Recommended Suppliers
Choosing wedding suppliers can be daunting and as I always value recommendations myself I thought I'd share some with you.
Here are a few colleagues I have worked with over the years who might be useful to you when researching who to book for your own wedding
The Cotswold Hat Club
Exquisite hats for hire, delivered to your door
Hand crafted by British and Irish milliners Available UK wide with express delivery
Hat hire: how it works
Mention finding Cotswold Hat Club via my website to receive 10% off your hire cost.
thecotswoldhatclub.co.uk
This is a sign
Whether for an event space or at home, there's one addition that stands out as a beacon of personality, style, and sheer fun: custom neon signs.
Illuminate your space with custom neon signs
Whether it’s your favourite quote, a symbol that resonates with you, or even names in brilliant neon hues, these signs are a personalised expression of who you are and what you love.
this-is-a-sign.co.uk
With Akilah and co
We're a boutique wedding planning team based in London, led by Akilah—the adventure-seeking, detail-obsessed mastermind behind unforgettable weddings.
modern multicultural wedding planning
We specialise in crafting bespoke elopements and intimate celebrations that reflect you—your love, your vibe, and your story.
withakilahandco.com
Teresa Weller hair art
Teresa can travel to your venue no matter how far, and provide hair for as many in your party as you need. She is known for her professionalism and calming nature on the day to keep everything running smoothly.
Her huge wealth of knowledge and years of experience goes a long way on your special day, the best day of your life to look the most amazing that you ever have! That includes you grooms too!
Dorking High Street
teresaweller.com/bridal
Westdaw menswear
Established in Dorking in 2016 Westdaw are an independent Menswear retailer owned and run by husband-and-wife team Ian and Sarah.
Independent Premium Menswear Shop
With Ian’s 30 years' experience in premium retail, Westdaw Menswear will help make sure you look your best at every occasion, from business casual to date night and all points in between.
westdawmenswear.co.uk
bride by aster
Hannah runs her bridal shop in dorking too, just a few doors down from my shop. They offer a collection of wedding dresses from a range of designers.
multi award winning bridal boutique
Hannah runs a small but mighty female powerhouse here to deliver you a glorious wedding dress journey.
bridebyaster.com
Dapper formal hire
Wedding suit hire is a practical way of dressing wedding parties large or small for modern or traditional wedding.
Suit Etiquette experts
Dapper holds a vast selection of style, sizes and colours in stock for you to see, touch feel and try on.
dapper.co.uk
Putty Cakes…
Whether you want something completely traditional or utterly off-the-wall – or anything in between for that matter – Putty Cakes can help
We’ve made more beautiful wedding cakes than we could possibly count, and we’d be delighted to help you create a cake that’s right for you.
We can cater for a range of dietary requirements.
Prices start from £450.
puttycakes.co.uk/wedding
victoria's little bra shop
This sweet little shop has bra's and swimwear for all occasions and I often send a bride down the road to find the right bra for her wedding dress.
They stock a wide range of sizes, from 30 - 44 backs and B - H cups with prices starting from £30
FREE Bra Fitting
service in store
Bra not fitting quite right? Or just fancy something new? Why not pop in and see Victoria for a full fitting in their boudoir and check out the range of gorgeous lingerie.
66 West Street, Dorking
victoriaslittlebrashop.com
flowers by elaine
These highly experienced florists on Dorking high street provide a professional and personal service for weddings and more.
wedding flowers
We are proud to be the appointed florist for Wotton House, Denbies Wine Estate and The Burford Bridge. We work closely with their wedding teams and recommended suppliers to ensure that your wedding day is the day of your dreams.
flowersbyelaine.co.uk/wedding
si salon
Whether you're attending a wedding,
party, prom, or the races let your talented
team leave you feeling extra special
for any occasion
mobile or salon bridal hair and makeup
Colour, hair extensions, beauty and waxing. Si Salon is right next door to my studio and from personal experience they are a lovely team.
sisalon.co.uk
mayflower
Experience exceptional treatments delivered by outstanding therapists in a peaceful, luxurious environment using the purest products.
spa and beauty
Prepare for your wedding day close to home in Dorking, luxury and convenience.
mayflowerspadorking.com
Amanda wrote…
At such a special time as your wedding you want professional people who you can trust and get along with to be involved in the crucial big day elements such as bridesmaid dresses, and Felicity was just that. The dresses exceeded our expectations in terms of quality of the workmanship and they were ready ahead of schedule; if you are planning your own wedding, 'ahead of schedule' is a phrase you'll come to delight in! Felicity was very easy to work with, she always gave good advice whilst having the creative and technical understanding to help create the final product. My bridesmaids were very comfortable and happy in their dresses and I was so pleased with them too, they looked beautiful. I had such a special wedding day, helped by people such as Felicity. I have already recommended her to friends.
