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Wedding Blog
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Valentine's Day Gifts for Her
By Amy Croffey
It's that time of the year again when Saint Valentine comes out of hiding and influences men all over the world to romance those they love or like - a lot. It’s a day that is traditionally associated with flowers, confectionery and sending sweet/ romantic/ rude/ funny greeting cards. This should not be a day that sends a shiver down your spine for all the wrong reasons because we have a list of gifts that she will love and that she will love you for even more! You will thank us later!
1. Myla bra €95 and briefs €59 from Brown Thomas - this gift is perfect for you and her! | 2. Marc Jacobs IPad Case €85 - cute and practical | 3. Chanel Nail Varnish from €21.90 | 4. A bouquet of flowers from Crazy Daisy Florists - see more florists in your area | 5. Miss Dior Cherie from €50 | 6. YSL Lipstick from €31 | 7. Butlers Chocolates | 8. Spa Day - see more hotels around Ireland | 9. Rangoli Neckpiece |
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10 Valentine's Day Looks for your Perfect Date Night
Like it or loath it, the day of love is just around the corner and here in WeddingsOnline we can’t help but feel a little romantic! We’ve decided to dedicate a few days to the feast of St. Valentine by choosing our favourite gifts for him and for her, the best date night ideas and the most gorgeous Valentine’s wedding day d�cor!
First up we’re picking 10 of our favourite date night outfits, so whether you celebrate with a dreamy night in a lavish restaurant, or a romantic night in with a movie and a take-away, we have a dress to suit the mood. By Karen Birney
Dinner & Cocktails
Cinema/Comedy Club
Cosy Night In
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Irish Designer Week: Project 51 Wedding Showcase
Project 51 is a modern style haven in Dublin City Centre, stocking the best in high-end Irish design.The store features a realm of Irish designers including those specialising in the fields of jewellery, millinery and accessories.
All this month they will be showcasing their wedding collections from Project 51 designers such as Caoimhe Keane, Jennifer Rothwell and Martha Lynn.
The showcase is made up of designers from the Project 51 collaborative as well as unique wedding suppliers ranging from flowers to cakes and stationery to event planning.
WeddingsOnline suppliers featured include florists Tiger Lily Flowers, event planners Plan My Party and, for the men, Aston Formal.
Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 7pm.
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Irish Designer Week: Martha Lynn Millinery
By Amy Croffey
Born in Co Roscommon, Martha Lynn is a young, passionate milliner based in Dublin. Her creations are a combination of traditional elements with a modern twist that she creates in her studio on 51 South William Street in Project 51.
Martha takes inspiration from everything and anything. “Each piece has been inspired by something different. It could be anything from materials to people,” she says.
Her designs are composed of simple clean lines. “I like to introduce a little element of excitement but I like to keep the design classic,” she adds.
Her most important advice for brides who are trying to find the perfect headpiece is to be comfortable and confident in what they are wearing and to consider the style of dress as well as the wedding theme.
On the issue of buying Irish, Martha believes that we all need to support each other. “In the current climate I think it’s really important to support and encourage Irish designers. With the right support we can continue to develop our designs and grow our business giving our customers a better quality and selection of products,” she says. “There is so much Irish talent. We really need to build on what we have.”
Martha tries to buy Irish materials as much as possible when creating her headpieces. At the moment, she is just selling her designs in Ireland but she also has customers in the UK, Australia and America.
For more information on Martha Lynn Millinery call 00 353 85 777 1641.
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Irish Designer Week: Marie McElheron Design
Marie McElheron has worked in the fashion industry in both Dublin and London for over 10 years. She now specialises in bridal design and is based in County Wicklow.
Marie describes the inspiration behind her latest wedding dress collection as slightly bohemian. “The cut remains simple but I’m a little more playful and creative with the design,” she says. “Rich embellishments of flowers and a mix of fabrics are part of each creation.”
Elegance
Marie’s signature style is a classic cut influence by Madeleine Vionnet who introduced it in the 1920s. “I believe less is more without sacrificing femininity or elegance,” she says. “Quality fabric is also very important. I only use silk in my collections.”
The celebrity Marie would most like to design for is Kate Moss because she believes her style is classic boho and she always looks effortless and comfortable in her playful and colourful style.
Marie’s advice for those who are starting to search for their dream wedding dress is to always keep an open mind and to start collecting ideas of what you like.
“Try on different styles to begin with and then narrow down your choices, most of all enjoy the experience,” says Marie.
