DRESSING THE WEDDING PARTY 75 INNA VORONOVA AT INNA VORONOVA BRIDAL When did your passion for fashion start? As a child, bright colours and fashion were always very high on the social agenda. As the high school proms drew closer every year, I would dream of arriving in a magnificent dress of my creation. As I grew older, my thoughts turned to marriage and the dream of being the centrepiece of my wedding. I used to draw and paint, which eventually turned to occasion wear. Dour years of professional training and a host of positions in bridal wear stores across Europe led me to the inevitable conclusion that I must open my own store. What do you offer the wedding party? We’ve been running since mid-2021 when the impact of Covid was causing many other high street stores to close. We took this as an opportunity to rent a space and get started – we’ve been getting busier every week since! We offer an extensive range of evening wear and flowergirl dresses all highly desirable at great value. We can also produce custom-made and fitted bridesmaid dresses with many design templates and fabrics to work from. What trends can we expect this summer? We’re seeing many brides opting for different-coloured gowns for their bridesmaids. Multi-way gowns and satin dresses are growing in popularity, as are neutral shades and sequin dresses. Colour-wise, moss green and sapphire blue seem particularly popular this year. What is your favourite part of the job? My favourite part is the final fitting when the bride or bridesmaids try on their dress for the last time before taking it home. We aim for 100 per cent customer satisfaction in every single case and try to implement every design element the client requests with perfect execution. This all adds up to a delighted customer; many get emotional and tearful with joy. We completely understand how important the dress element is to one’s appearance and self-esteem, and it’s almost impossible not to be touched by the joy we help to create. What’s one piece of advice that you can share with couples? This is your day; do it your way and never look back! Check out: https://inna-voronova.co.uk SHARON COUSANS AT CHIMNEY FORMAL MENSWEAR When did your passion for fashion start? I’ve always been interested in fashion, but my career began in the wedding industry more than 18 years ago. I’m passionate about styling the groom as an individual because his wedding is the most important day of his life. Feeling and looking confident is the most important consideration. What do you offer the wedding party? We have suits and accessories to hire and purchase with a great variety of waistcoats and wonderful patterned ties to add that special touch to an outfit. We greatly enjoy not only styling the groom but the best men, groomsmen and fathers in slightly different ways to show their relationship to the groom and help them confidently fulfil their roles. We can also style page boys, best women and bride’s men so the whole party is welcome. What trends can we expect this summer? We have seen a continuing request for shades of green in suits and accessories. There has also been a keen interest in lighter-coloured suits as well as the mix of chinos and jackets or even chinos with tailcoats to create a very individual look. What is your favourite part of the job? The best part of my job is to see the transformation of a nervous and self-conscious groom into a confident guy standing tall and holding his head high while observing himselves in the mirror in one of our amazing outfits. Helping customers discover their style is especially rewarding – it’s not just about getting a suit. What’s one piece of advice that you can share with couples? We advise couples to consider looking for the groom’s suit reasonably soon into their wedding planning journey. It’s not an afterthought and is as essential as a wedding dress. The wedding venue and time of year may influence the suit’s choice, but how special the groom feels and how the outfit compliments his complexion and personality matters. Check out: www.chimneymenswear.co.uk www.megandonatiphotography.com https://ellenforsterphotography.com KEEP IT LOCAL After settling on a budget and desired look, it’s time to find the perfect local supplier to help guide you through the process to ensure a stress-free experience. We’ve selected talented suppliers who would love to help on your wedding journey! Below you can discover all about the teams behind the successful stores.
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