My Dress

Girls, no matter how much of a tomboy you were as a kid (and I was, I've the scars to prove it), or how 'sensible' you think you are going to be when it comes to choosing your wedding dress, it's one of those things, that whether you admit it or not, you REALLY care about, you've probably ALWAYS cared about. I know I thought about it for a long long time!

I only went to a couple of shops and tried on a dozen or less dresses, but my dress was most definitely MY dress. I LOVE it.

I picked Devenport by American wedding dress designer Watters who don't have a lot of stockists in the UK, but Jenny Lindop Bridal in my hometown of Bangor just happened to be one of the few!

I know how frustrating it can be when the only pics you can find of a wedding dress you love are on a model, it's so hard to envision what it will be like on your own figure, I spent months trawling the internet looking at wedding dress resale sights to see real brides in my dress! So hopefully this post will help another Devenport bride! :)

I bought my dress off the rail, the sample, which when I bought it was far too small, I'd put on weight gradually over a couple of years after I stopped smoking, (having a BIG love for good food didn't help either) and I was uncomfortable with my size and shape, I don't just mean I felt embarrassed of my tummy and my hips and bingo wings (although I did) but I was becoming physically uncomfortable too, getting sore lines on my tummy and rib area from my work trousers and bra being tight and sitting in them all day at my desk, having to wear shapewear to fit into dresses and skirts and then feeling like I couldn't breath all day - not fun.

I wanted to lose a bit of weight for a long time but I'm lazy! I love food and hate exercise, but I knew if I didn't lose some weight before the wedding, I'd hate myself forever.

I did lose some weight, not as much as I'd have liked to, but the dress fit!

After trying it on a dozen times over 18 months, one month before the wedding, that little covered zip finally made it the whole way to the top!!!

It was a strapless dress, and I had a lace keyhole (thank you again Jenny!) strap attached, and I'm so glad I did!

Anywaaaay... This is my dress and I loved it :) it was exactly what, when I closed my eyes and imagined a 'wedding dress', that dress looked like.

I loved having to lift up my skirts to walk up stairs and climb into the car, some brides might hate that but it made me feel like a princess. One of my fave little things about the day was sitting in the back of that beautiful classic car surrounded by pouffy dress!

If you have any questions about picking your dress, details of my dress or about our wedding day I'd love to hear them!

Suppliers

Photography - Jake Samuels

Location - Mount Stewart House, Garden and Temple of the Winds

Classic Cars -  Ivory 1964 Princess (interier shown) and Ivory Daimler, Klass Cars NI

Dress - Watters Devenport from Jenny Lindop Bridal wear in Bangor

Lace Keyhole Strap - from Jenny Lindop Bridal wear in Bangor

Sash - January Rose Bridal Boutique via Etsy

Shoes - Dragonlady by Vivienne Westwood (Mine were the original pearl with red heart, they are discontinued and I got mine on ebay!)

Bees - for my hair - The Peddler via Etsy

Boys suits - Light Blue Tonic Slim Fit from Burton Menswear

Flowers - Floral Earth Belfast - See full blog post on flowers here

Hair - Laura Rodgers @ DKY Hair Company Bangor

Makeup - Jenna Somerville 

(I'll post further details on the Bridesmaid's and Groomsmen's outfits, hair and makeup and some of the other details at a later date!)

If you'd like to see more about my wedding and the planning process, why not visit my other blog Pea & Carrot Get Married?

I Bought my Dress!!!

Massive news!

My little sister is home from her adventures in Africa so took her to a bridal appointment last Saturday to show her a dress I really loved, while we were there I spotted something else.... something gorgeous and beautiful and wonderful hiding on the rail... MY DRESS.

The dress I like before is forgotten, it doesn't even compare!I tried 'the' dress on and Zara and I couldn't stop smiling.

I always thought the whole 'You'll know when you see it' or 'When you know, you know' thing was a bit of a cliché but maybe not!

I think the truth is, every girl when they hear the words 'wedding dress' they have a certain image in their mind, even subconsciously, and that is 'the one'.

when I imagine a wedding dress or doodle one with out thinking, it's 'my' dress.

I know its early but I really think I know, and Sarah says if I doubt myself she'll tell me I've done the right thing very day until the wedding :)

(I will obviously share more details and pics after the wedding, a long time to wait, but I'm superstitious!)

Lx

Gibson Bespoke - Beautiful Boutique Feature

Debbie, owner and creator of Gibson Bespoke, is a women after my own heart – when planning her own wedding her meticulous taste and eye for detail left her disappointed in the range of bridal accessories she found locally, so, taking matters into her own hands she lovingly sourced and collected the best materials, researched the best techniques and painstakingly created her own beautiful, bespoke head piece. Ava, as she named her creation, was a hand beaded, fresh water pearl hat with a birdcage style veil.

Debbie had found her passion and went on to found Gibson Bespoke in 2011 and she launched her first bridal collection in early 2012.

