July, 2014

Jilly’s Soft and Romantic Lace Wedding Gown

Posted by on Jul 28, 2014 in Real Weddings | No Comments
Jilly’s Soft and Romantic Lace Wedding Gown

Ash and Jilly wed at a family property in Busselton which just happens to be Old Broadwater Farm – how lucky were they??

From the very beginning, I knew this was going to be a great wedding. Jilly’s an art teacher, so there is no surprise that there was a lot of DIY in the lead up to the big day and I hear their families also got involved in the crafting!

We created a sweet and romantic lace wedding gown for Jilly. She had a soft and flowy silk georgette skirt and a structured bodice with delicate lace cap sleeves and scoop neckline. It was finished off with a belt and flat bow.

I think my favourite photo has to be the dual trike…

Images by Le Photogenic

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5 Mistakes Brides Make When Buying the Wedding Dress

Posted by on Jul 21, 2014 in From the designer | No Comments
5 Mistakes Brides Make When Buying the Wedding Dress

I frequently get asked what to avoid when looking at wedding dresses, here are my top 5 pro tips-

1) Buying the first wedding dress you try on or succumbing to the pressure of a bridal shop…

Don’t rush your decision, whatever you do, don’t go wedding dress shopping and decide on the day. Sleep on it. I never pressure a potential bride to make her mind up on the spot. I think it’s really important that you take it all in, go home and get some perspective. If you’ve been to 5 bridal shops in one day it’s very likely your head is spinning and you don’t even know what kind of wedding dress you want anymore. Trust me, it’ll be worth the couple of bucks you may have saved if you ‘booked on the day’. I’m sure the bridal shop would still offer you a good price if they really wanted your business.

2) Not discussing the cost of alterations…

When I quote on a gown, I include all fabrics, fittings and initial alterations. We even provide a timeline if you are trying to lose weight to avoid excessive alterations. It is really important that when you find the perfect wedding dress you ask what it’s going to take to make it fit you perfectly. If you are buying off the rack, it’s likely that you’ll need to have it taken in and the hem taken up. Be aware, this can add $500+ to your wedding gown and push your budget over the edge. The worst part is when you hear the gown only arrives 1 – 2 months before your wedding, this leaves very little time for error.

3) Not knowing what the wedding dress is made of…

Ahhhh, one of my favourite things. I was brought up from a young age to appreciate fine natural fabrics – wool, linen, cotton and silk. We use silk as a base to all of our made-to-measure wedding dresses. It is more expensive but if you are going to have a dress made to fit you, why not indulge in a bit of luxury? Silk is a natural fibre, it allows your body to breathe and is light to wear. It is important to ask what you are investing in when you find the perfect wedding dress. Ask what is the gown made from? This will give you a good idea of whether or not you are getting a good quality product.

Georgette, Satin, Chiffon, Taffeta, Dupion and Organza are all types of fabric. These mediums come in a synthetic fabric called Polyester or a natural fibre called Silk. Polyester is a dirty word in couture.

4) Not finding out where the dress was manufactured…

There are a number of eco brides who are aiming to lead a sustainable lifestyle and their ethics don’t support poor working conditions. Please bear in mind that some bridal stores purchase your wedding dress for $50 to $200 and then sell it to you for $2,000 to $4,000. They are able to do this because they are manufacturing overseas, the quality of the garments and working conditions of the workshops can’t be guaranteed. It is worth enquiring as to where they purchase their gowns and who designs/makes them. There is half a chance that if you purchase a Chinese made gown with a hefty price tag, you can buy a rip-off version for a fraction of the cost. Now, there is no originality in that, is there?

5) Not purchasing a gown that suits your body…

Most women know what suits them, if you take a look at your wardrobe – what do you wear? Apply this to wedding dress shopping. It’s important to keep both your body shape and style in mind when buying your wedding gown. It’s a good idea to try on a variety of styles to find the right design for you. Once again, take your time, you’ll figure out pretty quickly what works and what doesn’t.

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Jaymie in a Elvi Design made-to-measure gown. Image by Still Love.

Lace Wedding Dress – Dress Like a Princess!

Posted by on Jul 14, 2014 in From the designer | No Comments
Lace Wedding Dress – Dress Like a Princess!

We have become well-known for our delicate, hand sewn lace work. In fact, most of our clients visit us because they love the idea of a lace wedding dress.

The beauty of lace is that there are so many options and different ways to use lace to create different looks. You could have a soft lace that accentuates a romantic boho wedding gown or you could use a heavy corded lace to create a vintage inspired lace wedding gown.

We often work with a client to find the perfect lace to suit their style of wedding and their personality.

Image by Russell Ord

Shannon by Russell Ord Photography

Image by Fiona Vail Photography

Hanny by Fiona Vail Photography

Image by Ross Wallace

Elyse by Ross Wallace Photography

Image by Izo Photography

Veronica by Izo Photography

Shea by Merge Photography

Shea by Merge Photography

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Davina by Julie Welsh

Image by Still Love Photography

Jo by Still Love Photography

Jessica Tea-Length Lace Gown

Jessica by Christine Lim Photography

A few words from one of our brides about how she felt in her Elvi Design wedding gown…

I think the classic line is to say ‘like a princess’ but I didn’t feel like a princess, I felt like a queen! The dress fit so well and was exactly how I had imagined it. I loved swishing my skirt around and spent a lot of the afternoon twirling!” – Victoria McFarlane, 2014

Ayaka’s Lace and Tulle Wedding Dress

Posted by on Jul 7, 2014 in From the designer | No Comments
Ayaka’s Lace and Tulle Wedding Dress

Ayaka married her love, Soren, in Hawaii. Their intimate ceremony and romantic marquee reception was held on the beachfront.

We created a full-length lace and tulle wedding dress for Ayaka. The fitted sweetheart bodice featured lace straps and a lace covered back. The bodice swept into an a-line skirt of soft tulle and was finished with self covered buttons down the back. The overall look was very soft and romantic.

A few words from the bride-

“Everyone loved my dress!! I can’t thank you enough for making the most beautiful dress for my wedding day!! I can’t wait to wear it again when we have a wedding party back home! How lucky am I!”

Ayaka and Soren’s day was captured perfectly by Tupou Photography.

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