t thank Laura enough for helping my choose my wedding dress! Being indecisive is an understatement when it came to what I wanted to wear on my wedding day. So many beautiful dresses! She was patient, friendly, honest and most importantly genuine. Her shop is gorgeous, her dresses even more gorgeous but Laura was probably the most loveliest attribute to Lovebirds! I adored my wedding dress and would recommend this shop to any bride-to-be without any hesitation! I had a wonderful experience here xxx”

How do you know if a wedding dress is right for you?

Brides always ask me if they should know when they find ‘the one’ and I say the majority of the time no, in my experience this isn’t the case at all! This is the biggest fashion purchase of your life and you spend so much time thinking and planning that you can end up doubting the one that you thought you wanted. I think a bride knows which dress is the one when she is planning everything around it, for some this happens instantly for others it just takes a bit of time. Try to remember how it felt in that moment rather than looking at pictures of the dress as it totally effects how you feel about it.

What’s your best piece of advice for brides who are trying to choose their wedding dress?

Always bring people with you who’s opinions you value and try to keep then to a minimum. The more opinions from others can cloud how you feel about a dress. Be selective in the bridal boutiques that you visit and keep them to a minimum, researching the designers and style of dresses that they offer is worthwhile.

If you had a chance to go to any music festival, which one would it be?

I love Glastonbury, its been a while since I last went but the line up was amazing! The weather not so great but it’s all part of the experience.

Finally, what’s your life quote/motto?

Life’s short- Buy the shoes, drink the wine, order the dessert.

Did you SEE those dresses? So I’m totally expecting you to be at Lovebird for the Odylyne The Ceremony Trunk Show now – 16th June just got a whole lot better! If you’d like to find out more about Lovebird Bridal Boutique, you’ll find their listing in our festival wedding directory or you can just jump on over to their website.

And hello again lovely ones and how are you on this fine day? I hope you’ve got a spring in your step and a smile on your face and if not, this feature is going to perk you right up. Today, it’s a HUGE delight to have the incomparable Karen Willis Holmes here with us on Festival Brides. I have all the heart eyes for Karen’s new wedding dress collections (pics in this feature – oh hello!) so it’s a right old treat to have the super talented designer behind the label with us today. Don’t forget that you can also find Karen Willis Holmes in our festival wedding directory.

But now, let’s hear from Karen herself…

Tell us a little about the Karen Willis Holmes brand…

The KAREN WILLIS HOLMES brand is an Australian based brand designing wedding dresses for brides internationally. A lot of what we do is still done in house in our Sydney based workroom and I really love that our brand can uphold such a strong connection to workmanship and quality in all our dresses.

What made you decide to start Karen Willis Holmes?

I worked for myself and another company while I was in Perth before moving to London. I stayed in London for a couple of years and worked for companies specializing in evening and special occasion day wear. When I moved back to Perth I started a store designing evening wear. During this time I started to get people asking me to make wedding gowns for them. When the lease finished on my store at the time I had to make a decision about which direction I was going to take. My husband recommended I specialized in wedding gowns. I don’t know why I could not work this out myself and it took Geoff to suggest it for me – designing wedding gowns is perfect for me, I love the quality, the fabrics, corsets, trains…..

Tell us a little bit more about your current collection…

I am in love with my new collection. I have designed some really simple wedding dresses in this amazing stretch fabric that just hugs the body. This is something a bit different to what I traditionally design but I think these are very on trend and perfect for the bride who doesn’t want to wear lace or embellishments. The new KWH by KAREN WILLIS HOLMES Collection is also going into stores this month and my faviourties are the two long sleeve beautifully hand beaded and embellished dresses which I am really excited about as well.

Is there a signature Karen Willis Holmes look?

I believe my style is very feminine and focuses a lot on silhouette. I draw inspiration from fashion archives especially the corset structures of gowns – the detail work of the interior structure of a gown which, from the outside is unnoticeable, but internally there are so many components which create a great shape. I am also inspired by the fabrication and embellishments I work with – beautiful laces, embroidered and beaded pieces, and I believe this shows through as my ‘signature style’ as well.

I like to think my work is understated and this allows my brides to tailor and style their gown with different pieces and accessories to achieve a unique look for their wedding day.

What makes Karen Willis Holmes dresses different?

Two things, the fit and the quality. My background is pattern making so making sure a design works on a lot of different body shapes is really important to me. For quality, this is the most precious piece of clothing a bride will purchase so we strive for quality in the fabrics, construction and customer experience we provide.

What’s the design process? Where do the ideas come from?

The design process is influenced by inspiration I find online (Pinterest is such a great tool to collect ideas together!) and also knowledge and feedback from my staff that they are receiving from brides regarding the current collection – what is working, what isn’t, what are brides loving and what are they asking for. I then put everything together and just start sketching any ideas I have. I will then edit the designs and refine them before sending the sketches to our workroom for the girls to start working on the toiles. We usually go through several versions of the design, tweaking the design and fit before we put the final design into production to create samples to take to market and store samples for our boutiques.

KWH by Karen Willis Holmes

If our readers were to order a Karen Willis Holmes dress for their wedding, what can they expect?

Regardless of what collection you are buying from you should also expect to have an amazing experience with us while you find your dress and in the fittings. With our ability to mix and match designs to create a wedding dress which is unique to you, KAREN WILLIS HOLMES brides can also expect a beautifully hand crafted gown. You can find your nearest stockist STOCKIST LIST here.

How do you know if a Karen Willis Holmes dress is right for your wedding?

I believe, regardless of the designer, you will know it is the right dress because you will that that ‘ah ha’ moment, or you won’t be able to stop thinking about the dress and visualising yourself in the dress – that’s when you know you have found the right dress for your wedding.

KWH by Karen Willis Holmes

What’s your best piece of advice for brides who’re trying to choose their wedding gown?

There are a few main things a bride needs to consider when it comes time to shop for her wedding dress. These include time – have you set a wedding date? And how much time do you have as a result. Most stores require a booking lead time of 6 months or more. Another key point to consider is how much you want to spend on your gown. Keep this in your thoughts as you start the gown search so that you are only focused on gowns you realistically want to pay for – no one wants to have their hopes and dreams dashed by too many zeros on the price tag.

KWH by Karen Willis Holmes

If you had a chance to go to any music festival, which one would it be?

It might not be a ‘proper’ festival but I would love to see Queen with Adam Lambert live again.

Finally, what’s your life quote/motto?

Trust your own judgement, the hard work is worth it.

KWH by Karen Willis Holmes

A huge Festival Brides thank you to Karen and, if you’d like to find out more about wedding dresses by Karen Willis Holmes then you know what to do – click on over to the website or check out her listing in our festival wedding directory.

Friday is DEFINITELY Fri-Yay here on Festival Brides today because we’re giving you the chance to win your wedding dress! Oh yes, you read that right! Calm Amongst The Chaos is a fabulous British designer label that we’ve recently welcomed to our festival wedding directory and they’re celebrating the launch of their new collection, The White Garden, with a brilliant competition. So, here’s designer Frances Farmer to tell you more about the designs and this downright fabulous competition..

Tell us a little about Calm Amongst The Chaos…

Calm Amongst The Chaos is a bridal studio based in Ringwood Hampshire.

We are a team of designers led by me, Frances Farmer, who create contemporary couture, made-to-measure and ready-to-wear wedding gowns for the modern bohemian bride. We also offer styling advice for shape, style and wedding day.

