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Don’t compromise on the best day of your life!

December 3, 2018 by Atelier5Couture

Christmas is around the corner, I thought I’d share a little story that started around this time of the year in 2009.  

Seven years ago, in a beautiful water town in China, a girl was proposed to on Christmas Eve. She was over joyed with happiness. The couple had spent nearly a year apart on different sides of the world from each other and now after knowing each other for seven years they were finally going to tie the knot.

With only 5 months between the engagement and the wedding date, planning a wedding 5,000 miles away from her fiancée was a massive challenge. Luckily, she had a wonderful future mother-in-law who helped her fiancée with finding the church and reception venue. She had one big mission that can only accomplished by her – the Wedding Dress.

All the free time she had, she spent wedding dress shopping. She tried on countless dresses but she could not find the ONE. She had good ideas about what she would like to have, for instance, silk is a must, minimal decoration, closely tailored on the bodice and hip. Because she was specific about what she wanted, she could not find the dress that meet all her requirements. Because of that, she is getting more and more stressed by day as the wedding day was getting closer and closer. She went to the most famous ‘wedding dress town’ in China thinking ‘in the sea of wedding dresses there must be one for me”. But she came back home disappointed. Finally, a friend said ‘why don’t you make one yourself? I can help you to do the fitting!’.

This was not as crazy as it sounded. The girl has a fashion design degree and worked in the industry since she’s graduated. The idea had crossed her mind at one point but she thought it will be too stressful to make her own dress. But what the other choice did she have?

That’s all how it began. Drawing sketches, finding the silk satin in the right shade, buying fresh water pearls, drafting the pattern…  Finally, the dress was cut and sewn together just a week before she had to fly to Scotland joining her future husband. Finally, the wedding day! She felt so happy and special in her dress. It gave her the confidence and comfort she needed for the big day knowing her dress was exactly what she wanted and fit her perfectly. She was surrounded by family and friends who admired her and her beautiful dress. They were there to celebrate the union of her to her beloved and to share the most special moment of the their newly wedded life.

As some of you may have guessed, I was the girl… I am happily married with two beautiful little boys. The day was the most beautiful day of my life and I will always cherish the photos from that day.

The reason I was telling you the story is that from my experience of talking to brides, I found so many are just like me, struggling to find the right dress for her big day. They get increasingly stressed as they get closer to the wedding date and at some point, they have had to compromise. My point is, do not compromise on the biggest day of your life! Think about how many days in your life are all about you? Family and friends watching you going down the aisle to join your future husband with whom you will be sharing your life. The photographs will capture all the wonderful moments on that day that you will cherish forever. You will remember that day for the rest of your life. Women are caring creatures; it is their instinct. We often forget about caring or treating ourselves especially when you have a family and children. Now and then, we need to remember to tell ourselves ‘I am important too!’. Ask yourself, do you want compromise on possibly the most important day that is all about ‘YOU’?

If the answer is ‘no, I don’t want to compromise’ then carry on reading!

If you’ve never thought too much about the process of patternmaking and fitting before, here are some great benefits you should know before making the big ‘YES’ decision about getting your dream dress made.  

Design Your Own = One of a kind piece

Brides to be, can I just ask how many bridal shops have you been to and how many dresses have you tried on? Do you ever feel so overwhelmed by the sight of hundreds of dresses displayed in front of you and yet it seems impossible find the right one? Worse still, you simply feel all the dresses look like you have seen someone else wearing it before, nothing special! If this is how you feel, you should get a bespoke dress that stands out from the crowd.

A bespoke wedding dress will be a one of a kind piece. You can speak to your local designer about fabrics, silhouettes, decorations … the possibilities are endless. It might be that you just want a simple dress and have that one beautiful detail that you were never be able to find in a high-street shop. Make sure you do your home work and gather as much information as possible before you speak to the designer. Share your passion, your taste of art, your wedding venue location, your theme, the more information you can share the better understanding you will have in order to create a unique piece just for you.

Perfect pattern/fit = More comfortable

Let’s admit it – our bodies are not perfect! We all have experienced the frustration of finding the right shirt or trousers in shops, even you’ve chosen the supposedly right size! This is because every body is different. In order to make mass produced garments the labels/manufacturers need to strike a compromise on measurements will fit the “average” sized body. These patterns are developed not to fit any individuals well but to “kind-of fit” range of people. A personal pattern fit is impossible for a mass-produced garment to match. A great pattern will make all the difference when you wear a well-fitted dress on your special occasion. 

