White Summer Wedding in 2022

You don't need to go far to get what you want for your wedding. Summer sunshine, great venues and the "One Stop Shop" for all you need for your wedding ensemble. Even better if you have been personally recommended by someone you know and trust to "Go for it" One of my favourite Northern Ireland quotes is "Dare to Dream".

So when a bride that you have made for 32 years ago brings her daughter to you its such a privilege. Colour was sure to be mentioned as my now Mother of the Bride had gone for "pink on her wedding Day.

Every detail would be considered and the flowers would be our inspiration for the theme.

"The Bride to be" knew that White was to be her choice of colour but the bridesmaids colour was in debate until a picture of some flowers settled the decision.

Thank you for getting me to do the whole ensemble and letting me be part of not only Your Wedding but Your daughters Wedding

Sunshine brings a smile for all my cool brides

 Nothing nicer than when our plans are taking shape and things are looking brighter.

I have been managing to raise funds for the poor women and children who have lost their homes with the  Russian invasion of Ukraine. It seems there is a lot of genuine people who care and want to do their best to help in any way they can. 

One of my brides has been collecting for the cause and as long as we all work together to find out in what way we can best help then there is Hope.

Some fun with a plant in bloom, hope it makes you smile 

"I love people that have no idea how wonderful they are and just wander around making the world a better place 

I hope to inspire you with an item that you can have if you donate to an agreed charity.

Have a look at all the different things on offer online. 

Thank you Joanne

Easter'22 What's happening today?

1. The latest news.

I thought I'd learned my lesson about how bad doomscrolling was for my mental well-being back at the beginning of the pandemic. Then Russia invaded Ukraine. Suddenly once again I am watching endless news and spending too much time on Twitter. This bad habit is doing my brain fog no favours. Thankfully my work on my brides dresses for a deadline keeps me focused. But how about you?

"Whether we're trying and failing to make plans, keeping up with the ever-changing recommendations around COVID, or doomscrolling about climate change or the war in Ukraine, it's hard to avoid anxiety or catastrophising about the future. That's going to impact our brains." explains Greater Good. "Repeated exposure to crises wreaks havoc with our well-being and can lead to bad decision making." 

The article suggests common sense steps like limiting your news or social media consumption to set periods and taking short "digital detox" breaks. I personally found this blogger's story of trying to put the internet (metaphorically) "back in a box in the basement" inspirational. I keep telling myself I need to establishing a sane relationship with the news (this is obviously a perpetual struggle for us all). 

2. Get moving (preferably in nature). 

Experts suggest that one of the biggest root causes of many of our pandemic-related memory problems is simple sloth. Many of us moved less over the last few years and that impacted our brains negatively. 

The happy news is that reversing this trend, we are getting back to more celebrations of life and are simply moving more again.  Particularly outdoors in nature, Greater Good suggests as "research confirms that being out in more natural settings is helpful for our well-being and has positive effects on our cognition above and beyond those coming from exercise alone."

3. Stay connected to others. 

Another big cause of our collective decline in cognitive sharpness is isolation. Research shows that being cut off from other humans harms our memory, concentration, decision-making, and learning. And that being around others improves them. 

"A recent review of many studies (pre-pandemic) confirms that socialising is important for keeping yourself cognitively fit. It also found that loneliness increases people's vulnerability to cognitive decline, especially among the elderly. So, it's a good idea to try to find ways to be with others--safely, of course--to keep your brain functioning well," insists Greater Good. 

Learn to sew is my recommendation.

4. Try new challenges. 

When it comes to breaking out of mental funks, action often precedes feeling. You don't do something because you feel better, you feel better because you do something. Which is true of cognitive sharpness too. Push yourself to learn something new, even when remembering where you put the remote seems like mission impossible, and you might just find your brain rises to the occasion. 

"Whether there's a pandemic on or not, using your brain in new, challenging ways is good for neural health, and will help your brain stay healthy,| Greater Good reminds readers. "Noticing opportunities to incorporate new things into your everyday routines--even taking a new route on your walk or trying out a new recipe--could give your brain a fun workout without adding more to your to-do list." 