‘Nancy’

What made you decide to start the business

I graduated with a fashion degree from Bournemouth & Poole College in 1985. Initially known by the label ‘Chaos’ the first items off the cutting table included underwear and then leisurewear. After a break to raise a family, I returned with a collection of wraps, shawls and boleros including gorgeous white faux fur wraps that were popular winter wedding bridal accessories. Encouraged by this interest I planned a photo shoot hoping to source some vintage style gowns to show off the wraps to their best effect. Unable to find the gowns I wanted, I guess I did what any good designer would do and created my first collection of six unique gowns, inspired by the serene stars of Hollywood in the 1920’s and 1930’s, and the label “Calm Amongst the Chaos” was born. The signature gown was known as ‘Frances’ in honour of my namesake actress Frances Farmer. Other gowns in the collection included Bette, Lillian, Katherine and Greta all talented actresses but also known for their stylish fashions. The collection was a the with non-conventional brides who knew what they wanted and were unabale to find it amongst the traditional offerings on offer.

‘Vita’

The increase in demand saw me recruit Hannah  to the team and move to my design studio and workroom in the centre of Ringwood in the New Forest. In five years at the studio the team has been enhanced by my daughter and junior designer Agy, plus design team members Carmel and Penny. You can still find a faux fur wrap if you look carefully but ‘Calm Amongst the Chaos’ it is now all about beautiful gowns for brides, stunning outfits for the Mother of the Bride and bespoke occasion wear for any big occasion. The White Garden Collection, launched June 2017, is my first ready-to-wear collection and a new bridal shop attached to my studio in Ringwood opens Autumn 2017.

‘Virginia’

Tell us a little bit more about your new collection, White Garden…

The White Garden Collection is the first ready to wear range from Calm Amongst The Chaos Couture and features six exquisite bohemian wedding dresses.  Each gown is handmade in England using exquisite lace fabrics, tulles and silks, and is available in five different sizes.  With romantic, fit and flare or billowing silhouettes the collection is designed with the free-spirited bride in mind.  The dresses all have a stretch element ensuring comfort and ease of fit. Away from the traditional, these dresses evoke natural beauty and keep up with trends, stepping away from the constraints of the bridal norm!

The White Garden Collection is  available to purchase online from. Dresses take up to 5 months from date of ordering.  The ready-to-wear collection starts at £1795 and for made-to-measure & couture services the price begins at £2500. Occasion and Evening wear from £450

‘Edith’

What was the inspiration for the collection?

I was inspired by a visit to the White Garden at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent.  The garden was restored by 1930’s poet Vita Sackville West, who was known to sit and write her poetry amongst the magnificent blooms in every shade of white, cream and ivory. I designed these six heavenly gowns using luxurious ethereal fabrics and named them after Vita and six other prominent female writers from that period, Agatha (Christie), Virginia (Woolf), Bea (Potter), Nancy (Mitford) and Edith (Nesbit).

‘Agatha’

Who is a ‘Calm Amongst The Chaos’ bride?

The Chaos bride is unique and she enjoys being individual. She usually has some strong ideas around style and the kind of occasion she wants to enjoy on her wedding day, but also is open to new inspiration from our dedicated team of designers. Ultimately, the Chaos bride is modern and free spirted at heart who strives to stay true to herself.

‘Nancy’

What are the stand out features and elements in the new collection?

The fact that they are stretchy is the most exciting thing about this collection. They are a pleasure to wear as they mould to your shape and are just so comfortable whilst looking effortlessly bohemian. Handmade in our studio using exquisite laces and tulles the collection incorporates unique techniques and focusses on the details; oversized sleeves, flared hems and deliciously low backs. We believe these gowns will really stand out to the modern, free spirted bride whose looking for that perfect bohemian gown.

‘Bea’ (and header image)

Tell us a little bit more about the shoot at Somerley House…

The shoot at Somerley House was just amazing. Lord and Lady Somerton who currently occupy the Georgian manor were so welcoming; from the word go they were fantastic giving us free reign to wander around choosing ideal places for our photoshoot. The house is quite magnificent inside and out with some beautiful artifacts, paintings and regency furniture. These reminders of days gone by linked perfectly with our initial inspiration which was Sissinghurst castle in Kent, that although different in architectural style the romantic nature of the properties were very in keeping with one another. We feel very priveleged to have been able to team up with such a beautiful local wedding venue to promote The White Garden Collection.

‘Agatha’

What are some of your favourite memories + experiences from previous weddings/couples you’ve worked with?

Over time we have worked with some lovely brides to create their wedding gowns. We have found that some have very positive ideas from the onset whilst others want to be entirely guided by us. One particular project was one of the first. The bride was getting married on Table Mountain, South Africa. She was being  lown into the forest where the scene had been set for the ceremony. They were an amazing couple and truly in love. Her gown was inspired from the days of hollywood glamour and had metres of silk and chiffon to make up the dress. It’s unique people and weddings like this that really make our job a joy to do.

‘Vita’

What’s your best piece of advice for brides who’re trying to choose their wedding dress?

Our number one piece of advice is that the style needs to reflect you. It sounds so obvious but it’s really important not to go out of your comfort zone and choose something that you would never wear. We appreciate a wedding dress won’t be your ‘normal’ style but it can still reflect your personality and then work with the sort of wedding you’re going to have. Rather than choosing a theme for your wedding day think about the general atmosphere of the day, whether it be super casual or more put together and formal, and make sure that your dress goes with it 100%. But most importantly, just make sure you love your dress!

‘Virginia’

And now – THE COMPETITION! Can you explain what’s on offer and what brides have to do to be in with a chance of winning?

To celebrate the launch of these 6 bohemian bridal gowns, Calm Amongst The Chaos are giving away TWO chances to win your very own wedding dress from The White Garden Collection. Winners can choose from any of the 6 ready to wear gowns

HOW TO ENTER – TWO CHANCES TO WIN!

To be in with a chance of winning, simply enter your details on our competition website or follow the link from our Facebook page.

For a second chance to win, head to Instagram  #MyWGCDress and like one of our competition posts to enter. There are two dresses up for grabs, and ten runners-up prizes in total. Please see the website for prize details and T&C’s.

The competition closes at 12pm on 28th July so good luck!

‘Edith’

So come on then ladies, you know what you’ve got to do – get entering! If you want to find out more about Calm Amongst The Chaos, hop over to their website or check out their listing in our festival wedding directory.

Images credits:

Location: Somerley Estate, Ringwood @somerleyhouseweddings Model: Harriet Russell @harriet_russell1 Photographer: Ina Halsor @inafotograf Floral Stylist: The Wild Fox @thewildfoxuk

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Oh my, do we have a bundle of bridal gorgeousness for you this morning! Embellishment; what’s new, right?

Wrong! There’s a whole world of colour, texture and new styling hitting the bridal fashion world right now in terms of embellishment, and we are totally on board.

You’ll see sequins over sheer sleeves, we’ll also whisk you away into the groundbreaking world of colourfully embellished veils (so much swoon!), embroidered details are getting a hit of big bold colour, and embellishment is leading the way into a whole other dimension of beauty (aka 3D detailing).

There’s something for almost every taste in this trend, but for us, the light bulb really illuminated at the sight of these little babies…

Sock it to me

Ummm. Not even sure I can handle how cute they are; embellished sheer socks. I mean, stop!

Reminiscent of the tattoo lace trend, these beautiful sheer pop socks are singlehandedly the sweetest addition to any bridal (or bridesmaid!) ensemble. A hit of cheeky sparkle and wonderfully alternative colour, whether it’s Free People’s pop socks with a midi length gown for your country garden ceremony, or those insanely cool fishnets to dance away your evening reception…

Glittering hosiery is where it’s at right now.

…Oh and I just could not resist those gloves, wedding gloves need to make a comeback, am I right?!

Veil of Mischief

Colour-adorned veils have been sneaking into our peripheral for a little while now, but it’s looking like now is really their time to shine, and we couldn’t be happier.

They’re the perfect balance; a nod to tradition, with pops of mischievous colour.

Be that show-stopping rainbow sparkles, or too-cool-for-school chic black polka dots, we are completely besotted with colour-embellished veils. It’s like the colour is invading traditional bridal territory, it’s a surprise to see it there, making it the ultimate indie-bride wow factor.