As the bespoke dress pattern was developed just for you, the moment you are in it you will notice the difference. It fits you perfectly just like a second skin. No more twitching to get the piece back where it belongs. No more feeling conscious about a particular part of your body. Instead it will just draw attention to the flattering areas of your body and conceal the less flattering.

Discuss your body concerns with your designer. If you want to lose weight before the wedding, go for it! Just need to remember to tell your designer that you would like to do the final fitting as close to the wedding as possible to avoid any fitting issues.

Greater appreciation through involvement

When you are involved in having your bespoke dress made you will feel like you know the dress. The designers will allow you to alter details to a greater or lesser degree depending on how far along in the process the dress is. You get to see the whole journey from sketches, choosing the fabric and fittings. It takes some time until it’s ready, but you will know it’s all worth it when you are finally able to wear it on your big day. What did they say about ‘the best things are worth waiting for’?

Support local designers

We see so many campaigns promoting ‘Made in Britain’ and local small businesses. Getting your wedding dress made with a local designer is a great way to support them. There are so many great designers and dressmakers out there to help you getting your dream dress. And don’t forget to tell your friends about them when you are happy with yours!

Ok, I love the idea but how much will it cost me??

It is obvious that getting a bespoke wedding dress is not going to be very cheap. The main reason for this is that the designer or dressmaker who makes the garment is a highly skilled person who earns a fair wage. The hours of time they spent on designing, sourcing fabrics, developing your pattern, fitting and making the dress need to be reflected in the price. However, because it’s bespoke you are able to choose the fabric and details depend on your budget. They can always give you an estimate before you commit. You might end up not paying as much as you thought might be! On your big day, you will feel luxurious, confident and so special in front of your friends and family. You know you are worth it!

At Atelier 5, we offer free consultation and you can try our ‘silhouette styling system’ forms to figure out what suits you the best in terms of neckline and skirt shape. We are specialised in silk wedding dresses, mother of brides, prom, race and all other occasion wear. We are local business based in Chester, Cheshire, North West of England. If you would like a chat about your dress, we would love to hear from you. Click here to get in touch.  

Tags:wedding dresssilhouette styling systemengagementchristmas evechristmaswedding dress costlocal designerpattern draftinghand madesilkfresh water pearlschinaLijiangmarriage proposalscotlandloch lomondbespoke wedding dressChester wedding shopChester wedding dress designermade to measure wedding dresschester dress makersilk wedding dressmanchester wedding dressnorth west wedding dress designer

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Choosing a Dress for a Destination Wedding: Our Top Tips

September 1, 2018 by Atelier5Couture

If you are jetting out to a tropical island, a beach destination, or somewhere exotic in the world for your wedding, read our top tips for picking the perfect dress to take with you! 

– If there is a lot of travel required, pick a dress that won’t crease too easily when packed. Some materials tend to crease more than others – keep an eye on this when selecting or designing your dress. If you have really fallen in love with a dress that will need a little bit of TLC after a long haul flight, invest in a portable steamer, with an adapter, and don’t forget to use a protective cloth too. 

– Particularly important if you have connecting flights, choose a dress than you could pack and carry as hand luggage, whether in a box of the dimensions allowed by the airline, or in a suit bag, which the flight attendants can store away on the flight. That way, you can be sure that the dress will reach its destination with you and not get lost or delayed in connections – provided you don’t forget it onboard yourself!! 

– Even if you have chosen to use a Wedding Dress Travel Box, bring a dress cover with you, and ask if the dress could be hung (covered) during the flight. If they have the space, most cabin crew would be happy to help and your dress will be less stressed in flight. 

– Don’t hesitate to tell people that you’re carrying a wedding dress! Most people are happy to help, and will accommodate you putting a dress bag flat in the overhead compartment if you have to, on top of other smaller luggage items. 

– Try to get to board early, whether it is through priority boarding supplements, or a premium flight ticket. This way, you get a bit more time to get organised without the crowds gathering behind you in the aisles. 

– When you reach your destination, get your dress out of its cage as quickly as possible and let it hang naturally, always keeping it covered to protect it against dust, dirt, and anything else that might make it look less than pristine. 

– Bring a little emergency sewing kit, just in case there are accidents! A needle, white / ivory thread, small scissors and some safety pins are just enough. 

And if money were no object, travelling first class, or buying a seat for your dress may help keeping it as fresh as can be! 

—————-

Atelier 5 designs and makes bespoke wedding dresses and occasion wear,. Whether you are having a winter wedding, a hot tropical wedding, a city wedding or a countryside wedding, we take into consideration all your needs and requirements to design and co-create with you, the perfect dress for the moment. To have your own wedding dress designed and made for you, contact us.  

