As promised, here is a quick A-Z on wedding dress terminology. I say quick but nothing wedding is ever actually quick! Here is some bedtime reading to help you brush up before wedding dress shopping...(and its all in pictures to make it that little bit easier)
Now you can sound like a pro when you go to get your dress,
Happy shopping
.x.
Wedding season has started! Or rather, engagement season has started…which means gown shopping! Be it a big white Cinderella dress or a demure saree, the excitement is still the same!
Follow some of our shopping tips to make sure you not only get your dream dress, but to make sure you have as much fun as possible! It only happens once!!
1. A Wisely Chosen Entourage
‘I’ll come dress shopping with you!’ Will be something you hear a LOT during your time as an engaged lady and you’ll probably say yes to all of these requests. However choose wisely because as nice as it is to hear the ‘oohs’, ‘aahs’ and ‘oh my god you look fabulous!!’, it might better to hear a real opinion. You want to take the people who will be brutally honest with you. Your mum, your sister your bridesmaids…these are the people you want to take.
2. Give Yourself Enough Time
When to start dress shopping is crucial as you don’t want to start too early whereby seasons change and you like something new, but early enough to give yourself time. 8-10 months before your wedding should encompass both of these.
With a bespoke designer you have a little more flexibility. If you are getting your dress designed ask your designer how much time they need and factor this in.
3. Know Your Seasons
Know when the retail industry will go on sale. Do your research and you could save yourself a lot of money. The high street goes into markdown almost every 5-6 weeks, so take this into consideration. You don’t want to buy your dream dress only for it to go on sale the week after.
4. Remember New Collections
Not impressed by what’s out there? Don’t panic. As above, if you know your seasons, you know when the new collections come in, so it is ok, to go back to a store more than once to see if they have anything new. (Checking when this will be with the managers wouldn’t harm)
5. Bargains
There are SO many exhibitions, sample sales, shows, warehouse sales etc, that you could potentially find yourself busy every weekend. However you could potentially knock hundreds if not thousands off your dress. If you can handle the crowds, this could potentially be for you.
6. Weekday Appointments
Saturdays are the single most busy day in any bridal boutique. If you want in quickly, go for a weekday appointment. You’re likely to get better service and more focussed staff.
7. Be Inspired
If you are like me, you know exactly what you want and have done since you were 5. If you aren’t part of this craziness then start getting inspired. Get magazines, look at catwalks, get on Pinterest! Get a feel for what’s out there.
8. Be Open to Change
Like me you may know exactly what you want and have done since you were 5…but what if it doesn’t suit you. Be open to let your ideas go if they don’t work for you. Go in with an open mind and come out with a dress!
9. Take a Quick Terminology Lesson
Do you know your A-lines from your trumpets? If so well done! But seriously pattern talk is another language..brush up to make your life easier. (I’ll be writing a post on terminology next to help!)
10. Search Your Wardrobe
Take out your best dresses, your best and skirts..they’re your favourites for a reason. Try and decipher similarities in shape/ fabric/ colour to know what you like. You’re already one step ahead in this than you think.
11. Bring Your Knickers
If you’re planning on wearing a specific type of underwear, Spanx or otherwise, bring it with you to make sure you get the full picture.
12. Full Primp
Do your hair fully and face lightly, to the best of your ability for this. It will help you gain a better idea of what you will look like. You don’t want to realise you hate the straps of your dress on your wedding morning when your stylist puts your hair up!
13. Own Your Experience
There will be a lot of ‘I did this’ and ‘I did that’ and whilst some of it may be helpful you want to create your own experience with your own ideas. Hold your ground and remember its alllll about you!
14. Take a Seat
I say this in every fit session to every client…sit down in your outfit. It may be the perfect waist cinching corset dress whilst you stand up…but when you sit down it crushes your lungs, all the seams are coming undone and you can’t breathe. Probably not what you were going for..
15. Buy Now, Alter Later
If it fits you now..buy it! Every bride has weight loss plans and most brides lose weight without even trying, but as every boutique, designer, seamstress will tell you, it is easier to take a dress in than to take it out.
16. Size Does Not Matter
Bridal attire is always smaller than your average clothing. So don’t be offended if they hand you a size or two bigger than you are…and who cares about the size?! If it looks good then why worry! (and you could always cut the label out..)