When it comes to buying Irish, Marie thinks that most girls would consider it but they believe that having a dress custom-made by an Irish designer is very expensive which is not always the case.
“Buying Irish can only be a good choice. A lot of my clients are delighted to have chosen to buy from an Irish designer,” says Marie. “I work with brides-to-be up to a year before their wedding day so I get to know them very well and it’s a very special time and experience.”
Marie McElheron’s wedding dresses start at €800.
For more information contact Marie McElheron Bridal Design, Abbey House, Abbey Lane, Arklow, Co Wicklow or call 00 353 402 32818.
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Irish Designer Week: Edel Tuite
Edel Tuite is a well-known name in Ireland, renowned for her luxurious bridal gowns and bespoke service to brides. She aims to take the drama out of the wedding dress hunt by offering a highly personalised one-to-one service and start to finish wedding dress design and dress making service.
Grafton Acadamy graduate, Edel sharpened and expanded her skills by working with celebrated bridal designer Bridgette Moore. Her passion for design and flair for couture catapulted her into the bridal industry and she launched her own collection in 2001.
In 2008 Edel won Best Traditional Wedding Gown at the Irish Bridal Designer of the Year.
“Edel’s popularity is due to her reputation for creating unique, expertly crafted gowns that truly capture the beauty and spirit of a bride," says a Clients praise her honesty, professionalism and fun, friendly nature.”Edel prides on her personal service. She is fully aware of the needs of even the most discerning bride. Her customising service offers the opportunity to mix and match elements of any dresses her customers wish to emulate, from necklines, to fabrics, to lengths and details.
Edel’s specialises in natural silks which are especially good for girls getting married abroad in hot climates. Her new collection includes luxurious French laces, silk crepes, samouse Italian silk, chiffons and silk taffeta with her exclusive signature hand embellishments of hand beading and embroidery techniques.
Edel Tuite Bridal Design, Upper Mell, Drogheda, Co. Louth
To make an appointment with Edel call +353 41 987 2951 | 086 824 9575 or email [email protected]
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Irish Designer Week: Mia Elmes
Mia Elmes is a bridal designer with an admiration for understated elegance. As part of Irish Designer Week she speaks to Karen Birney about the importance of accentuating a woman's curves, of loving the suppliers you choose, and of supporting the Irish designer industry.
Graduate of Ireland’s centre for fashion design, The Grafton Academy, and the prestigious London College of Art, Mia Elmes first arrived on the designer stage with her contemporary ready-to-wear collection for Topshop Designers in 2005.
She built on the success of her flagship store commissions by establishing herself as an evening and bridal designer and soon garnered a name for her romantic, tailor-made designs and bespoke service.
Jane Eyre
Her bridal collection consists of sumptuous silk chiffons, antique embellished lace and soft lines. Her inspiration, she says, came from the eldest of the Bronte sisters.
“My signature style would probably be flowing chiffons and silk satins with simple, elegant tailoring," says Mia. "The romantic time of Jane Eyre was a great influence on my collection, when women wore fine silks to create beautiful, delicate silhouettes.”
The silhouette or ‘fall’ of a garment is of particular interest to Mia as she endeavours to construct complimentary garments to suit every shape and style. It is a task perfectly accomplished in her most favoured gown of her collection.
“My favourite gown is a silk and chiffon gown,” says Mia. (above left) “For me it reflects the importance of flowing shapes to accentuate the waist and glide over the hips to create an elegant silhouette.”
“The dress is perfect for a destination or summer bride when accessorised with simple flowers and a diamond headpiece. For a winter bride it would look stunning with a fur shawl and red roses.”
Bartering
Mia says she has noticed a ‘considerable rise’ in brides consulting Irish bridal designers in recent years, which is a welcome trend for home-based talents.
“This rise in interest is because the bride prefers to have the control of seeing her gown being made along the way and can change any design features throughout the process,” she says.
Another reason she believes brides are opting to go directly to designers is because they can often be bartered with.
“Irish designers are always willing to add in another feature or item so that the client will get better value for money,” she says. “I think it is important to support the Irish industry as there is a huge amount of incredible talent right on our doorstep!”
When it comes to finding the perfect dress for the big day, Mia believes that having a gown that suits your chosen venue and type of wedding is important. “Try to imagine the overall theme of your wedding,” she advises. “Bring together elements of different gowns by gathering images from magazines and sites.”