The photos for this blog have been kindly shared by our bride and groom Fay and Eric, and were taken by photographer Tristan Chaillet on their wedding in Mauritius. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Meghan Markle, here is the dress to say yes (wink)

December 21, 2017 by Atelier5Couture

Ever since her engagement with Prince Harry was announced, Meghan Markle became an overnight fashion icon. Whatever she wears seem to guarantee a sell-out for the brand. The headline “who will design Meghan Markle’s wedding dress?’ is on every newspaper’s fashion column and all of the glossy magazines. Rumour has it, designers such as Erdem Moralioglu, Misha Nonoo, Oscar de la Renta, Jenny Packham and Emilia Wickstead are among the list.  

As a bridal designer, I couldn’t help but thinking what dress I could design to accentuate her beauty. In order to design a wedding dress, I must get to know the person I am designing the dress for. How would I do that? Flying to London and breaking into Kensington Palace is definitely not an option, is it? Luckily she is a public figure so on to Wikipedia and Google I go! After the research I felt I started to know the ‘public’ her a little bit more. Everyone is unique and beautiful in their own way. For me, I love her simple chic style. It’s my gem too, right?

An ivory classic dress with a modern twist is for you, Meghan!

To design and make a bespoke wedding dress, I normally start with face and body analysis for my clients.

So first off, which neckline? She has a square-ish jawline with a slightly pointy chin. Her body is very well proportioned with wide shoulders and slender legs. I would avoid pointy V neckline and opt for round neck, wide opening or halter neck to soften her facial feature. Winsor Castle is less formal than Westminster Abbey, Meghan would have slightly less pressure of having to wear a full on ball gown. However, I doubt that she will wear a strapless dress for the big day. So on the sketch, I added guipure lace cup sleeves and slightly overlap with side of her bust. This will create an illusion of narrower shoulder and interesting details on the top of the dress.  

To balance her body shape, I would make the top quite fitted and add volume from the waist down to create the ideal hour glass feminine form. The skirt would be fitted with the overlay peplum extends to a medium train. You can see the fitted skirt which accentuates her hips and slender legs.

To finish it off, some subtle decoration is all this dress would need. As a nod to her heritage, I picked the California State flower golden poppy to be pattern designed and hand embroidered to the edge of the overskirt in tonal colour.  

Tadaaa, here is the complete sketch!

Should Meghan you choose to be less conventional, here are some ideas for your ‘Dare Devil’ dress. Your dress your choice! Can we meet yet? 😉

For brides who are getting married in 2018 and beyond, if you have any questions about turning your vision into a reality please get in touch. You can email me, fill the contact form or ring the number 07758163185. Please do join our Facebook Group ‘Be Unique, Be You’ where you can get insider info and exclusive offers not just for bridal wear. Your magical experience starts here…

Atelier 5 Couture is a bespoke designer bridal studio based in Chester, Cheshire. Speak to us if you find:

– the dresses in shops are too similar, not unique enough

– you are conscious about one part of your body and can’t find a dress that flatter your body shape and tick all the boxes

– you are religious but cannot find a modest wedding dress that is stylish and elegant

– you don’t have a lot of time go dress shopping

– you have a vision about your dream dress but it’s not in shops

– you have no idea what dress suits you

Work with us, you will find:

  • You own a dress that is completely unique, no one else in this world has the same dress
  • Save you time go dress shopping
  • Less stressed about when you will get your dress, a schedule is set up from first fitting to delivery
  • Experience the magical, once in a life time bespoke wedding dress journey
  • Confident that you will look and feel amazing on your wedding day
  • You are in control! We design the dress together. You can amend design details in the early stage of your bespoke journey

To the magical day x 

image source – bestoflifecentral.com and wikipedia

All design sketches – Yifan Nairn at ‘Atelier 5 Couture’

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Have you got Green Envy?

May 22, 2017 by Atelier5Couture

I was at the Arley Hall (Cheshire) last Saturday visiting Simply Cheshire exhibition. After tasting every food sample we possibly could and walking away with a bag full of local produce, we decided to explore their renowned garden.

As I walked with my husband, friends and our children into the open space and greenery, I took a deep breath and I felt peacefulness even though the children were being loud through excitement. After our walk, I felt alive and willing to open up and embrace where we live.

This remind me of an article I read recently published by Pantone Colour Institute who named green as the colour of the year 2017. 