And none more so than FBrides favourite, AM Faulkner’s upcoming 2018 collection, Night Blooms. In fact, the next 3 images are a sneak peak of this yet-to-be released collection, and I can’t even begin with how excited we are to see the rest!

In short, if you’re debating a veil and not wanting to look too traditional: simply add colour.

Ditsy Details

And of course, the pièce de résistance, the all important, absolutely crucial… Bridal gown. You better believe we’ve broken this bad boy down into categories, because there are just so many insanely good styles of coloured embellishment on the bridal market right now, and all so utterly unique, we had to include them all!

First up, delicate ditsy floral additions. Incredible Spanish bridal designer, Immaclé, have really brought this trend to the bridal scene with their most recent collection, Tangier. Intricate lace is given a breath of life with all-over tiny rose florals, and our hearts may have stopped a little at first sight of those little bursts of Barcelona sunshine…

Sequins on Sheer

You guys loved it. So we thought we’d share it again! The below image was one of the most popular posts on our Instagram this week, and with good reason! Needle & Thread have nailed the brief of an embellished bridal gown with the addition of muted Spring tones and a continuation of the adornment down the sheer sleeves…

And you know if you guys like it, we’ll deliver it! So we hunted down a few more sparkly beauts for you: from Rue De Seine’s stunning Tiger Moss gown, to Natalie Wynn’s Starstruck Gown, adornments are multicoloured, metallic and in their multitudes, just how we like them.

In the case of sparkle, more is more, yes?

Bold Embroidery

Embroidery is taking an emboldened turn. Brighter, bigger, bolder blooms are taking shape in the bridal fashion world, and there’s something a little sophisticated European (think sunny Mediterranean) and ridiculously chic about it.

Whether you opt for tanned skin against bold brights, or the subtle khaki and muted blues of Rue De Seine’s bohemian Ziggy gown, embroidered embellishment is all grown up and ready to say ‘I do’.

Another Dimension

Last, but absolutely not least: 3D embellishments.

This eye-catching adornment comes in the form of richly coloured floral shoulders, full multidimensional flowered blush skirts, and even all-over tasseling!

It sounds a little extra, right? Well, if you can’t be extra on your wedding day, when can you?!

All the drama, and we love it.

Adding a splash of colour to your wedding gown is just everything right now. It gives you that edge, elevating your look to new memorable heights. Be the bride who dared…

Peace + Love

Clare XO

Afternoon Lovely Peeps. Yes I know it is unlike us to post on a weekend but we have a very cool shoot to share with you today by Velvet Johnstone which is inspired by the Most Curious Wedding Fair’s 2017 theme ‘Pinktopia’ and features some of the talented suppliers that are exhibiting at the fair.

Now for those of you that have been sleeping under a rock for the past few months, Most Curious is a fabulous wedding fair which is taking place THIS WEEKEND at The Truman Brewery in London’s brick lane. It is a show that is just full to the brim of awesome suppliers so if you are planning your wedding and don’t have any plans for this weekend, get yourselves there! We are attending tomorrow and can’t wait to see what this years show has in store and to view the Pinktopia theme in all its glory!

Here’s what Velvet Johnstone has to say about the shoot and the pinktopia theme that inspired it…..

The beating heart of Velvet Johnstone

When I first saw the Pinktopia mood board for the Most Curious 2017 Wedding Fair, I was like oh my god that looks like something I would send to photographer Leoni Blue for inspiration on capturing my bridal range. It was like so many of my past mood boards all blended into one and got me super inspired. I needed to create for creating sake!

So I called up my long term dream team magic makers Leoni Blue (who has captured pretty much everything I have ever made) model Olivia (the beautiful face of Velvet Johnstone) and fellow Most Curious Wedding Fair girl gang Portraits Hair and Make-Up.

I delved into the Velvet Johnstone archives, called in my mega all time muses and revisited moments & ideas that had mesmerised my heart so many times before.  

Breathing new life into past creations, this shoot captures much of the magic behind the story’s that have inspired previous collections.. it’s like the beating heart of Velvet Johnstone…..

Velvet Johnstone is just one of the amazing suppliers that will be exhibiting at A Most Curious Wedding Fair this weekend in London. If you are at a loose end this weekend, its not too late to attend! The show will be running until 5.30pm today (18th March) and from 10.30am-5.30pm tomorrow (19th March.) Get your tickets now by clicking here.

To view more of Velvet Johnstone’s bridal collections, please visit her website.

The Line Up

Photography: Leonie Blue
Bridal Dresses & Accessories: Velvet Johnstone
Hair & Make Up: Portraits Bridal
Glasses: Love Specs

Morning Lovely Peeps. We have a gorgeous contemporary decor and bridal shoot to share with you today featuring some of our Festival Brides faves, The Little Lending Company, Swaffham Florists and Love Moi Make-Up. We have worked with the ladies from each of these companies in previous shoots and they rock! Pretty much everything they turn their hands too results in some gorgeous wedding inspiration and today is no exception.

Described as being contemporary, minimal, modern and feminine, today’s shoot is all about simple delicate details, a natural colour palette and modern design. We love the wedding dresses provided by Lara B Boutique and The Bottom Drawer Bridal, especially the Rembo Styling wedding dress (third dress featured) that just oozes bohemian cool. We are also huge fans of the wooden geometric props supplied by The Little Lending Company. They would make such unique and alternative backdrops to your ceremony or even as an art installation dressed with gorgeous blooms and hung above the top table.

Penny, the creative mind behind the shoot, talks us through the concept, styling and all the suppliers involved…..

Contemporary, Minimal, Modern and Feminine….

A contemporary, minimal shoot with modern feminine fashion. Luxe but simple details with striking honeycomb structures with wild and untamed florals.

The shoot came from my collaborative concept for the Most Curious Wedding Fair in Norwich back in April with Swaffham and Fakenham Florists. We wanted to incorporate lots of textural and tactile flowers and foliage using Pampas grass to really shape the arrangements, which would capture the imagination of the curious couples at the fair. A palette of washed taupe, dusky pink and a dark inky blue adds a some edge, mixing linens of cotton, linen and velvet through the shoot plus brass and gold candle holders for timeless appeal. A simple cake stack in brushed water colours reflected the palette too.

Paired back bridal fashion came from Maids to Measure with a soft pink tie back dress, Rembo Styling slim silhouettes with geo lave patterns and fresh, new gem stone pieces from Eclectic Eccentricity with slick footwear from Florence.

Undone chignon and tucked up pony’s for the hair and feminine soft pink dewy, iridescent make-up all part of the look for our girls.

The Line Up

Concept, Styling and Props: The Little Lending Company 
Photography: Camilla Andrea Photography 
Flowers: Swaffham and Fakenham Florist 
Hair: Be Extended 
Make-up: Love Moi Make-up 
Dresses: Rembo Styling at Lara B Boutique & Maids to Measure and Sassi Holford at The Bottom Drawer Bridal 
Shoes: Florence at The Bottom Drawer Bridal 
JewelleryL Eclectic Eccentricity 
Cake: Buns of Fun 
Stationery: Wonderland Invites
Venue: Langley Abbey 
Models: Anna Ho and Nina Dalziel 

Sound the klaxon! Get out your diary or flip to your calendar because this feature contains details of an event that you’re not going to want to miss. The fantastic Lovebird Bridal in Ilkley, Yorkshire is here today to give us all the deets of their upcoming Odylyne The Ceremony Trunk Show and to tell us more about their boutique. Trust me when I tell you, this is all rather brilliant. Lovebird Bridal have just been listed in our festival wedding directory but, let’s be honest, this Trunk Show is something that you need to know about so I’m going to hand you over to Laura, the super lovely lady at Lovebird…

Tell us a little about yourself…

I have always worked in the creative industry and taught art and design before opening the boutique. I am mummy to three and opened the boutique soon after having my youngest. I am also a jewellery designer and have a beautiful little studio space in the boutique dedicated to jewellery and accessories where if I am not in a bridal appointment you will find me working away.