“It is important that you like the people you will be working with to have your gown made,” she adds, “so research your options and take the time to visit different shops and designers.”
Upstyling
With a past experience in fashion houses such as Ted Baker, Mia obviously has her ear to the ground when it comes to new trends in the fashion industry. The recent rise in the popularity of swap shopping and upstyling has meant Mia’s customising service is proving a very popular aspect of her work.
This budget-friendly service is perfect for guests who have more than one wedding to attend in a year and don’t want to purchase more than one dress.
Mia Elmes Bridal Couture, 11 Lakelands road, Upper Kilmacud road, Stillorgan, Dublin
To make an appointment with Mia, email [email protected] or phone 0861671523
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Irish Designer Week: Sarah Foy Designs
Sarah Foy is a home-grown talent. At Sarah Foy Designs she crafts fresh and exclusive bridal designs dreamed up and created in her personal studio in Clontarf, Dublin. As part of Irish Designer Week, WeddingsOnline editor Karen Birney speaks to Sarah about her influences and methods and why she thinks the future of the Irish design industry is in the hands of the designers themselves.
Sarah Foy's work has long been influenced by her years of travel, her immersion in the wider fashion industry and her experience elegantly dressing women in all their many forms. Her hand-made, one-of-a-kind, often eco-friendly gowns are born of a desire to create something timeless and familiar, yet fresh and distinctive.
“Simple, soft, feminine silhouettes really inspire my work,” she says. “I love designing pieces that at their core are elegant, but ultimately unique in some detail,”
This year, Sarah is looking to the laid-back glamour and elegant simplicity of the roaring 20s for inspiration.
“I have been influenced a lot this year by 1920s glamour,” she says, noting a penchant for liquid satins and detailed embellished pieces. “The effortless sophistication of that era really works well in bridal and evening wear.”
Sarah’s unique designs are a process, one that she strives to make exciting and pleasant for both her client and for herself.
At her little-piece-of-bridal-paradise in Clontarf, Sarah holds private one-to-one consultations where she invites brides to share their individual style, ideas, hopes and expectations.
A Partnership
The entire process is a partnership, a joint venture between bride and designer, where the bride's ideas are encouraged, her mind opened, and in the end, her dreams made real.
From the initial sketches, design selections and mock ups, to adjustments, fabric selections and final fittings, Sarah thoroughly examines the fit of the garment, so you feel flawless and confident when it comes to your moment to shine.
“We dress brides to suit their shape, style and personality,” says Sarah. “This makes one of the most important aspects of any bride's wedding day also one of the most enjoyable. “
When the cut is finalised, those extra delicate details are added in the form of individually covered buttons, hand beading and intricate lace embellishments. “We create a unique piece for each client,” she says, “spending time on the small details and always trying to consider the overall look for the day rather than just the dress we create,” says Sarah.
Sarah’s personal wedding service doesn’t stop there, she also designs for mother of the bride, bridesmaids and flower girls. What better person to entrust your mother and best friend to than another woman who knows you style intimately and will be with you every step of the way? "These outfits and dresses are all created to blend with the overall look of your wedding,” she says.
Buying Irish
“The bride’s focus should firstly be finding the dress for her,” Sarah replies when asked if a bride should consider buying Irish designs. “If that dress is Irish made then it is an added bonus."
Sarah believes the future of the Irish design industry however is in the hands of the industry members themselves. “I think as Irish designers, we need to ensure that customer service and high quality standards co-exist with the most innovative Irish designs,” she says.
To make an appointment with Sarah, phone 086 1780220 or email [email protected]
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Irish Designer Week: Edel Ramberg Millinery
By Amy Croffey
Edel Ramberg Designs is an Irish label based in Galway, specialising in hats and headpieces.
Edel started to make bespoke bridal headpieces a few months after she was approached by a bride who was looking for an alternative to a veil.
“My headpieces are another option for people who don't feel that the traditional veil suits their dress or personality,” says Edel. “The bridal headpiece is something unique to them that they often help me to design and can wear again and again!”
Edel’s collections are all ready-to-wear headpieces but her bridal range needs to be pre-ordered. She has a range of samples and shapes in her studio and creates a bridal pieces using the client’s head, face and dress for inspiration.
Pillbox
“If a dress is quite vintage in style I work from there or if something is very fitted and 'Jackie-O' in cut we may try a pillbox base. It’s always down to the mood the dress creates,” she adds.
She would describe her designs as individual and sculptural, she is not into “fussy” pieces with loads of feathers and veiling.