17. Chatter, Chatter, Chatter
What you want and what your mouth thinks you want, may be two completely different things. You may say you want something simple and elegant..but actually you want a tulle filled giant princess ballgown. The best way for a designer to be able to give you dresses you’ll like is for them to get to know you, so go ahead…gossip to your heart’s content!
18. Take Some Music
Dancing is just as important as sitting down, take your best songs and dance to them in your dress. (It helps if your entourage do it with you..maybe even a few moves from a slow dance to check you won’t trip on your trails)
19. Take Photos
Pretty self explanatory here…take lots of photos. You probably won’t get to take the dress home with you because of alterations, cleaning etc..so you’ll need to lots of photos to continue the rest of your shopping. (And to remind you just how beautiful it is!)
20. You May Not Cry
Your dress is not unlike your future husband…did you burst into the tears the minute you saw him because you knew he was the one? Probably not. In the same way you probably won’t burst into tears because you’ve found the dress and it may take you a few tries but you will know it is the one for you. (But if you’re anything like me you’ll probably be crying before even entering the boutique…potentially even tearing up thinking about dresses.)
21. Try Everything On
Ask your consultant or designer to give you a few props; heels, veil, tiara etc. It may just seal the deal for you.
22. Budget
Be very clear and up front about your budget. It will help your designer make sure you are getting the very best of what you want and ensure your dress has all of the main design aspects you need. It also helps you not get too carried away.
23. Take Snacks
These appointments can and will take some time. Take stomach reinforcements…you do not want to be making these kind of decisions on an empty stomach..(remember what happens when you go to the supermarket hungry…)
24. Return Policy
If you reeeeealllly can’t make the decision but you cannot part with the dress, find out the return policy, spend some time with your potential dress and then make the decision.
25. Back Up
 Always plan a back up. Always.
Your dress may not arrive in time, the package could be detained by customs, the dog shredded the train, you spilt coffee on it….I could go on…but in the interest of perhaps not stressing you out, I won’t. The point remains that anything could happen to your dress so just make sure there is an alternative.
26. It is Just a Dress
I can’t believe I am saying this, but it is just a dress. Just clothing to get you through the most important day of your life; the day you marry the man you love (although if and when he utters these words to you himself, you may reconsider the future alliance).
27. There’s No Magic Number
You could try one dress, you could try 50 dresses, there is no perfect number…keep going until you find it or get it custom made.
28. Try it On
Even if you are getting your dress designed specially for you, try on something similar elsewhere – take all the best ideas and give them to your designer. This will help them create your perfect outfit.
29. Corsets are Quick
If you are short on time, go for a corset. They don’t need altering and look amazing! (you can also wear these more in life than you could a wedding dress)
30. Have Fun!
Its your wedding day, you’re shopping for it…could there be anything in the world more fun?! (rhetorical question)
Enjoy shopping!
.x.
Zuhair Murad is one of my favourite designers and one of my biggest inspirations as a bridal designer. He creates this amazing East-West fusion in gowns; the same foundation that underpins my own designs, within his bridal wear, Haute couture and ready to wear collections. His Lebanese foundation mixed with his fantasy sketching has led him to be one of the most talented designers today.
Haute Couture
I love his haute couture because this is what we are drawn towards when deciding outfits for our receptions. This is where we can wear the most gorgeous Indian – Western fusion gown known to man!
This Chiffon high neck makes the perfect reception gown – the beading is a very Eastern style of beading found on sarees and lenghas. Chiffon is a very classy and bridal fabric which makes an appearance in a lot of ZM collections. (Good choice!)
This embellishment and embroidery is perfect for an Indian fusion outfit
This type of dress in colours! Just shows how perfect it would be to match your colour schemes!
Bridal Collections
Using the most amazing fabrics and silhouettes he has created a fantasy land with embroidery and embellishment fit for a princess! Here are a few of my favourites from his AW14 collection
 Genuinely my favourite dress of all time!
 This is the kind of embroidery that makes me want to cry at how perfect it is!
With saree gowns coming into their own this year and only growing as a trend into next, these kind of dresses are to arrive on the horizon in multitudes! And I cannot wait!
Leaving you all with some of my favourite images from ZM collections to date….enjoy!
You can see why I am so inspired!! To the drawing board!!!
Happy Reading!
