Monday 25 March 2019

Life as a Bridal Designer

I wonder what you think my life is like? I often hear people say what a lovely job and as I have no experience as anything else I reckon it is. I come in contact with people at a happy yet stressful time in their lives but hopefully I can keep them calm and impart some of the knowledge I have learnt from my experience over the years.

Life is fast and furious and time just flies by and I haven't posted for a while. Recently some girls in with me said that they loved seeing my posts so I thought it was time to make time to update you. I can't always share all that I'm working on as naturally most of it is top secret until The Big Day! That's another part of my job I have to be good at keeping secrets.

I have been photographing shoes and accessories in the hope of sharing more posts to keep you up to date with all I have in the shop. as today I had a visitor who said they had no idea just how much I have!
There are never enough hours to my days. Clients can email, message and phone you at any time of the day and it can be break my concentration when I'm in the middle of sewing. My day goes in so fast and it's crucial that I manage my time well. The start of the year means new brides are wanting to meet me if they are just newly engaged and at the same time I have to keep ahead of my work so that I am organised as you can never ask a client to move their wedding date to suit my timetable! So now hopefully you understand why I haven't been posting much.

I posted this head piece on Instagram at the start of the year and it was really popular. It amazes me just how social media works. Sometimes I want to give up on it altogether and other times I appreciate the good that can come from it. Everything is a constant juggling act and I am always trying to work out what is best. I don't want to bombard you with endless posts that make you want to switch off or worse defined me! I question do people just copy your ideas, but on the other hand some of my brides might see and idea and then they are able to show me a picture so that I can quickly understand what they like and wish I could do something similar but personal for them. I have to admit I am inspired by ideas myself but you can spend hours trawling through the internet and sometimes all you get is too many ideas or sore eyes!
I have been going through some of my vintage pieces that I have collected and I have used some in a bespoke outfit for one of my clients. Irish lace and Irish crochet have been revived by McQueen with inspirational pieces and an appreciation of the skill I was delighted to use them.
                                     
                                      
I get inspiration all around me, I love this time of year as the trees are bursting into life and our gardens start to spring to life.
Inspiration for me while trying to come up with new ideas for my shop window which is so important and attracts many of my customers to come in and visit me.
I can be working on many things at the same time which means I get a variety to my days. One minute I may be drafting a pattern or cutting out and then later I will be sewing with the machine and of course you can't do what I do without loving to hand sew too. 

Headdresses, lingerie, garters, christening robes, Holy Communion dresses, confirmation dresses, wedding outfits for brides, mother of the brides/grooms, bridesmaids and flower girls, variety is the spice of life.


Veils, how could I forget them, I have always loved doing my veils as I feel they can pass on for generations and will be here when I'm nolonger here. So if there is anything I can help you with please just ask. Oh yes and let me know you have read my blog so that I don't feel I am talking to myself.