Gibson Bespoke offer some of the most classically glamorous bridal wear around, ever item is painstakingly dreamed up, designed and hand created, the materials used are second to none and any bride who chooses one of their incredible pieces is sure to treasure it forever.

Here is a small selection of the current collections for you to lust after;

Lujon is a luxuriously sheer tulle headpiece, hand embellished with shimmering crystals in an Art Deco sunburst design

So stunning for a 20's inspired wedding, or even party!

 The showstopping Delphine is an array of swarovski crystals in brilliant, pear, navette, oval, emerald and asscher cuts hand embroidered onto the finest ivory illusion tulle. It sits beautifully on the shoulders and low across the decolletage and hand ties at the nape of the neck with a silver lurex ribbon.

Inspired by Old Hollywood Glamour, the Bacall dress is  glamorous and glittering with vintage style champagne gold paillettes sequin fabric. Cap sleeved with a plunge neckline, this mermaid shaped gown hugs in all the right places for a perfect hourglass fit.

 Such a stunning, glitzy dress, how could you not feel like a million dollars when it looks like you're made of a million dollars?!

 Francine is a sweet and feminine 1950's style veil, made of a soft ivory polka dot tulle, topped with a bow and hand embroidered crystals.

Vaudeville is one of Gibson Bespoke's gorgeous vintage treasures - an extremely rare and collectable vintage arctic fox fur collar circa 1920. Full, fluffy and luxurious.  

This Vintage Rose boho crown would be just beautiful at a country themed wedding! Made with the finest silk pink peonies, ivory delphinium, peach/pink cabbage rose and soft lilac hydrangea flowers attached to an ivory French lace ribbon tie.

For something a little different, many a modern bride will be astounded by the elegant look of Jasmine - an Indian inspired three strand silver forehead piece encrusted with crystals.

Or for glamour befitting the most glam of all girls take a look at Monroe - Mink, slate and light grey freshwater pearls shimmer next to sparkling Swarovski crystal diamantes on a mink grey sinamay base. Finished with a mink grey/pewter birdcage veil which can be worn over the eyes or pulled back.

Luxurious and lustrous, this is simply one of a kind. This can be worn as a bridal piece or equally as beautiful worn to the races, dinner or cocktail party!

And now for my favourite of all.. the Petite Ava

This is the little gem that got the whole thing started! (And this is actually Debbie and her hubby on their wedding day!) 

This incredibly beautiful, handmade hat; with fresh water Keshi and Akoya pearls, diamantés, Swarovski, seed pearls and rice pearls with a birdcage visor veil for modern brides. This beautiful piece really is a one off design.

I truely think it's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen! all that detail and love :')

And that's just a small selection of what this great site has to offer! There's loads more lovely jewellery, bridal wear and occasion wear.

All Gibson Bespoke pieces are handmade and bespoke (or vintage), Debbie can accept rush orders if needed, though most items take around 30 working days from sourcing to delivery. All items are come exquisitely gift wrapped and come with their own unique box.

Gibson Bespoke would love to hear any questions and queries and can be contacted via any of the links in this post or at the following;

http://gibsonbespoke.co.uk/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/WillowMoone

http://www.facebook.com/#!/gbespoke

And I can tell you that Debbie really is as helpful and sweet as she sounds, and Pea & Carrot wish her and Gibson Bespoke all the very best for the future!

L x

Check out my wedding dress ideas and advice in the ideas tab!

Damask Roses and Bumble Bees

My Granny's Wedding Dress

When I describe my granny Muriel's wedding dress it sounds so romantic, like a made up story of my perfect dress, possibly because my granny has been a major influence in my life, her stories are my memories and many of her tastes are mine too.

Muriel Brown married John (Jack) Ellis on 16th March 1957, when she was 20, he was 27, he gave her mother the money to take Muriel to buy whatever wedding dress she wanted.

 My granny says 'there were several high fashion shops in Belfast in those days.' the one she chose was Renee Meneely's on Donegall Square.





The dress

 The dress she chose was ivory brocade with a pattern of damask roses with little bumble bees perched on the petals.



 





 It was a sleeveless, ankle length gown with a matching high collared jacket.

She wore flowers in her hair and
carried carnations decorated with a golden horse shoe for luck.

 





Muriel and her sisters Betty, Joan and Hazel.






The bridesmaids, my great aunties, wore pale mediterranean blue with anemone flowers in their hair.

The ceremony took place at the Belmont Presbetarian Church and was follwed by a small reception at Cranthorpe House which is now the Park Avenue Hotel, which we considered for our reception as it has some fantastic packages, however something a wee bit closer to home suited us better.



The very happy couple received telegrams from friends and family across the globe addressed to them with their new, shared surname.

 Including this funny one from Jacks brother in law in Canada.

 

 

What a beautiful romantic day!

 

 

 

Hopefully ours will be just as lovely :)