Your Devon and Cornwall Wedding - Jan/Feb 2020 (Issue 23)

DRESSING THE BRIDAL PARTY 71 Where to shop for your bridal party attire  M ost brides-to-be consider finding their dress the most important factor of their wedding, after all, it will be all eyes on them all day. Marian Couch runs Pirouette bridal boutique located in Exeter, Devon, a one-stop shop for brides (pirouettethecollection.com ). She sells designer gowns from Rebecca Ingram, Maggie Sottero and Lou Lou Bridal, among others, and offers a personal fitting service. Marian predicts we will be seeing an influx of florals, detailed sleeves and bridal gowns in soft, subtle colours in 2020. “Brides are now experimenting with different looks,” she tells us. “Simple fabrics like crepe and Mikado satin are popular, and so is the classic lace gown. We have always stocked vintage-style dresses but also offer more contemporary styles to suit all different tastes.” Pirouette offers a 10% discount on bridal gown orders for those working in the NHS, Armed Forces and emergency services. Joanne Vanstone runs Two for Joy Bridal located in Liskeard, Cornwall, just 17 miles from Plymouth (twoforjoybridal.co.uk ). This bridal boutique specialise in one-off, ex-display and pre-loved gowns that are all individual, and most have a price tag of under £600 with sizes ranging from a UK6 to 26. They offer complimentary appointments and one-on-one advice from their wedding dress specialists, and gowns can be taken away on the same day. Joanne offers appointments seven days a week with evening consultations available by request. “The main thing is that brides need to look and feel their best on the day and this can be easily achieved in one of our glamorous gowns.” Dawn Collins runs Lovely Bridal located in Honiton, Devon, who cater for every style of bridal request, from high-end designer gowns to vintage-inspired picks, and pretty bridesmaids’ varieties in a wide selection of colours (lovelybridal.co.uk) . Its latest addition includes sultry styles from designer Rembo Styling, whose boho festival-inspired dresses and separates are wowing brides-to-be. La Boutique located in Exeter, Devon, donates all profits from the sale of its dresses to The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation that organises and funds weddings for couples around the UK with a life-limiting or terminal illness (laboutique.vpweb.co.uk ). Bridal gowns on sale include new, pre-loved and ex-sample dresses ranging from size UK6 to 24. They are also specialists in dealing with customers who have undergone breast surgery. Pretty Smithy Bridal located in Totnes, Devon, sells off-the-peg wedding dresses priced from £149 to £599, and made-to-order collections for the fuller figure. (prettysmithybridal.co.uk ) The Bridal Room St Ives stock designer dresses exclusive to Cornwall, and often to the UK, giving brides the chance to find something a little bit different (thebridalroomstives.co.uk ). Designers include Chantel Lauren and Willowby by Watters from the USA, and British designer Eliza Jane Howell. (thebridalroomstives.co.uk ) Dress up