Recommended Suppliers
Choosing wedding suppliers can be daunting, so 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
“Felicity listened to what I wanted, gave a clear quote and completed the alterations so nobody could see them. Clear booking system as well. Would recommend.”
Sometimes it takes a little adjustment here and there to make a wedding dress feel like it was made for you, and sometimes a dress needs a more dramatic transformation. Either way, I`m here to help.
If you`re interested in getting your dress altered for this year, I`m currently booked up until the beginning of October. So if your wedding is November onwards and your dress doesn`t feel quite right yet, drop me a message. But don`t wait too long - spaces are filling up fast.
You can always book in a no-obligation consultation with me, to see if I would be the right fit for you and your dress - link in bio.
Photography - Birdseye Photography
Isabelle thought she had found the dress she wanted for her wedding day. But her mum wanted to gift her something a bit more special for such a special day.
When I met Isabelle, she showed me the dress. It was pretty, but it was made from cheaper fabrics, and there were parts of the dress she wasn`t as keen on.
We worked together to identify what about her inspiration dress she liked, and I made sure to include all those elements in her design. And, on top of that, we also changed the parts of the inspiration dress that she didn’t like that much.
She knew she wanted colour (whereas the original dress was white), she knew she wanted shorter sleeves, and a straight neckline, instead of the sweetheart neckline the other dress had.
We came up with a pale blue silk cocktail dress, with Chantilly lace layered over top and Guipure lace trim on the waistline.
It goes to show the difference between a cheaper dress and the bespoke experience. You can love both versions of the dress, and want to wear both, but with bespoke you get to make every element tailored to your preferences.
Photography - @mirandavphoto
Throughout my years as a bespoke wedding dress maker, lace is a fabric I have worked with time and time again. And it never gets boring.
Why?
Because there are just so many different kinds, in different colours, finishes and patterns. I have books and books of lace samples from my suppliers (shout out @bridalfabrics) you could easily lose a few hours admiring.
This is just a glimpse into what can be done with lace when it comes to alternative wedding dresses. If there`s a kind of lace in this post you want to know more about, ask away in the comments and I`ll make sure to reply.
And make sure you scroll to the end to see the fabric that always gets mistaken for lace, even though it isn`t.
Which of these lace looks is your favourite?
Photographers:
1. @jessicajillphoto
2. @dinawardphotography
3. barryholder.co.uk
4. @jessicajillphoto
5. @altweddingco
6. @snappedbycatx
7. @emilyhudson.photography
8. @carolinehorne.s.photography
9. @emilyhudson.photography
Sure, my usual role is a bespoke wedding dress maker, creating beautiful and unique garments for brides looking for something a little different.
But sometimes I`m also a lighting assistant, a caterer, a last-minute-rush-to-the-shopper. That`s the fun of being a creative, working with other creatives.
This was from a styled photoshoot I organised, based on the iconic 90s film, Strictly Ballroom. I made these dazzling neon bridesmaids outfits based around the stunning costumes of Latin ballroom dancers. Our photographer really wanted the colours to pop in the atmospheric darkness of our location, so of course I volunteered myself as floor level tripod 😂
The photos turned out amazing, so it was definitely worth it!
Have you ever found yourself doing a job you never expected?
Dresses @felicitywestmacott
Photography @jessicajillphoto
Video/content @weddingstorytellerco
Venues @theoldtimberstore_se1 @malt.maltby
Florals @jemimainthewoods
Event Equipment Hire @cohire
Bridesmaid models @Lisaeggy3 @Boobzylou @oleksanacoaching
Choreography @oleksanacoaching
Hair and Make-up lead @melindabridal @melinda_grant
Hair and Make-up @beccibrushes
Jewellery @CatherineMarche
Neon Sign @thisisasignuk
Shoes @shoesbylarisa
Forget-me-nots, cornflowers, bluebells, hydrangea...
All those blooms in shades of lapis, azure and sapphire, growing up from the earth, and cascading down from the neckline - a bride enveloped in blossoming sky blue beauty.
Layers of light, fluffy tulle floating to the ground, with every petal carefully placed to create the perfect composition. Botanical and beautiful. With balloon sleeves and a wide neckline, so the sun can still kiss her shoulders.
This is a bride from a modern fairytale. Like Sleeping Beauty awakening from her slumber and taking her fate into her own hands.
And the final detail, to bring it all together? A bespoke waistcoat for the groom, with hints of the same floral elements. A happily ever after.
Photography - @rsbrown.photography.film
Location - @stanlakepark
Flowers - Nicola Hozier Flowers
#BespokeBridal #AlternativeBride #UnconventionalBride #MatureBride
"Just a very quick note from Rome to let you know how very admired your dress was. Lots of people said how beautiful it was. It really was the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. I definitely would like to work out how to potentially wear it again - I can’t bear the thought that I’ll never wear it again!
Thank you again - you truly are an alchemist!"
All the quiet hours designing, cutting, sewing and hand-stitching were all worth it, just to hear a bride so happy with her wedding dress.
Want to see what this dreamy dress looked like on the day? I`ll be posting the official wedding shots later this week. You won`t want to miss this one, I promise you. This gown has quickly become a new favourite of mine 💙
#bespokeweddingdress