What made you decide to start Lovebird Bridal?

I had a small studio where I made jewellery and accessories whilst teaching part time. I had so many brides who visited telling me they had struggled to find a wedding dress and had become quite disappointed in the whole process and actually had not enjoyed their bridal appointments. I became aware that there was a real need for a boutique for the bride who was looking for something contemporary with a reflection of their own style with an informal, relaxed experience. The aim was to have a boutique with a welcoming atmosphere that offered a creative space where the dresses and accessories worked together to create the unique look that the brides were looking for. We carefully handpick designers who share our same ethos for quality.

Tell us a little bit more about your boutique and the designers that you stock…

We currently stock Charlie Brear, Jesus Peiro and Odylyne The Ceremony with bridesmaid dresses from Twobirds and Ghost and accessories from Laura Rhodes Bridal. We also have another exclusive designer making there way to the boutique very soon!

We know you’ve got an Odylyne Trunk Show at Lovebird on 16th June. We need the details!

We are so excited for this trunk show and have been obsessed with these dresses for some time! We will have all of the Star Crossed Lovers collection and a big selection from previous collections traveling over from Los Angeles to be with us for one weekend only! Places are limited and can be booked through our events page on the website or by phoning 01943 968220. There will be a luxury gift bag for each bride who orders her dress on the day.

What are the hot wedding dress trends that brides should know about right now?

We are loving big sleeves at the moment! The bridal additions still enable brides to tailor their own look which we love in the boutique. Adding colour with accessories is also something that I have noticed a lot more of recently too which is fantastic!

What are some of your favourite memories + experiences from previous weddings/couples you’ve worked with?

I love the whole process of getting to know our brides and learning about their wedding day, its quite emotional when they collect their wedding dress as you are really excited for them yet at the same time its quite sad to say goodbye. I love it when they send us pictures after!

We had a bride who was over visiting family from Australia who wanted to try dresses on with her mum but didn’t really expect to buy but she just fell in love with a dress there and then. We had to ship the dress over to Australia but in that moment their reactions were priceless and she was so happy!

We have had two occasions where brides have written about their experiences in a blog without me knowing at the time. Reading them made me quite emotional!

If our readers were to visit you, what should they expect?

When brides visit the boutique they will be greeted by me and have exclusive use of the boutique. We will sit and have a chat about what they are looking for and the style of wedding over a glass of fizz or cup of tea. Brides can expect a relaxed atmosphere to look through our selections by the designers we carry without the pushy sales.

“I can’t thank Laura enough for helping my choose my wedding dress! Being indecisive is an understatement when it came to what I wanted to wear on my wedding day. So many beautiful dresses! She was patient, friendly, honest and most importantly genuine. Her shop is gorgeous, her dresses even more gorgeous but Laura was probably the most loveliest attribute to Lovebirds! I adored my wedding dress and would recommend this shop to any bride-to-be without any hesitation! I had a wonderful experience here xxx”

How do you know if a wedding dress is right for you?

Brides always ask me if they should know when they find ‘the one’ and I say the majority of the time no, in my experience this isn’t the case at all! This is the biggest fashion purchase of your life and you spend so much time thinking and planning that you can end up doubting the one that you thought you wanted. I think a bride knows which dress is the one when she is planning everything around it, for some this happens instantly for others it just takes a bit of time. Try to remember how it felt in that moment rather than looking at pictures of the dress as it totally effects how you feel about it.

What’s your best piece of advice for brides who are trying to choose their wedding dress?

Always bring people with you who’s opinions you value and try to keep then to a minimum. The more opinions from others can cloud how you feel about a dress. Be selective in the bridal boutiques that you visit and keep them to a minimum, researching the designers and style of dresses that they offer is worthwhile.

If you had a chance to go to any music festival, which one would it be?

I love Glastonbury, its been a while since I last went but the line up was amazing! The weather not so great but it’s all part of the experience.

Finally, what’s your life quote/motto?

Life’s short- Buy the shoes, drink the wine, order the dessert.

Did you SEE those dresses? So I’m totally expecting you to be at Lovebird for the Odylyne The Ceremony Trunk Show now – 16th June just got a whole lot better! If you’d like to find out more about Lovebird Bridal Boutique, you’ll find their listing in our festival wedding directory or you can just jump on over to their website.

And hello again lovely ones and how are you on this fine day? I hope you’ve got a spring in your step and a smile on your face and if not, this feature is going to perk you right up. Today, it’s a HUGE delight to have the incomparable Karen Willis Holmes here with us on Festival Brides. I have all the heart eyes for Karen’s new wedding dress collections (pics in this feature – oh hello!) so it’s a right old treat to have the super talented designer behind the label with us today. Don’t forget that you can also find Karen Willis Holmes in our festival wedding directory.

But now, let’s hear from Karen herself…

Tell us a little about the Karen Willis Holmes brand…

The KAREN WILLIS HOLMES brand is an Australian based brand designing wedding dresses for brides internationally. A lot of what we do is still done in house in our Sydney based workroom and I really love that our brand can uphold such a strong connection to workmanship and quality in all our dresses.

What made you decide to start Karen Willis Holmes?

I worked for myself and another company while I was in Perth before moving to London. I stayed in London for a couple of years and worked for companies specializing in evening and special occasion day wear. When I moved back to Perth I started a store designing evening wear. During this time I started to get people asking me to make wedding gowns for them. When the lease finished on my store at the time I had to make a decision about which direction I was going to take. My husband recommended I specialized in wedding gowns. I don’t know why I could not work this out myself and it took Geoff to suggest it for me – designing wedding gowns is perfect for me, I love the quality, the fabrics, corsets, trains…..

Tell us a little bit more about your current collection…

I am in love with my new collection. I have designed some really simple wedding dresses in this amazing stretch fabric that just hugs the body. This is something a bit different to what I traditionally design but I think these are very on trend and perfect for the bride who doesn’t want to wear lace or embellishments. The new KWH by KAREN WILLIS HOLMES Collection is also going into stores this month and my faviourties are the two long sleeve beautifully hand beaded and embellished dresses which I am really excited about as well.

Is there a signature Karen Willis Holmes look?

I believe my style is very feminine and focuses a lot on silhouette. I draw inspiration from fashion archives especially the corset structures of gowns – the detail work of the interior structure of a gown which, from the outside is unnoticeable, but internally there are so many components which create a great shape. I am also inspired by the fabrication and embellishments I work with – beautiful laces, embroidered and beaded pieces, and I believe this shows through as my ‘signature style’ as well.

I like to think my work is understated and this allows my brides to tailor and style their gown with different pieces and accessories to achieve a unique look for their wedding day.

What makes Karen Willis Holmes dresses different?

Two things, the fit and the quality. My background is pattern making so making sure a design works on a lot of different body shapes is really important to me. For quality, this is the most precious piece of clothing a bride will purchase so we strive for quality in the fabrics, construction and customer experience we provide.

What’s the design process? Where do the ideas come from?

The design process is influenced by inspiration I find online (Pinterest is such a great tool to collect ideas together!) and also knowledge and feedback from my staff that they are receiving from brides regarding the current collection – what is working, what isn’t, what are brides loving and what are they asking for. I then put everything together and just start sketching any ideas I have. I will then edit the designs and refine them before sending the sketches to our workroom for the girls to start working on the toiles. We usually go through several versions of the design, tweaking the design and fit before we put the final design into production to create samples to take to market and store samples for our boutiques.

KWH by Karen Willis Holmes

If our readers were to order a Karen Willis Holmes dress for their wedding, what can they expect?

Regardless of what collection you are buying from you should also expect to have an amazing experience with us while you find your dress and in the fittings. With our ability to mix and match designs to create a wedding dress which is unique to you, KAREN WILLIS HOLMES brides can also expect a beautifully hand crafted gown. You can find your nearest stockist STOCKIST LIST here.

How do you know if a Karen Willis Holmes dress is right for your wedding?

