Your London Wedding - Sep/Oct 2019 (Issue 67)

HOW TO... PLEASE YOUR WHOLE BRIDAL PARTY Rosanna Garden, director, Motee Maids, moteemaids.co.uk Brides often cite shopping for bridesmaid’s dresses as one of the most stressful parts of wedding planning. The solution is a pick‘n’mix approach. After all, do your best girls really need to be dressed in identical outfits? We allow brides and their maids to choose from different bodice and skirt shapes to create a silhouette that will flatter each individual bridesmaid – gowns can then be customised further with different shades and embellishments for a cohesive overall look that allows each maid to shine. What’s more, getting your girls together for an appointment and designing your own gown is a fun and memorable event in the run up to a wedding. I always advise brides to listen to their bridesmaids as they usually know what suits their figure best and what they’ll feel comfortable in. Brides are getting more adventurous and picking a mix of shades that can still look harmonious and coordinated. The bridal party HOW TO… ROCK THE MOTHER- OF-THE-BRIDE OR -GROOM LOOK Nailya Belkacemi, owner, That Perfect Dress, thatperfectdress.com Finding the perfect mother-of-the-bride or -groom outfit can be tricky – not only because you want to look your best on your son or daughter’s big day but also because you’re expected to choose an outfit that fits with the overall theme. That can be a challenge for those mums with a strong sense of individual style. That’s why style consultations have become increasingly popular. Not only will this be a lovely bonding session but it’s also a good opportunity to get a professional to translate the couple’s chosen colour palette into an outfit that will suit you, the mother-of-the-bride or -groom. With the right fabric choices, or just very subtle changes to a given shade, you can get the best of both worlds. What’s more, a custom outfit will hang perfectly as it’s been tailored to you – all the better for those photographs. Usually, you’ll be able to work with a designer to design an outfit from scratch or tweak a look from their existing collection, which will then be fitted to your exact measurements. The process is a wonderful experience in itself and, ultimately, the mother- of-the-bride or -groom will end up with a classic outfit that fits perfectly and can be worn again and again. HOW TO… CHOOSE A FLOWERGIRL OUTFIT WITH LONGEVITY Miranda Stanford, founder, Monday’s Child, mondayschildlondon.com Choose dresses that are seasonal. If it’s a summer wedding, pick a summery style that your little one can wear to birthday parties and barbecues, and if it’s a winter wedding, go with styles that wouldn’t look out of place on a Christmas card.  Avoid trends and pick dresses that will stand the test of time and are easy to care for. A high-quality dress will last for years and can be passed down through generations. Look for dresses made of natural fabrics with classic silhouettes that will still be in fashion at next year’s birthday party or 10 years down the line.  Don’t be too precious. Well-made dresses will wear again and again and shouldn’t be saved for best. For stains, spot washing is always best.  See the dress as a transitional piece that can be dressed up or down for different occasions throughout the year. HOW TO… TRANSCEND THE EVERY DAY If the groom-to-be spends his working week in a suit, it can feel like a somewhat underwhelming option for his wedding. It’s his big day, after all. However, the full top hat and tails may be overkill for some. Other options include a tweed suit, casual top-to-toe (we’ve seen grooms in shorts here at Your London Wedding ) or traditional dress, such as a dhoti, sherwani, mandarin jacket, kittel, dashiki, kilt or similar. Paul Swadzba, 8 Yards (8yards.co.uk ) on kilt etiquette If you’re planning to hire a kilt for your big day, it’s essential to try it to ensure a perfect fit. The top of the kilt should sit snugly an inch above your belly button, revealing one and a half inches of knee. On your big day, make sure your socks are stretched to the base of knee and the garter flash fastened underneath, then roll the sock over the elastic. The Sgian Dubh (Black Knife) slides into the sock of your dominant hand. As for the ghillie brogues, they’re easy to put on. Finally, the sporran — the chains should be put through the belt loops at the back of the kilt and the leather straps fastened to hold the sporran in place. BRIDAL FASHION 67