Your Devon and Cornwall Wedding - Page number 60 - July/August 2021 (Issue 32)

www.gett yimages.co.uk THE DRESS The Carrie Effect is here to stay and no, I’m not talking about Carrie Bradshaw (even though she’s is due back on our screens soon in the return of the HBO television series Sex and the City and I can’t wait!) I’m talking about Carrie Symonds who married Prime Minister Boris Johnson in May wearing a rented wedding dress by Greek fashion designer Christos Costarellos. The beautiful bohemian-style tulle gown with appliqué embroidery has a price tag of almost £3000 but was rented for less than £45. Carrie has previously made sustainable fashion choices and this most recent one has boosted the shopping options for many brides-to-be. Eco-conscious brides looking to lessen the environmental impact of their wedding day on the hunt for a dress as unique as them should head to Frilly Frocks bridal boutique located in Barnstaple, Devon. They offer sale wedding dresses at greatly reduced prices from just £299, making way for new-season bridal gowns. They’re the ideal choice for micro and elopement celebrations and designers include Maggie Sottero, Mori Lee and St Patrick. Find out more: 01271 344 338, https://frillyfrocks.co.uk www.facebook.com/FrillyFrocksBridalWear www.instagram.com/frillyfrocksbridal La Boutique situated in Exeter, Devon, offer pre-loved, ex-sample and new bridal gowns ranging from sizes six to 24 at affordable prices with up to 75% off the recommended retail price with all profits from the sale of the dresses donated to charity. Find out more: 07970 443 668, https://laboutique.org.uk www.facebook.com/Laboutiquebrides www.instagram.com/laboutiquebrides Cornwall’s premier bridal boutique Bliss Bridal Gowns, located on the outskirts of Newquay (which has recently been nominated as Best Bridal Store in Cornwall at the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2021), sells an array of dreamy designer dresses. Owner Tracy Ashton has teamed up with the Field to Forest Foundation, a community-driven project to fund and facilitate tree planting for carbon sequestration and creation of wildlife habitats on farmland (www.fieldtoforestfoundation.org). Sh e has pledged to plant a tree for every bride that purchases her dress at the boutique during 2021 and they’ll receive a certificate and will know the location of where the tree is planted. Find out more: 01637 851 163, https://blissbridalgowns.co.uk www.facebook.com/blissbridalgowns www.instagram.com/blissbridalgowns With wedding fever sweeping the nation again following the lifting of restrictions, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is encouraging brides to consider purchasing a pre-loved wedding dress for their big day, to help save money, save the planet and help save lives. The BHF has revealed thirteen one-of-a-kind wedding dresses available to buy on its Depop shop and the collection features a mixture of handmade and vintage styles from the 1920s, 50s, 60s and 70s. With a choice of glam, vintage, boho and indie styles, these one-of-kind dresses make a sustainable statement for any bride. Prices range from just £45.00 to £145.00 with all proceeds helping to fund the BHF’s life-saving research and preventing them from going to waste. Find out more: : www.depop.com/thebhf www.facebook.com/bhf THE SHOES Many of us have used lockdown as an opportunity to reconsider our shopping habits and realign our environmental values, making the switch to a more sustainable way of life. We’re looking for ways to expand product life, buy less, and ensure a garment or pair of shoes can be worn for years to come. Bridal shoes are no exception and don’t have to be something that you only wear once. Bridal and occasion footwear brand Rainbow Club, located in Exeter, Devon, want to help brides put the love back into the pre-loved with their Colour Studio service. Wedding shoes are an important part of a bride’s big day, they hold memories in every step, so why shouldn’t they be worn again after the special day? With stockists nationwide, the brand is encouraging brides to dust off their old wedding shoes and revamp them into something that can be worn for the honeymoon, wedding anniversaries and celebrations for years to come. The in-house team will transform any pair of Rainbow Club ivory shoes into any colour. From opulent jewel tones, neon-yellow and barbie-pink, the result is a brand new pair of shoes that hold cherished memories and are ready for a new adventure. Find out more: 01392 207 030 www.rainbowclub.co.uk www.facebook.com/rainbowclubuk www.instagram.com/rainbowclubuk 60