I believe, regardless of the designer, you will know it is the right dress because you will that that ‘ah ha’ moment, or you won’t be able to stop thinking about the dress and visualising yourself in the dress – that’s when you know you have found the right dress for your wedding.

KWH by Karen Willis Holmes

What’s your best piece of advice for brides who’re trying to choose their wedding gown?

There are a few main things a bride needs to consider when it comes time to shop for her wedding dress. These include time – have you set a wedding date? And how much time do you have as a result. Most stores require a booking lead time of 6 months or more. Another key point to consider is how much you want to spend on your gown. Keep this in your thoughts as you start the gown search so that you are only focused on gowns you realistically want to pay for – no one wants to have their hopes and dreams dashed by too many zeros on the price tag.

KWH by Karen Willis Holmes

If you had a chance to go to any music festival, which one would it be?

It might not be a ‘proper’ festival but I would love to see Queen with Adam Lambert live again.

Finally, what’s your life quote/motto?

Trust your own judgement, the hard work is worth it.

KWH by Karen Willis Holmes

A huge Festival Brides thank you to Karen and, if you’d like to find out more about wedding dresses by Karen Willis Holmes then you know what to do – click on over to the website or check out her listing in our festival wedding directory.

Friday is DEFINITELY Fri-Yay here on Festival Brides today because we’re giving you the chance to win your wedding dress! Oh yes, you read that right! Calm Amongst The Chaos is a fabulous British designer label that we’ve recently welcomed to our festival wedding directory and they’re celebrating the launch of their new collection, The White Garden, with a brilliant competition. So, here’s designer Frances Farmer to tell you more about the designs and this downright fabulous competition..

Tell us a little about Calm Amongst The Chaos…

Calm Amongst The Chaos is a bridal studio based in Ringwood Hampshire.

We are a team of designers led by me, Frances Farmer, who create contemporary couture, made-to-measure and ready-to-wear wedding gowns for the modern bohemian bride. We also offer styling advice for shape, style and wedding day.

‘Nancy’

What made you decide to start the business

I graduated with a fashion degree from Bournemouth & Poole College in 1985. Initially known by the label ‘Chaos’ the first items off the cutting table included underwear and then leisurewear. After a break to raise a family, I returned with a collection of wraps, shawls and boleros including gorgeous white faux fur wraps that were popular winter wedding bridal accessories. Encouraged by this interest I planned a photo shoot hoping to source some vintage style gowns to show off the wraps to their best effect. Unable to find the gowns I wanted, I guess I did what any good designer would do and created my first collection of six unique gowns, inspired by the serene stars of Hollywood in the 1920’s and 1930’s, and the label “Calm Amongst the Chaos” was born. The signature gown was known as ‘Frances’ in honour of my namesake actress Frances Farmer. Other gowns in the collection included Bette, Lillian, Katherine and Greta all talented actresses but also known for their stylish fashions. The collection was a the with non-conventional brides who knew what they wanted and were unabale to find it amongst the traditional offerings on offer.

‘Vita’

The increase in demand saw me recruit Hannah  to the team and move to my design studio and workroom in the centre of Ringwood in the New Forest. In five years at the studio the team has been enhanced by my daughter and junior designer Agy, plus design team members Carmel and Penny. You can still find a faux fur wrap if you look carefully but ‘Calm Amongst the Chaos’ it is now all about beautiful gowns for brides, stunning outfits for the Mother of the Bride and bespoke occasion wear for any big occasion. The White Garden Collection, launched June 2017, is my first ready-to-wear collection and a new bridal shop attached to my studio in Ringwood opens Autumn 2017.

‘Virginia’

Tell us a little bit more about your new collection, White Garden…

The White Garden Collection is the first ready to wear range from Calm Amongst The Chaos Couture and features six exquisite bohemian wedding dresses.  Each gown is handmade in England using exquisite lace fabrics, tulles and silks, and is available in five different sizes.  With romantic, fit and flare or billowing silhouettes the collection is designed with the free-spirited bride in mind.  The dresses all have a stretch element ensuring comfort and ease of fit. Away from the traditional, these dresses evoke natural beauty and keep up with trends, stepping away from the constraints of the bridal norm!

The White Garden Collection is  available to purchase online from. Dresses take up to 5 months from date of ordering.  The ready-to-wear collection starts at £1795 and for made-to-measure & couture services the price begins at £2500. Occasion and Evening wear from £450

‘Edith’

What was the inspiration for the collection?

I was inspired by a visit to the White Garden at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent.  The garden was restored by 1930’s poet Vita Sackville West, who was known to sit and write her poetry amongst the magnificent blooms in every shade of white, cream and ivory. I designed these six heavenly gowns using luxurious ethereal fabrics and named them after Vita and six other prominent female writers from that period, Agatha (Christie), Virginia (Woolf), Bea (Potter), Nancy (Mitford) and Edith (Nesbit).

‘Agatha’

Who is a ‘Calm Amongst The Chaos’ bride?

The Chaos bride is unique and she enjoys being individual. She usually has some strong ideas around style and the kind of occasion she wants to enjoy on her wedding day, but also is open to new inspiration from our dedicated team of designers. Ultimately, the Chaos bride is modern and free spirted at heart who strives to stay true to herself.

‘Nancy’

What are the stand out features and elements in the new collection?

The fact that they are stretchy is the most exciting thing about this collection. They are a pleasure to wear as they mould to your shape and are just so comfortable whilst looking effortlessly bohemian. Handmade in our studio using exquisite laces and tulles the collection incorporates unique techniques and focusses on the details; oversized sleeves, flared hems and deliciously low backs. We believe these gowns will really stand out to the modern, free spirted bride whose looking for that perfect bohemian gown.

‘Bea’ (and header image)

Tell us a little bit more about the shoot at Somerley House…

The shoot at Somerley House was just amazing. Lord and Lady Somerton who currently occupy the Georgian manor were so welcoming; from the word go they were fantastic giving us free reign to wander around choosing ideal places for our photoshoot. The house is quite magnificent inside and out with some beautiful artifacts, paintings and regency furniture. These reminders of days gone by linked perfectly with our initial inspiration which was Sissinghurst castle in Kent, that although different in architectural style the romantic nature of the properties were very in keeping with one another. We feel very priveleged to have been able to team up with such a beautiful local wedding venue to promote The White Garden Collection.

‘Agatha’

What are some of your favourite memories + experiences from previous weddings/couples you’ve worked with?

Over time we have worked with some lovely brides to create their wedding gowns. We have found that some have very positive ideas from the onset whilst others want to be entirely guided by us. One particular project was one of the first. The bride was getting married on Table Mountain, South Africa. She was being  lown into the forest where the scene had been set for the ceremony. They were an amazing couple and truly in love. Her gown was inspired from the days of hollywood glamour and had metres of silk and chiffon to make up the dress. It’s unique people and weddings like this that really make our job a joy to do.

‘Vita’

What’s your best piece of advice for brides who’re trying to choose their wedding dress?

Our number one piece of advice is that the style needs to reflect you. It sounds so obvious but it’s really important not to go out of your comfort zone and choose something that you would never wear. We appreciate a wedding dress won’t be your ‘normal’ style but it can still reflect your personality and then work with the sort of wedding you’re going to have. Rather than choosing a theme for your wedding day think about the general atmosphere of the day, whether it be super casual or more put together and formal, and make sure that your dress goes with it 100%. But most importantly, just make sure you love your dress!

‘Virginia’

And now – THE COMPETITION! Can you explain what’s on offer and what brides have to do to be in with a chance of winning?

To celebrate the launch of these 6 bohemian bridal gowns, Calm Amongst The Chaos are giving away TWO chances to win your very own wedding dress from The White Garden Collection. Winners can choose from any of the 6 ready to wear gowns

HOW TO ENTER – TWO CHANCES TO WIN!

To be in with a chance of winning, simply enter your details on our competition website or follow the link from our Facebook page.