“I would rather stay true to my style and keep things clean and chic. I like to embellish with quality materials, such as Swarovski and lace, rather than a mix of feathers and beads. It’s more about elegance and quality for me, rather than overkill," says Edel.
For wedding guests her collections are typically bought by women ranging in ages 30-60. Her bridal customers are typically in their twenties to early thirties and are looking for something special, unique and something that will compliment their face, shape and dress.
Overall look
“My clients are usually ladies who know their style and are keen to create something to finish off their overall look,” says Edel.
Edel’s advice to brides-to-be who are trying to find the ‘perfect’ style for their wedding day is to never bring too many people shopping for the veil or headpiece.
“I have seen brides in tears over varied opinions. You have to wear it on the day so you have to love it,” she says. “You should also be 100% sure about the piece, as it is something that will be in your wedding album for years. You need to be sure it doesn't hide too much of your face and that it highlights all your best features!”
Images by Richie StokesEdel believes it is always great to buy Irish but especially so with bridal fashion.
“It’s fantastic to get the support of Irish women as weddings are such a big tradition here. One bridal headpiece can often lead to several ladies getting in touch for their big day, which is great for any business as the knock-on effect can mean recommendations for local salons, make-up artists etc,” she says.
Edel admits the choice is not always there when trying to source certain products so people are often forced to look outside of Ireland for selections and price. However, she thinks now more than ever people can personally get in touch with designers to see what other options are available to them.
Materials for headpieces are mostly manufactured in the Czech Republic, France or other parts of Europe but rather than going to these suppliers directly for a small order, Edel tries to source from suppliers here.“I always feel it’s better to support a small local supplier rather than buying from elsewhere paying VAT and in some cases exchange rates,” she adds.
Email Edel Ramberg at [email protected] or call 00 353 86 837 6084.
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The Goddess Room - Vintage at the Cutting Edge of Fashion
By Karen Birney
As you have probably gathered already, we are HUGE fans of all that is true vintage and are known to pine over the intricate embroidery, lavish laces, striking structures and the delicate beading of often one-off, hand-made, pre-70s pieces. We are also aware that the words 'vintage' and 'couture' are a tad overused when it comes to bridal fashion and style (two very different concepts.) Except, unmistakably, when it comes to The Goddess Room.
"The aim of the Goddess Room," says owner Marie Therese Duggan, "is to seek out stylish, classic, one-off vintage wedding gowns for the contemporary bride at a reasonable price. The quality of the fabrics, usually silks satins and laces are exquisite and of far superior quality than those available to most brides today...I love the workmanship and craft displayed in each and every gown."
If the thoughts of 20s Chanel is a little intimidating to some fair weathered fashionistas, remember that vintage couture is not just for the ultra-fashionable. “Any bride can find a dress to suit them,” says Marie. “Vintage clothing is a winner for all body shapes because the clothes were made to flatter the female form, it was the first and most essential job a garment had to do.”
If you fall in love with a gown that doesn’t hug you in all the right places however, don’t fret, Marie offers a couture service and designs to your personal specifications.
Prices for gowns at The Goddess Room range from €350 to €3,500.
The Goddess Room's latest video Vintage at the Cutting Edge of Fashion showcases their latest evening, bridal and day wear. Check it out below.
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Love
Love is real, real is love,
Love is feeling, feeling love,
Love is wanting to be loved.
Love is touch, touch is love,
Love is reaching, reaching love,
Love is asking to be loved.
Love is you,
You and me,
Love is knowing,
We can be.Love is free, free is love,
Love is living, living love,
Love is needing to be loved.Love - John Lennon
Image by Moat Hill Photography
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10 Hairstyles We Love!
Our favourite bridal hairstyles for 2012! Not every bridal updo needs to be secured into a single bun, your hairstylist could make a unique knot, a chignon or add some vintage accessories or fresh flowers to match your wedding theme!
Wearing your hair down with loose curls creates a look of 1940s glamour. Add A hair pin or veil to keeps this loose, flowy look from hiding your face.
Clockwise from left: Sandra Crosbie | The Powder Room Girls - Make-up by Dawn Ryan | HairMob.ie
L: Brown Sugar | R: Sian Sharkey
Annie Mulligan at Profile Hair Design
L: HairMob.ie | R: Sian Sharkey
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Wedding Customs and Superstitions
Wedding Customs and Superstitions
By Amy Croffey
Since it's Friday the 13th today, tradition says it’s bad luck to get married, so we put together some more Irish wedding traditions for couples. Some of you may stick religiously to these superstitions, others won’t bat an eyelid at them, and many might follow them ‘just in case’, whatever you decide, here are the customs that we believe are either most noteworthy or bizarre:
Blue - Wearing something blue is considered to represent purity and fidelity.