 Image credit: Pantone Colour Institute

As humans we have an inherent connection to the natural world. Research has shown that our health, both physical and psychological, is greatly improved by exposure to nature, yet we are living increasing urban and digital lifestyles, further and further removed from natural habitats.

The impact of our environment on our personal well-being is a consideration for designer of space, product, materials, graphic and multi-media design alike.

According to British Vogue, tropical green is one of the key trends amongst fuchsia and zingy yellow for spring/summer 2017.

image credit: British Vogue

Deferent shades of green also appeared on the Cannes red carpet last week.

Image credit: British Vogue

Even though green is very much on trend, it doesn’t mean it suits everyone. Figure out your skin tone first and make sure the colour compliments you rather than drain you.

1. Fair/Pale Skin

If you’ve got pale skin and light features, then hues that clearly contrast with your skin tone will – quite literally – bring some colour to your complexion. Darker shade such as emerald or teal will work well as the shades contrast with your skin tone.

2. Olive/Medium Skin

If you’ve got olive-toned skin, you are likely to have yellow or green undertones. Although you can wear majority of hues and shades well, it is trickier with green as you need to avoid wearing shades are too close to your skin tone. Choose much lighter or darker shade of green to avoid looking washed out.

3. Darker Skin

Lucky you if you have darker skin!

You should be able to wear most shades of green especially the brighter side of the spectrum like jade and lime.

Greenery is a symbol of renewal and new beginnings. What’s more perfect than that for a new couple? If you love nature and outdoors and would like to bring some uplifting greenery into your wedding celebration. Here are few ideas that you can consider:

1. Bridesmaids dress. Green is a good choice of colour for bridesmaids’ dress as it contrasts with your wedding gown (if you choose to wear white or ivory dress). 

 Image credit: Catherine Rhodes Photography

2. Table setting and favours 

Image Credit: Rock my Wedding

Image Credit: white shutterphotography

3. Wedding cake 

​Image Credit: Rebecca Arthurs Photography

 Image Credit: Rockmywedding

4. Hair accessory

 Image Credit: Wedding Chicks

Image Credit: stylemepretty 

5. Bouquet

 Image Credit: boho-weddings

 Image Credit: iheartflowers

If you are thinking of making a bespoke wedding dress or dresses for your bridesmaids just click here to send us a message.  You will be able to choose the exact colour shade your always wanted.  At Atelier 5, we design, create and make every wedding dress, bridesmaid dress, mother of bride outfits or prom dresses from scratch and tailor to each individuals to make them shine.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: arley hall, bridesmaids dress, cannes 2017, greenery, pantone, spring/summer 2017, vogue, wedding bouquet, wedding cake, wedding colour trend, wedding dress designer, wedding favour, wedding hair accessories, wedding table setting

The Chester Grosvenor Hotel Referral Treat – Afternoon Tea for Two

January 7, 2017 by Atelier5Couture

Hey there, do you know a friend who has either just got engaged and super excited to start looking for her dream dress, or a friend who is struggling to find something special for her big day? 

If you refer a friend, who decides to have her wedding dress made by us, we will treat you an afternoon tea for two as a Thank You for supporting your local designer. You will be receiving a voucher for a traditional afternoon tea for two at the finest 5 star hotel in Chester – The Chester Grosvenor Hotel! Here is the link for you to have a preview of the delight 🙂

http://www.chestergrosvenor.com/afternoon-tea-cheshire

As a local business, we take referral very seriously. We are proud of what we do as a bespoke design studio and have the absolute confidence that you and your friend will not regret your decision. 

Simply ask your friend to give us a call or drop us an email to book a free, no obligation consultation. Don’t forget our unique Silhouette Styling System really can help brides to decide which shape of dress suits her the best without trying on tens or even hundred dresses. Click here to see the Silhouette Styling System video.   

Hope will see you soon x

Please note the Terms and Conditions for the offer below:

1. This treat only available on purchase of a wedding dress

2. This offer closes on 31st March 2017

3. All you need to do is ask your friend give us your contact details when she makes the purchase

4. Atelier 5 Couture reserves the right to alter the terms of this offer 

Tags:referralchester Grosvenor hoteltraditional afternoon teatea for tworeferral treatatelier5silhouette styling systemchester bridalbespoke wedding dresswedding dress designerdesigner wedding dresslocal businesslocal designerchester dress maker

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: atelier 5, bespoke wedding dress, chester bridal, chester dress maker, chester grosvenor hotel, designer wedding dress, local business, local designer, referral, referral treat, silhoutte sstyling system, tea for two, traditional afternoon tea, wedding dress designer

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