For a second chance to win, head to Instagram  #MyWGCDress and like one of our competition posts to enter. There are two dresses up for grabs, and ten runners-up prizes in total. Please see the website for prize details and T&C’s.

The competition closes at 12pm on 28th July so good luck!

‘Edith’

So come on then ladies, you know what you’ve got to do – get entering! If you want to find out more about Calm Amongst The Chaos, hop over to their website or check out their listing in our festival wedding directory.

Images credits:

Location: Somerley Estate, Ringwood @somerleyhouseweddings Model: Harriet Russell @harriet_russell1 Photographer: Ina Halsor @inafotograf Floral Stylist: The Wild Fox @thewildfoxuk

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Oh my, do we have a bundle of bridal gorgeousness for you this morning! Embellishment; what’s new, right?

Wrong! There’s a whole world of colour, texture and new styling hitting the bridal fashion world right now in terms of embellishment, and we are totally on board.

You’ll see sequins over sheer sleeves, we’ll also whisk you away into the groundbreaking world of colourfully embellished veils (so much swoon!), embroidered details are getting a hit of big bold colour, and embellishment is leading the way into a whole other dimension of beauty (aka 3D detailing).

There’s something for almost every taste in this trend, but for us, the light bulb really illuminated at the sight of these little babies…

Sock it to me

Ummm. Not even sure I can handle how cute they are; embellished sheer socks. I mean, stop!

Reminiscent of the tattoo lace trend, these beautiful sheer pop socks are singlehandedly the sweetest addition to any bridal (or bridesmaid!) ensemble. A hit of cheeky sparkle and wonderfully alternative colour, whether it’s Free People’s pop socks with a midi length gown for your country garden ceremony, or those insanely cool fishnets to dance away your evening reception…

Glittering hosiery is where it’s at right now.

…Oh and I just could not resist those gloves, wedding gloves need to make a comeback, am I right?!

Veil of Mischief

Colour-adorned veils have been sneaking into our peripheral for a little while now, but it’s looking like now is really their time to shine, and we couldn’t be happier.

They’re the perfect balance; a nod to tradition, with pops of mischievous colour.

Be that show-stopping rainbow sparkles, or too-cool-for-school chic black polka dots, we are completely besotted with colour-embellished veils. It’s like the colour is invading traditional bridal territory, it’s a surprise to see it there, making it the ultimate indie-bride wow factor.

And none more so than FBrides favourite, AM Faulkner’s upcoming 2018 collection, Night Blooms. In fact, the next 3 images are a sneak peak of this yet-to-be released collection, and I can’t even begin with how excited we are to see the rest!

In short, if you’re debating a veil and not wanting to look too traditional: simply add colour.

Ditsy Details

And of course, the pièce de résistance, the all important, absolutely crucial… Bridal gown. You better believe we’ve broken this bad boy down into categories, because there are just so many insanely good styles of coloured embellishment on the bridal market right now, and all so utterly unique, we had to include them all!

First up, delicate ditsy floral additions. Incredible Spanish bridal designer, Immaclé, have really brought this trend to the bridal scene with their most recent collection, Tangier. Intricate lace is given a breath of life with all-over tiny rose florals, and our hearts may have stopped a little at first sight of those little bursts of Barcelona sunshine…

Sequins on Sheer

You guys loved it. So we thought we’d share it again! The below image was one of the most popular posts on our Instagram this week, and with good reason! Needle & Thread have nailed the brief of an embellished bridal gown with the addition of muted Spring tones and a continuation of the adornment down the sheer sleeves…

And you know if you guys like it, we’ll deliver it! So we hunted down a few more sparkly beauts for you: from Rue De Seine’s stunning Tiger Moss gown, to Natalie Wynn’s Starstruck Gown, adornments are multicoloured, metallic and in their multitudes, just how we like them.

In the case of sparkle, more is more, yes?

Bold Embroidery

Embroidery is taking an emboldened turn. Brighter, bigger, bolder blooms are taking shape in the bridal fashion world, and there’s something a little sophisticated European (think sunny Mediterranean) and ridiculously chic about it.

Whether you opt for tanned skin against bold brights, or the subtle khaki and muted blues of Rue De Seine’s bohemian Ziggy gown, embroidered embellishment is all grown up and ready to say ‘I do’.

Another Dimension

Last, but absolutely not least: 3D embellishments.

This eye-catching adornment comes in the form of richly coloured floral shoulders, full multidimensional flowered blush skirts, and even all-over tasseling!

It sounds a little extra, right? Well, if you can’t be extra on your wedding day, when can you?!

All the drama, and we love it.

Adding a splash of colour to your wedding gown is just everything right now. It gives you that edge, elevating your look to new memorable heights. Be the bride who dared…

Peace + Love

Clare XO

 Afternoon, babes! Now I don’t know about you, but this time of year’s always got me loving all the soft snowy whites. So when I saw that literally every store was selling beautiful stems of Pussy Willow this year (I got mine at M&S!) something about those little pompoms of furry white sparked my wedding brain and now all I see, everywhere, are soft clouds of white.

Whether it’s a the gentle blur of vellum stationery, or the abundance of layered ruffled hems and sleeves in Rime Arodaky’s 2018 collection *cue the drooling emoji*… Softening-off white edges to create that wintery, dream-like quality (as opposed to the crisp, clean lines of summer whites) is hitting all our buttons right now.

Kicking off this mood board then, with the natural materials that inspired it. From delicate white willow crowns, to abundant buds of cotton foliage to create incredibly textured floral instalments or add texture to a winter bouquet…

Stunning right?! In a totally natural, unassuming way – which we love it all the more for!

And the world of bridal style certainly seems to have taken note, with layered chiffon ruffles softening silhouettes, feathered textured cuffs and panels of fine cobweb-like lace. So elegant and dreamy, these details create a beautiful lightness in the gowns and blur hemlines in the most delicate of ways…

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Festival Brides mood board if we didn’t include an abundance of food ideas to interpret this theme! Food is synonymous with texture, so embracing this trend for soft whites is easy and oh-so beautiful!

From majestic tiers adorned with layers of silky ruffled icing, to more modest coconut-covered cakes or while dustings of powdered sugar on donuts and homemade mallows; wispy white textures are plentiful in the dessert realm. And I mean, could you get any cuter than little poms of white candy floss to top your champagne toast?! We think not…

  Craving coconut in a big way now!

This trend translates beautifully into bridal hair too, with platinum ash blonde tousled bobs, or up dos with a multitude of teased-out white wisps creating such a gentle winter look for all our blonde brides. We love this look paired with very fresh faced makeup: if you can get away with it, go so far as bare, foundation-free skin with cream highlights, a gentle apricot blush and subtle lip stains to really emphasise the organic velvety white of your locks…

 Soft whites, of course, also translate into bridal lingerie with the likes of Mae’s Sunday and Aimee Cherie Intimates embracing loose waving ruffles to smooth edges and add a whole other level of airy intricacy…

 We love the pairing of gypsophilia (or Baby’s Breath) with the delicate lace in that last shot. If you can’t get your hands on white willow or cotton, an abundance of this well-known flower works just beautifully to create that soft white look too, especially for a boudoir shoot.

Finally, how to embrace the soft white of cotton into your stationery? Two ways: if you’re keen to maintain the crisp edges of your invites, then try adding a layer of vellum (we love this look!). This chic semi-transparent layer blurs crisp text, allowing guests to reveal the invitation from behind a veil of frosted paper. If that’s not quite rustic/boho enough for you, consider incorporating delicately torn edges to your stationery suite. Using thicker, textured card, this organic look really mutes the crispness of white stationery, again echoing the soft whites trend.

Soft whites, what do you guys think?

Are you more of a crisp, clean cut white fan? Or does this more natural, muted texture appeal to you?

Let us know in the comments below, and do excuse me while I go and pull on my soft white sweater, and snuggle up in a white faux fur blanket while sipping a pillowy marshmallow topped mug of cocoa… Hmmm so snowy and cosy!