Featuring : ZuhairMurad and various Pinterest users (seriously guys get on Pinterest)
.x.
 And for part two only the BEST colour – PINK! No..HOT Pink!!!
 This is one of the easiest colours to be able to wear within your bridal attire – not only is it gorgeous, but the colour is so complimentary to Red, Green and Cream it could almost just replace the Red.
Here are a few of my favourites..
This is gorgeous because, although the main colour is pink, the highlights of red make it an amazing alternative for a bridal outfit.
Not your traditional conventional bridal attire, but how AMAZING! the velvet and the flower veins have a Snow White-esque feel and with a slight tweaking of colour – you could be the trendiest Disney bride ever!
This beautiful hot pink and gold brocade lengha would be ideal. Perhaps changing the Dupatta colour to have a gold/ cream base or adding a cream border, would make this more bridal and more traditional. But if you love the pink…you go for it!
This is a Pagli creation which is simply stunning. Simple enough to carry the hot pink, yet heavy enough to be considered bridal. Your secondary dupatta would need to be Cream/ Gold to be able to carry this.
I am absolutely in love with this! The pink has a blue undertone to it which I think makes me love it more! Perfectly simple, perfectly bridal! IF you wanted to feel that little bit more special – throwing some rhinestones and jewels on to it would achieve that! (You can never have too many jewels right?!)
This stunner is a Manish Malhotra (as if it weren’t obvious). I am in love with the metallics on this outfit! such a nice replacement for gems and jewels. I don’t think I need to say anymore…
I found this photo on Pinterest (yes I am obsessed with Pinterest) and couldn’t get over how gorgeous this design was. The Red features as the main bridal highlight however the pink borders make this style that little more pretty and that little more on trend! I just wish I knew the designer of it!
This is a beautiful lengha to wear if you are going all out for colour – perhaps on a mehndi night or a sangeet. Adding a tulle underlay would make this that little bit more bridal.
This is one of my favourites…Pink, Gold, cream AND jewels…how can you go wrong?! The fishtail style of skirt makes this that little bit more glam. Â I would personally shorten the blouse so as not to cover the gorgeous skirt waist detail. Everything about this outfit screams yes!
To conclude our journey to the land of PINK, here is an outfit mixing a couple of the jewelled tones together: Mendhi night you say?
LOVE!
Be Pink!
.x.
Ok so she loves more than 10 veils…but some are of the same ilk…so really it balances out!
I thought that following the news regarding Angelina Jolie’s (or is it Pitt’s now) veil, containing embroidered designs inspired by her children’s doodles, it would be apt to write a post on veils. She literally let her kids draw on her veil.
That she wore to her wedding.
Her ONE wedding.
(well not literally, a designer embroidered them on an amazing lace for her…but still).
Yes…she did that…
Now I am sure I will love my offspring….but there is not a chance in hell they would allowed to scribble on any part of my wedding.
In the many dreams I have about weddings (no really…you’d be surprised) I am always wearing different veils. Ranging from one gooorgeous Cathedral veil to maybe 3 or 4 different veils. (again, not kidding. I have a problem…no, there is no name for it yet).
I find it fascinating that we, as Asian brides, go as far as wearing an amazing fusion dress for our civil ceremonies, but a veil is seldom worn! They’re SO PRETTY and so much fun!! You can play hide and seek with them , you can pass them on to your children, you can use them as tablecloths (not that I ever would), you can take cheesy photos with them…the opportunities are just endless!
So here goes….my 10 most recent favourite veils. (Pics are click- through…so click through!)
Veil number 1- Simplicity is key
This gorgeous tulle veil, with a very simple bow and gem would be a gorgeous addition to any dress. The maker of this exact veil has closed up shop, however any dressmaker could do this for you, just print out the pic.
Veil Number 2 – All Over
 
This charming all over bobble veil is created by Anna Campbell. She is an amazing Australian designer who uses beads, pearls, tulles and lace to create gorgeous pieces – this being exactly that.
Veil number 3 – Embroidered
I am always partial to a bit of embroidery and embellishment, and this Pronovias creation is no exception..the stunning floral design and the placement starting just under the cheekbone makes this veil flattering and GORGEOUS!