Bonfires - In some parts of the west of Ireland, neighbours light bonfires outside their homes to wish the bride and groom good luck on their wedding day. Neighbours and friends will stand at the fire and wave to the couple as they pass to their reception.
Cat - If you feed a cat out of an old shoe, your wedding day will be a happy one.
Confetti - Throwing rice or confetti as the couple leaves the church is meant to bestow fertility on them.
Dress - It is unlucky to try on your whole outfit (dress, shoes, veil, the lot!) and look in a full length mirror before your wedding day, but if you leave off a shoe or a hairpin you can fend off the bad luck. Phew!
Earrings - The earrings you wear on your wedding day will bring you luck and happiness for evermore.
Groom - The groom should pay everything with an odd sum of money on his wedding day, or else bad luck ensues.
Rain - If it rains on the wedding day, the bride will cry all of her married life.
Ring - If the bride has to assist the groom when he is putting the ring on her finger it means he will be ruled by her in the future. (Get him a smaller ring ladies!)
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe - The something old should be from a happily married woman, the borrowed should be an object of gold and the sixpence should be worn in the heel of the left shoe as a symbol of wealth.
Sun - It is believed that if the sun shines on the bride on her wedding day, it will bring good luck to the couple and their children will be beautiful.
Surnames - It is unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as hers.
Veil - It's good luck to get a happily married woman to put your veil on, but bad luck to put it on yourself.
If you are anything like us, you’ll probably take many of these customs with a pinch of salt, so instead of using these customs, make your own for your wedding day.
We got most of these superstitions from the ladies on the WOL Forums, if you know of anymore wedding customs, superstitions or traditions from Ireland, or anywhere around the world, leave us a comment below!
Shoe image by Studio 33 all other images by Elizabeth Messina.
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Colour Palette: Yellow & Grey
Grey and yellow is a wedding colour theme that you'll be seeing a lot more of in 2012! It's fresh, modern and chic and is particularly perfect for a spring and summer wedding. This palette works well with almost any location and is easy to achieve using variations of yellows, greys and silvers.
| Bow tie: Handmade by Emy on Etsy €28 | Dress with brooches: Jose Villa | Bunting: Stitch in Netka on Etsy €26 | Shoe: Louboutins | Cake and macaroon images: Jose Villa | Dress: M&S | Couple in a field: Leila Brewster | Grey bridesmaid: Jennifer Eileen | Necklace: Monsoon €39 |
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First Look Wedding Photos
By Amy Croffey
It’s an age old tradition that the bride and groom should not set eyes on each other before the wedding because it will result in tremendous bad luck - of course. But many couples, mostly in America, have put aside this superstition and have opted instead for the ‘first look’ photo.
This option gives the couple time before the ceremony, fuss and hullabaloo, to meet and spend some quality time together. It’s also a great chance to get some really beautiful images of the bride and groom and their reactions to each other.
Completing a ‘first look’ shoot will enable the couple to get most of the wedding images out of the way before their day begins meaning they can spend more time enjoying the wedding and their guests.
An umbrella and a flat cap - wedding fabulous - by Clayton Austin Photography
A beautiful aerial view of a first look meeting by Love is a Big Deal Photography
We love this quirky take on the first look image between a father and daughter by Bend the Light Photography
Another cute take on this trend is for the bride and/ or groom to wear a blindfold by Bethany Belle Photography.
Other options include concealing the bride or groom behind a door or a curtain. They can choose to either reveal themselves afterwards or not, but it really makes for some great images. Image by D Coleman Photography
We also just simply adore the images of the bride or groom waiting patiently for their other halves. Excitement, nervousness, eagerness and love exude from this photo by W. Scott Chester Photography.
If you’re a bride, who has always dreamt of an ‘Aisle Reveal’ (the minute the groom gets to see his beautiful bride from the top of the altar) then worry not because this tradition is even getting bigger with many couples hiring a second photographer to capture the reaction of both the bride and the groom.
However you plan to see your true love first the first time on your wedding it’s going to be beautiful, no matter what.
Here is what the ladies on the WeddingsOnline Forums think about the 'First Look' craze!
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