Client Story – a timeless modern bespoke wedding dress for Tina
Creating a bespoke bridal dress is always a journey of discovery. I enjoy the process of working with my brides to explore what is possible and how to bring their vision to life. When the bride is also your cousin this journey becomes extra special. I never take for granted the trust that my clients place in me for such an important commission and this was no different.
First steps
At the beginning of this process, we were quite literally oceans apart. Tina lives in Canada while I work and live in the UK. We therefore began designing a bespoke dress online via a video call. We discussed her initial ideas, style and budget.
As we couldn’t look at shapes and try on samples together, I suggested that she visit some bridal boutiques to try on dresses there. This helped her explore which silhouettes she liked and felt most comfortable in. Feeling the weight of the dresses also helped her understand the properties of different fabrics.
Choosing a wedding dress fabric
We soon identified that Tina suited a classic minimal design with a few modern twists. She liked a brocade fabric she had tried on, but it felt cumbersome and would be far too hot for a wedding in August. I found a lightweight silk mix jacquard material instead which was incredibly light whilst retaining the appeal of the heavier brocade.
It felt modern yet timeless – perfect for her style and requirements.
Finding the dress silhouette
Having settled on the material we then finalised the dress silhouette. Tina has a beautiful pear-shaped body and feels best in dresses with a full skirt and a deep V-neck front. These became the core elements we based the design on. We also talked about her wedding venue, the stunning Art Deco Liuna Station in Hamilton, Canada. Getting married in the main station hall with its grand features meant that she wanted a dress that could make an entrance and do this impressive space justice.
A removable train was the perfect solution (and a delicious pun). This allowed Tina to have the drama of a full skirt and long train for the ceremony with the freedom of being able to dance at her reception without tripping over her dress or being weighed down by a bulky bustle.
”'Dara accomplished what I thought was impossible: a wedding dress that was both comfortable and flattering. I thought I’d have to sacrifice the ability to breathe to have a slim waist, but Dara designed a dress bodice that was lightweight and perfectly fitted to me. My dress set the stage for my wedding day, which was everything I dreamed it could be!' Tina
It was wonderful to see how comfortable Tina was on her wedding day and how the dress enhanced her natural beauty without restricting her movement.
I think the pictures, so expertly captured by Sash from Pixelesque Photography speak for themselves. Whilst choosing a few for this post I was reminded of this quote by my favourite fashion designer Madeleine Vionnet: ‘When a woman smiles, her dress should smile too.’
Designing this dress for and with Tina was a truly special experience and I enjoyed every moment of it.
What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below and share this post with any brides who are looking for a beautiful and comfortable wedding dress.
Ready to start designing your wedding dress? Get in touch to book a consultation and find out more.
