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
This week is my wedding anniversary, so I`m taking a trip down memory lane.
A few years ago, my spouse and I had an anniversary photoshoot. In the run-up to my actual wedding, I`d had so much dressmaking to finish - not just my dress, but also:
🌸four bridesmaids dresses
🌸a flower girl dress
🌸waistcoats for the groom and three page boys
🌸plus three paying clients on top
On the day, my dress was finished and wearable, but not quite as it should have been.
The original concept for the dress included hand-embroidered fuchsias all up the train, and I just didn`t have enough time. Lockdown finally gave me the chance to finish it properly, and this anniversary photoshoot was, in part, to celebrate that.
It was only this year, going through old photos, that I found these two images side by side. And then more, all mirroring each other.
Almost 15 years apart.
Shot in the same location.
And with technically the same people - though I think it`s safe to say we`ve grown and changed in so many ways as individuals, and as a couple, during that time.
From two teenagers stepping out into the world together, to us now, with our family, our friends and our enduring love.
Maybe this is your sign to get your wedding photos out again and relive those precious memories 💖
Now photographer: @altweddingco
Then photographer: Chris Cormack
A bustle this pretty deserves a pretty name 🌸
If your wedding dress is floor length or longer, a bustle is not only a really practical feature to add, it can also transform your gown.
For Emily I did an overbustle with five points. These kinds of bustle usually go up to the waistline, but we brought it down, so if you want a `proper` term, it would be a low five-point overbustle (or American bustle).
But I like to simply call it a petal bustle - a much prettier name, and it`s what it looks like.
You can tell it`s going to move amazingly on the dancefloor 🪩 ✨
if you`d like to find out more about what`s possible with your dress, the link to book a consultation is in my bio.
Emily exudes joy, so her dress had to reflect that beautiful personality - and I think we nailed.
Our base was a second-hand wedding dress I`d bought to dip dye and display in my shop. But before I could even put it up in my shop window, Emily was in to try it on!
We took in the bust for a better fit, shortened the bodice and hems, and then came the really fun part. She chose this beautiful range of colours, from blush pink all the way to royal purple, for her dip dyed skirt.
I love how coordinated Emily`s whole bridal look is - matching pink and purple bouquet, flower crown and even hair! And of course, her sweet pooch had a pink harness and leash as well. What a cutie 🐶🩷
Are you dreaming of a wedding dress that`s a little (or a lot) outside the box? Drop me a message - I`d love to help you make it happen 🥰
Photography - @oddshoephotography
Hair - Rebecca Day Hair
Scroll to the end for the result!
Thank you to everyone for their input. As it turns out, the bride who bought this dress agreed with the majority vote, so I got to dip dye this second hand wedding dress with a beautiful gradient of pinks and purples.
What do you think of the result? Do you think we made the right decision?
I`ll be posting photos from the bride`s wedding day next (there`s a dog, so you really don`t want to miss out).
Follow along for more colourful bridal inspiration💜
#sustainablebride #coolbride #weddinginspo #modernbride #bridalstyle#prelovedweddingdress #slowfashion #sustainableluxury #prelovedbridal #secondhandweddingdress #alternativeweddingdress
When it`s wedding season my schedule gets even busier than normal. My whole life is spent at my studio, sewing until the small hours.
Luckily I love my job! 😅
Christopher Nolan`s The Odyssey is everywhere you look right now, including all the discourse around the costumes. It brought to my mind one of my own bridal creations, inspired by history but also undeniably modern.
Just like the costume design in The Odyssey, I wasn`t going for historical accuracy here. I took inspiration from the pleating of ancient Grecian clothing, and the golden adornments of the Egyptians. But the under bust corset and the asymmetry of this wedding dress means you certainly wouldn`t have found it in either of those ancient civilisations.
Can you imagine a wedding dress like this on the big screen?
~
Suppliers
Photographer - Jamie Edward - @jamieedwardphotography
Venue - RSA House - @rsaweddings
Concept, Design & Shoot Coordinator - With Akilah & Co - @weddings_akilahandco
Videographer - Alfie`s Visuals - @clique_visuals
Content Creator - The Wedding Storyteller - @weddingstorytellerco
Florist - Fleur De La Couture - @fleurdelacouture
Delivery & Logistics Team - Middlemen Logistics - @middlemenlogistics
Hair Stylist - Hair By Duboux - @hair_by_duboux
Makeup Artist - Melinda Bridal - @melindabridal
Jewellery - Catherine Marche - @catherinemarche
Cake - Peboryon - @bluepumpkincalligraphy
Linen, Napkins & Furniture - Hallmark Hire - @hallmarkcateringandequipmenthire
Models - @dom_dht & @yanapenrose
Celebrant - Dave The Celebrant - dave_the_celebrant
Bespoke Dress Maker - Felicity Westmacott - @felicitywestmacott
Bride Accessories - Saint Beth Official - @saintbeth2
Confetti - Confetti Club London - @confetticlublondon
Newspapers - Photo Press - @photopressuk