Veil number 4 – Vintage Treasure
The name says it all. This vintage piece is an authentic Victorian HANDMADE (I KNOW!) delight. From around 1860’s and would probably retail at around £3000..not cheap. However, easily made today with new inventions, like machines, and computers for probably a sixteenth of the price. Drool away.
Veil Number 5 (and 6 – but not really 6) –Â Embellished
These Etsy finds are my favourite type of veils, they are the ones I see myself wearing. The perfect fusion of Indian on tulle! (in the process of designing my own versions of these so watch this space!)
Veil Number 6 – Floral
I am in love with this stylemepretty veil…….3D flowers attached to your head?! I mean who wouldn’t! Really simple, really compliments the dress, but more than this it looks fun and pretty! Win for flowers!
…it helps that the bride is drop dead gorgeous….sigh.
Veil Number 7- Indian
Now this is actually just a saree draped over somebody’s head…(I know I had you fooled for a minute), however the idea behind this is going back to the whole fusion wedding. Imagine you are wearing your white dress (or any other colour for that matter) and you have found a serious dupatta, that matches perfectly, but it just needs to not be so heavy! Get this turned into a shoulder drop veil! So simple and so gorgeous! (IIII KNOW! Possibilities are endless with us Asians!)
Veil Number 8 – All Over Placement Embroidery
This veil has placement embroidery all around the hem circ which would look amazing on a plain dress. Simple, elegant and really pretty! This was a Twigs and Honey find on Etsy…they have gorgeous accessories to go with your beautiful day.
Veil Number 9 – Bordered (No. Not Bored.)
This absolutely blew my mind. The simplicity involved in creating this veil; a double turned hem or a sheer organza border. That’s it! Such an impactful piece and so so so pretty! Hayley Paige has some absolutely gorgeous pieces, simple and elegant.
Veil Number 10 – The Blusher
In my opinion, getting a blusher veil right is quite a task. There is usually too much embroidery for the length or absolutely nothing, I hadn’t come across any that made me think yessss…..until now..
This gorgeous little Etsy shop has found the perfect mix! It is so CUTE! (personally not my style, because I don’t suit cute, but still beautiful!)
aaaand one for good luck
Veil Number 11 – Placed Lace
This UrbanVeilsCouture find is incredible. I was always under the impression that you couldn’t have embroidery over the top of your head – that it would look slightly weird, however I had to eat my words when I stumbled upon this little Etsy number (yes Etsy really is the place to be).
Literally can’t help myself…seriously its like asking a kid to stop eating chocolate when there is nobody to supervise…
LASTLY…Veil Number 12 – JEWELS
You guessed it…ETSY; Thelacebutterflies. Seriously just wow. Imagine the sparkles!!! Amazing price, amazing handwriting….just gorgeous, not a lot else to say on this…they say a picture speaks a thousand words, and that is EXACTLY what is happening here!
aaaaaaand……..
just kidding (bad joke I know)
That concludes my top 10 veils (for this week anyway)….hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it!! Happy Veiling!
.x.
I am absolutely crazed about white weddings; the gorgeous ivory dress, the bouquet of flowers, the veil, the headpiece, the flower girls/boys…I could go on..(but I won’t)
Since I was little I have been collecting images, fabrics, colours, prints and more to be able to create my dream wedding. As I grew up I was under the impression that, as a Hindu, we don’t really do the whole church/ castle thing. It is a simple signing of a book to register your marriage legally.
As I grew up a little more and studied fashion and got more into my bridal design and got a job in fashion buying.
At this point the only thing going through my mind was
screw tradition I am definitely having my fairytale wedding
(too much?)
As a second generation Indian (born in the U.K. with Indian heritage) I realised how lucky we are to be able to have a huge mix of different cultures in our weddings!
Different types of Indian events available to us:
Sangeet night
Mehndi night
Raas and Garba evening
Vidhi
Indian ceremony
They’re the most popular Indian events, and the British cultured events available to us are:
Civil ceremony
Reception
Post wedding brunch
Rehearsal dinner
How freakin’ awesome! We can have about 10 different events just because we live in Britain!!! Of course not many people have a ten event wedding…
So going back to this white wedding, some of the recent collections have been phenomenal! I’ll leave you with a few inspirational images that I love, for your big day!
Featuring
Rosa Clara Bridal
Various dresses from Wedding Inspirasi
More to come soon
Happy dressing!
.x.
The Bride Loves 