The mother of the bride wrote: Dear Felicity, very many thanks for producing such beautiful dresses, the girls are really thrilled with them. We will send you some photos after the wedding with them all looking glamorous I'm sure. Mind you I mustn't forget the ties. Anyway thanks again and best wishes, Jean Billige
Vicky wrote…
Dear Felicity, I know I've thanked you in lots of ways but I just wanted to write to say what a truly talented girl you are. You took my design and from day one made me feel like you were so passionate about it so sure of where you were going with it I felt totally at ease. I loved coming to your house and sharing everything form fabric samples to life stories with you and the final product simply breathtaking. I have had so many compliments on the dress all that detail and though paid off! I wish you every bit of success with your business and with the arrival of your beautiful new baby. Thank you a million times.
Rachel Tyler (Vicki's mum) wrote: Vicki is so thrilled with her dress-every bit as pleased with how it has all come together as she planned. It would be lovely to see you at the church if you are free. Finally and far too late I get around to writing to you. Your creation for Vicki was just so utterly perfect and so right for her. She looked exactly how she had hoped to and I know it was far beyond her hopes and dreams. You took so much care and of course it showed. The fit was perfect, it moved as she moved and the ooh's and ahh's said it all. I do so hope your pregnancy goes well and you have an easy time. Enjoy being a mum! With greatest thanks and best wishes
A very happy newly-wed…
Ellie wrote…
Just a quick note to say thank you for creating my dream dress. Without you I would not have had such a perfect wedding dress. I can't thank you enough for all your time and effort. This dress will be something I cherish forever. Thank you again Love, Ellie
Jenna wrote…
Just a little note to say thank you for making my beautoful wedding dress. It was such a relief to have found you and I took great comfort from your lack of desire to cover me in sparkles. ..It was perfect, you made me feel fantastic. With great thanks, Jenna
Mother of the BrideThe dress was a big hit and i had some wonderful comments! We had a wonderful day...it was fantastic from start to finish...thanks so much for all your help and advice. P.S My younger daughter caught the bouquet so there could be another wedding on the cards!!!
Mother of the GroomMy dress felt and looked wonderful and received lots of compliments - someone commented I should be in Hello magazine! Thank you so very much
Mother of the BrideThank you so very much for making my gorgeous Mother of the bride outfit, I absolutely loved my outfit and it all came together beautifully. I received so many lovely compliments on the day! Thank you for getting what I saw in my head and bringing it to life! I had lots of lovely compliments of how stunning I looked.
Our wedding was amazing... and“
Ailsa wrote…
I was absolutely delighted with my beautiful dress! I really appreciated the time you took to explain the different options and the effort you went to in order to make sure it looked perfect, including an extremely useful set of instructions for my bridesmaid on how to make the dress look its best on the day. Your patience, enthusiasm and skill made the whole process a pleasure!
and later: Thank you once again for producing such a beautiful dress, and the time you took to make it look exactly right (including the veil!)
Ailsa's mum wrote: Thank you so much for all the work you put into getting the dress just right for Ailsa and the helpful advice with accessories etc. She looked lovely on the day and felt very comfortable and happy with the dress. The dress fittings became a firm part of the wedding preparations and thank you for your welcome when we visited. Ian was especially pleased that he could join us for the final fitting. With best wishes, Christine
This is what a bespoke veil with almost 400 flowers looks like.
On top of some other alterations, @katiepigden wanted a chic, modern bridal veil. We chose a length a little longer than her dress and I got to work.
Her wedding dress already had these beautifully delicate 3D flowers on the bodice, so we echoed this design element in the veil. I hand embellished almost 400 satin flowers, selectively scattered at the hem of the veil and gently creeping up. I wanted it to look as though Katie had been standing underneath a blossoming tree and some had happened to fall onto her veil.
A veil is such a perfect way of finishing off a bridal look, and I think Katie looks stunning. If you`re looking for something completely custom for your wedding day, then get in touch 💜
A dress for a queen with a blackened heart 🖤
I recently received some more photos from the Dark Fairytale themed wedding shoot I was involved in last year. I love how these ones turned out!