Peace + Love

Clare XO

Hello and, just when you thought you’d opened all your Christmas presents, we’re here with this feature! Wear Your Love launch their stunning new collection, Wildflowers, today and because we’re pretty much head over heels for these designs, we just had to bring it to you RIGHT NOW! So, without further festive ado, let’s hand over to Jillian Leigh, Founder & Creative Director of Wear Your Love, who can tell us more…

Tell us a little about Wear Your Love…

Wear Your Love is a Northern California based bridal brand whose ethos centers around the free-spirited expression of natural beauty. We offer our wedding dresses directly to our clients, only through our online boutique, and each dress is handmade in our studio, by a dedicated team who shares decades of combined experience in design, pattern-making, and garment construction. Every dress is made-to-measure, creating a custom pattern for each bride, so that her dress is made to not only her exact size, but also her unique body shape. We love waking up in the morning to create soft, luxurious, comfortable, and ravishing gowns, and we think our passion shows in our imaginative designs, and their quality.

What got you into designing wedding dresses?

From my earliest bridal day-dreams I envisioned my wedding as the entwinement of sacred, intimate and soul-connecting ceremony, with ravishing celebration in kick-your-heels-up and shout-from-the-rooftop style. Inspired by brilliantly romantic young loves I dreamed of a wedding that would in some magical way express the rhapsody of experiencing true and unbound love. In the glorious profundity of nature and in the farthest reaches of vividly imagined fantasy, my creative essence came to life in my wedding visions and I imagined a bridal style that embodies the spirit of the mermaid, the goddess, and the nymph, with effortless femininity.

After years of being maid-of-honor and bridesmaid, I discovered that there is a major obstacle standing between the euphoric free-spirited wedding celebration I had in mind and the reality for most brides: the traditional wedding dress. That stiff look that has come to dominate the bridal shop appointments and endless fittings, is unforgivably miserable to wear. How is a woman supposed to hold and be held, dance and laugh, kick her heels up, and shout from the roof; how is she supposed to feel at home beside her partner, and embody her most elegant beauty, when she doesn’t feel like herself in her wedding dress?

What I seek to share with brides everywhere is a vision of weddings that centers around a bride who feels her most amazing. She has the freedom to dance, laugh, eat, drink and be blissfully happy. She is present, buoyant, and at ease as she embarks on her path with her partner. She gracefully dances through each moment as she creates forever-memories with the person she wants to hold and be held by, the person she is absolutely at home beside, with full abandon, bliss, and joy.

How would you describe your style?

The Wear Your Love style centers around unique lace patterns and lush fabric textures. We celebrate modern bohemian design components like long lace sleeves, fringe-like eyelash lace trimmings, and low-scooped or open V backs. Our designs marry a timeless sense of elegance, with bold and romantic details.

You’re just launching your new collection. Tell us EVERYTHING!

Wildflowers is our fourth collection, and was born from an innate infatuation with the natural beauty that we are so lucky to experience on this spectacular planet. In my mind, my job at Wear Your Love is to translate the wild natural beauty I see in the world around me, and that I feel in my soul, into wearable pieces of art which share that perception of beauty with others. That is the job of an artist, in any medium, and that is the goal of the Wildflowers Collection. And, in keeping with our commitment to sustainable fashion, dresses are lined in organic cotton, for a truly luxurious wearing experience.

What are your favourite pieces in the new collection?

The Indigo dress represents the perfectly imperfect, effortlessly feminine, naturally chic style we most whole-heartedly espouse. Indigo combines a plunge sweetheart neckline, and a statement open back with an all-over lace look that exudes charm and poise. If I were choosing a dress for myself though, it would probably be Starla. The Starla gown is made for the truly unconventional bride who dances to the beat of her own drum and who requires a wedding dress that is truly unforgettable. Starla celebrates individualistic design with its glorious geometric patterned stretch lace and magical silhouette.

How do you go about designing a collection?

Designing a collection is one part eyes-closed day-dreaming, one part draping new fabrics all over every surface in the studio, and one part collaborating with the brilliant design team I’ve been lucky enough to assemble and work with on a daily basis.

What’s your favourite part of designing your gowns?

Seeing a new gown on a person for the first time is definitely the highlight of my job.

What do brides need to consider when they’re choosing a wedding dress?

In my mind the most important thing to consider when choosing a wedding dress is, how do I want to feel on my wedding day? Do I want to feel sleek and elegant? Playful and flirtatious? Do I want to feel like a celestial goddess? Or a flower child? I know I want to feel comfortable! Will I be comfortable showing more skin or less?

I want our brides to feel beautiful and natural in their dresses; like the fabric is an extension of the experience of being true to themselves and truly in love.

Where can brides find your dresses? How can they shop the collection?

We offer our dresses direct to our brides, exclusively through our online boutique.

Can you sum up what makes your new collection so special in five words?

Made for the inspired soul.

If you could go to any festival at all, which one would you choose and why?

I dream of going to Ozora festival so that I can play and dance in the wide-open fields and frolic on the rolling hills, like the wild child I am at heart.

Finally, what’s your life motto?

Do the best I can to make world around me a little kinder, and a little more beautiful.

Wow! Thank you so much Jillian, we’re definitely in love right now. To find out more about Wildflowers and to shop the collection, just visit the Wear Your Love website. What are you waiting for?!

Image credits: Austin Ftacnik Photography

Afternoon, you gorgeous people! And I’m guessing there might be a few of you that are new to Festival Brides? If so, welcome and a huge congratulations! Now, you better believe that we love instagram as much as the next gal (the word ‘obsessed’ may have even been bandied around!) and increasingly brides-to-be are using this platform to seek out decor inspiration, bridal designers, hair and makeup ideas, and maybe even a bit of humour to see them through their wedding planning journey.

So what better way to ease you into the world or weddings (or broaden your experience a little further) that to list a few (*cough 25 cough*) of our favourite instagram feeds for brides-to-be…

If you like what you see at FBrides, I’d bet good money on you loving each and every one of these insta-accounts! We’re gonna work our way through different types of accounts (so if you’re looking for photographer, cake or lingerie inspo, keep scrolling, they’re near the end!!), so without any further ado, prepare to lose the rest of your day to an insta-coma…

@festivalbrides

I mean, excuse the blatant self promo, but we had to pop a little note about our instagram account into this post! Rude not to, right?!

From carefully curating images from all our favourite inspiration sources, to sharing everything that happens over here on the blog, all you really need to know is that a lot of love goes into our account, and we hope you love it just as much too! You’ll also get exclusive news on any competitions we collaborate on, the hottest bridal events happening around the UK and find links to the designers we love!

Images (top left to bottom right) Rue de Seine Bridal, Tilly Thomas Lux, Marrow Fine, the Events Lounge

@lovestonedbridal

Honestly, I’m not gonna do a lot of talking in this post, because the images really do speak for themselves!

But Lovestoned is an absolute must-follow. Stunning, chic inspiration from Sydney, this gal ticks all our boxes, on the regular.

Images (top left to bottom right) James Michelle, Jordan Voth, Tali Photography, Joseph Willis

@mostcuriouswedfair

Ummmm only our favourite wedding fair of all time ever! Most Curious is an alternative wedding fair held in London and Norfolk (not to be missed!) for the insanely cool bride.

So, as you’d expect, their feed is insanely cool and ram-jammed full of awesome UK designers and suppliers!

Images (top left to bottom right) Loeffler Randall, Naves Official, Sienna Von Hildemar

@trulyandmadly

That top left picture from their stunning styled shoot led us straight to Truly and Madly. There’s something magical about this wedding blog.

As well as their own work, they share some incredible bridal style inspiration and we can’t wait to see what they do next. Low. Key. Obsessed.

Images (top left to bottom right) Madly Studio, By Amy Lynn, Light Pictures Studio, Madly Studio 

@topdrawerlingerie

Oh Top Drawer. A long-time love of ours, this online lingerie brand’s account is one we check daily, without fail.

From wish-you-were-there travel shots, to luxe catwalk pieces, laugh-out-loud quotes (which trust me, you might need a few of on this wild wedding journey!) and bridal gown and lingerie inspo to die for… The proof’s in the pictures, you need to hit follow.

Images (top left to bottom right) Kirsty Cane, Chloe, Elle Ferguson, Willow + Bear

@ruedeseinebridal

Honey, if you don’t know who Rue De Seine are yet, you need to remedy that ASAP rocky! This New Zealand based bridal designer is only one of the best in the business.

We are head over heels for their boundary pushing designs… No really, every new collection they drop leaves me sobbing, ‘Good god, this is their best yet!’

Plus, they just collaborated with major insta-babe @tezzamb and it’s everythingyouwilleverneedinlife!

Images (top left to bottom right) Tessa Tadlock, 3rd image source unknown, Tali Photography

@onedaybridal

Continuing the theme of dress designers, it’d be a disservice to not mention the astounding One Day Bridal. This Aussie designer has had our jaw hitting the floor for a while now with their show-stopping gowns and constant flow of luxe, divinely feminine inspiration.

It’s also well worth checking our their sister feeds @chosenbyoneday, @k.y.h.a (their founder), and their groom account @onedaymrday.

Images (top left to bottom right) Hails & Shine Photography, second image source unknown, Boutierre Girls

@rimearodaky

If you love all things Parisian (*raises hand*) then you will love Rime Arodaky. Another boundary pushing bridal designer, their account is everything you’d expect of a Parisienne, and then some!

A less is more, sophisticated vibe permeates this gorgeous feed and will have you feeling chic in a sec!

Images (top left to bottom right) Rue Gembon Jewelry, second image source unknown, Eat Pray Photo

@boandluca

We’ve recently revived our obsession with Bo and Luca. I mean, it never left us really, but with the release of their incredible new collection, Shakti, we can’t get enough of their feed right now.

For the über bohemian bride, this is the place to be. Tiered, flowing gowns, statement worldly earrings and perfectly dishevelled locks everywhere, it’s a dream.

 Images (top left to bottom right) first image source unknown, Jimmy Raper

@emmachenartistry

She was hands down our favourite hair and beauty feed of 2017, and we can’t wait to see what this lovely lady creates in 2018! UK brides don’t be disheartened, while Emma is based in sunny Byron Bay, her images are amazing inspiration to screenshot and take to your H+MUA.

Glowy skin, natural tones, statement fluffy brows and teased-out braids errrrrywhere, and her behind the scenes insta-stories are all kinds of mesmerising!

@theeventslounge

Pretty much, if you saw a tipi inspiration image on our feed last year, it was more than likely from the Events Lounge.

IN.CREDIBLE. Their events are next-level inspiring, creating some of the most beautiful wedding lounges we’ve ever laid eyes on.

Images (top left to bottom right) Lucas & co, Shane Shpherd, Lara Hotz, Grace Wriggles

@thelittlelendingco

Our fave, the babe that is Penny of the Little Lending Company, has a painfully cool instagram account. A super talented wedding stylist, she has a hoard of treasures you can hire for your wedding day.

Literally every bride’s Pinterest dream. Ready for you to hire. In the UK. YES. GIRL.

OBVS you need to follow her!

Image (top left) Matt Horan

@_lucyinthesky

Another incredible stylist, Lucy works closely with the Aussie bohemian brand, Spell and the Gypsy Collective, creating swoon-worthy outdoor/indoor (well, under canvas, mainly!) spaces filled to the rafters with fairy lights.

If you don’t want an entire glamping village at your wedding after just a brief scroll through her feed then I’ll eat the rest of the Christmas leftovers… Oh wait!

Images (top left and bottom right) Mel Carrero

@byronbaytipiweddings

If you’re planning a tipi wedding, then this account is for you! Aerial shots of crazy awesome tipi set ups, ceremony styling inspiration and some of the most gorgeous, decadent tipi interiors we ever did see.

They’re a must follow, for sure.

Images (top left to bottom right) Carly Tia, Shane Shepherd, Lara Hotz

@thepalaceandco

Working closely with the aforementioned @theeventslounge, Palace and co hire out ridiculously gorgeous pieces that make that Aussie tipi magic come to life.

Major styling tips, these guys have the goods and the know-how to turn any space into a laid-back, bohemian palace, and what’s more they’re sharing it!

Images (top right to bottom right) second image source unknown, Spell & the Gypsy Collective, Bryce + Lauren

@marrowfine_

On to the ring-a-ding-dings, and whether you’re just engaged with a new-found obsession for ring shots, or a soon-to-be-engaged diamond hunter, we simply cannot stop staring at Marrow Fine’s account.

Big ones, small ones, coloured ones, stacked ones… They’re all SO GOOD.

@louisejeanjewellery

If diamonds cheer you up, and you’ve got a bit of an obsession for all things celestial right now (heyyo, that’d be us!) then get onto Lousie Jean’s account.

Scroll-stopping ring selfies, serious ear candy, and all-round amazing wedding/honeymoon jewellery inspo you’ll laying hints for the rest of 2018…

@lunabeaofficial

Our babe, Luna Bea. Incredible UK bridal accessory designer, her exquisite handmade pieces are renowned for their beauty and modern romance… Plus, she’s an utter sweetheart.

If you’re undecided when it comes to the veil, headpiece or statement jewellery debate her instagram feed is sure to inspire your choice and deliver the goods.

Images (top left to bottom left) Bek Smith, Marilyn Bartman, Rachel Takes Pictures 

@leletny

The maker of the insta-sensation hair chains. Lelet’s luxuriously off-beat pieces are stunning. So if you’re looking for truly unique, glistening bridal hair inspiration, look no further darlings…

Images (top left and bottom right) Lacy Redway + Anthropologie

@boutierre_girls

I mean. I really don’t think I need to say anything about this gorgeous account, so let’s just leave it at:

Flowers. Really big, really beautiful flowers.

@jordanvoth

There are a wealth of photographers that we know and love, and of course, the vast majority of them have simply stunning instagram accounts (really, that’s a whole other post in its own right!) so we’ve just picked a couple whose image style really inspires us, starting with the lovely work of Jordan Voth.

Warmth, romance, beautiful light and tender moments. A must-follow.

@chrisandruth

A husband and wife team (we love that!) travelling the world capturing gorgeous weddings and elopements.

If you’re looking for ideas for very natural, true-to-this-beautiful-life imagery, then look no further than Chris and Ruth’s account.

@kalabasa

You didn’t think we’d forgotten cakes did you?! Again, as with photographers, we could write an entire separate post on the multitude of dessert/food based feeds that we adore, but for now, we’d strongly advise giving Kalabasa a follow.

The creators of the brushstroke cake (bottom right, sure to be a really big deal for 2018) we’re forever watching and waiting to see what wonder they create next!

@maessunday

And finally, two lingerie accounts that we can’t put down. Whether you’re just trying to get a feel for the kind of bridal lingerie you’d like, wanting to make a sexy little purchase, or looking for bridal boudoir photoshoot inspiration, Mae’s Sunday is an utterly gorgeous feed.

Original, feminine designs that are perfectly bridal, without being blatantly bridal… If you catch my drift!

Images (top right) Erin + Tara 

@aimeecherie_intimates

Silk teddies, unique bralets and natural beauty all round. Aimme Cherie intimates are low key empowering.

Subtle, sensual and seriously a feed you need to be following.

Images (top right to bottom right) second + third images Greg Lewis, Jessie Andrews  

Woowhey! And there you have it. 25 incredible feeds from around the globe that have me going boss-eyed on the regular because I just cannot put them down!

Hit us up with some of your faves in the comments below – we’re always up for some new follows!

Peace + Love

Clare XO