This shoot feels like if Sofia Coppola`s Marie Antoinette had actually been about the Evil Queen from Snow White. Is it just me, or does anyone else see it?
(And that`s me, at the end, doing some last minute alterations 😅 always the way with a shoot day)
If this kind of haute couture bridal fashion excites you, why not follow me? I`ve always got unique and gorgeous bridal creations to share ✨️
~
Venue @layermarneytower
Concept, styling @thealilyloves
Photography @wearevima
Headwear @themillinerprovocateur @thealilyloves
Make up @mrsgarrodmua
Hair @capelliamalias
Feather gown @felicitywestmacott
Florals @themidnightgarden @wildrose.willow
Right hand women @julia_coppen @claralaluck
Spooky season has arrived!
I love Halloween, but maybe not for the reasons you might think. For me, Halloween gives people permission to be a little more wild, a little more `out there` with their bridal choices. And as a seamstress who loves to makes bold and beautiful wedding dresses, there`s nothing wrong with a little more wild!
Take these three wedding photoshoots, for example. The first one was inspired by Morticia Addams. It`s a black wedding dress! You can`t get less traditional than that. And it`s now one of my most popular designs. Although all these dress designs are based around a fictional character, they`re still the furthest thing from a costume. They`re pieces of haute couture art, taking the essence of the character and then elevating it to something truly unique.
The second dress used the designs from the live action Cruella, and I love how the model nailed her character. The final dress used Jim Henson`s Labyrinth as a starting point, in particular that iconic ballroom scene (*swoon*). They were all such fun projects. So if you`re looking for a wedding dress maker to embrace your wild side, I might be the perfect choice.
If you could base your wedding dress on a fictional character, who would it be?
~
Photography - @lexflemingphoto
Sometimes it can be difficult to be true to yourself. The world can feel really judgemental (even if it`s just the voices in the back of your head saying it). But, you might be worried about being `too much` or worried of what people might think if they saw how vibrant and colourful you really are on the inside. How big and sparkly your thoughts and feelings are!
Well, guess what? There`s no such thing as `too much`. Not in my books! As a wedding dress maker (and honestly, a fellow big, sparkly person) I`m here to encourage you to listen to what your heart is telling you. Ignore those voices telling you should be anything less than 100% yourself, especially on your wedding day.
There is nothing that makes me happier than a bride bringing me their ideas - the crazy ones they`ve barely voiced to anyone else. The ones they shyly mention, usually followed by "but if that`s not possible, then don`t worry about it". And there`s nothing more exciting than seeing the face of that bride when they realise that I am absolutely on this journey with them, that we will make it happen and that I cannot wait to get started!
Anyway, I love my job 😉
#weddingdress #fantasyweddingdress #fantasybride #historicalweddingdress #dramaticweddingdress #bespokeweddingdress
I often get asked by brides whether I have examples of the different kinds of dip dye colourways I offer. And other than the strip samples, the answer is usually `no`, since I send whatever I make pretty soon after finishing them. So, I recently bought a few wedding dresses to dip dye and use as samples in the shop.
The question is...which colours do I use?
I`ve got three dresses, and with this first one I want to choose one of my more popular colour combinations. So, I need you to tell me, which would you want to see if you came to my shop?
1. 🩵💙💜The `Peacock` colourway 🩵💙💜
starting with light turquoise, through sky blue, royal blue and ending on purple.
2. 💛🧡❤️💜The `Phoenix` colourway💛🧡❤️💜
sunflower yellow, through bright orange, red and also ending in purple.
3. 🩷💜 Pink & Purple colourways 🩷💜
this is bit more free form, but these kinds of choices are also really popular. So if this category is your favourite, which shades do you prefer? The pastels; lilacs, lavenders and baby pinks? Or something more vibrant; cerise, fuchsia and peach?
Let me know in the comments!
I`ve posted about all these dresses before, so have a scroll back if you want to photographer credits etc
#dipdyeweddingdress #weddingdress #colourfulbride #bridalboutique #colourfulweddingdress
Isn`t this the perfect wedding dress for a colourful festival wedding?
Bright, fun and beautiful to look at. It`s the kind of dress you can`t take your eyes off of.
As a wedding dress maker who loves working on alternative and unusual wedding looks, creating unique ombre dip dye dresses is one of my favourite things to do. I`m so glad this bride had such an amazing time dancing in it 🥰
#weddingdress #bride #alternativebride #alternativeweddingdress #colourfulweddingdress