5. Be kind to yourself. 

If you're suffering from brain fog at the moment, you are far from alone. So don't beat yourself up about it. Not only is that irrational, it's also unkind... to yourself. "We are living through extraordinary times, and so we need to practice a little self-compassion," Greater Good reminds us all.

Be thankful for what we have got and think of ways to help others as it is usual that in giving we receive.

Believe in yourself, together we can achieve great things.

Have a Happy Easter' 22, 

let's Hope for Peace and Prosperity

in our Future together on this Planet.

What do you want for your Wedding Day?

 I wonder do you have a clear idea of what you want your Wedding Day to be. Where is the best place to start? What needs to be decided on first? 

We are all different and will have different ideas and ways of working out what is right for us. Some of us make lists, write our thoughts down, some of us like seeing pictures and ideas and collecting them to help visualise the look. Whatever your way of working the first question probably is what type of a wedding do you and your partner want to have? How much are you thinking of spending on your wedding? Where do you want to have your wedding? Then you will know more about what would suit you to choose for your special day. 

“A person’s wedding day is one of the most important days of their life. The Northern Ireland wedding industry does a fantastic job catering to a couple’s dream day and ensuring every detail and aspect of their wedding is provided for.”

Firstly I hope to inspire you to have your wedding in Northern Ireland. It can be as small or as large as you like but I personally think you have a personal experience, friends and family can easily join you for a part or the whole of the day and of course we all need you to support our local services more than ever. “Service & the Personal Touch is the key to my business” and why word of mouth and friends and family of former brides continue to kindly support me. 

Do you need help and advice with your ideas and notions? Have you always had an idea of what you want? Can you put into words what you want or do you need to see it before you know it’s perfect for you? Listening to couples is essential before we can help you. Experience can help us guide and direct you with what might be best for you.

It’s an exciting time for everyone and you need to enjoy the journey and not feel rushed or pushed into making your decision. Sometimes knowing that you can adapt and grow your ideas as they take shape is the best way to make sure you get it right for you. Work out the things you know you want and then the things you aren’t so sure of can be decided later.

The internet shows you lots of ideas and notions, take notes and collect pictures of the things that you think are your favourites, then you can show them to the people who you want to help you create your day. This applies to everything form colours to themes, style and content. I find my brides easily get their ideas across to me with photos then we need to work out if they  like to look on them. With years of experience and lots of samples and ways of helping brides visualise what we think is an idea. It’s a journey and it’s exciting, each bride might take me on a completely different way of working out what is best. The ultimate is when my brides use my favourite work, perfect. As long as each bride thinks their dress is the best dress I have ever made then I know I did my job correctly. 

Planning a wedding in the future.

 It’s no secret this year didn’t quite start off the way we hoped it would, but that hasn’t stopped us having weddings and from making sure they’re ahead of the curve for 2022. I didn't really know what to expect, but my 2020 brides were back to planning their weddings and my 2021 brides wanted to get their wedding organised too. So it has been the most exceptional year when my workload was intensified but I wanted each girl to feel I was only working on her ensemble!

In the wedding industry we are always planning ahead, looking at forward fashion and wedding trends. As a creative person I love to create and be excited about new projects and future plans. But covid changed and interferred with our plans, our normal was turned upside down. Running my own business has meant that I have always had to adapt to what my customer wanted. My hands are good at creating so all I have to do is create was my customers ask me for.

Much of the last 10 years has been dominated by royal-inspired styles thanks to a couple of high-profile royal weddings during the decade - think long sleeves, flattering necklines and A-line skirts - but over the last couple of years there’s been a move away from this. 2020 only sped that up as almost every couple with a ceremony planned post-March had to change their plans to make sure it followed new (and ever-changing) rules.

So as couples pared down their wedding plans to celebrate just with their nearest and dearest, they wanted someone to personally listen and help them with what they needed for their Special day. It appeared as if the fashion followed suit, couples choose what was right for their unique Day. Whilst bridal wear trends tend to shift more so than grooms wear, it looks like simplicity and quality will be key wedding trends in 2022 for both.  It was a more relaxed look for brides in 2021. Simple understated dresses & soft tailored looks are a hot trend, as well as shorter & midi length dresses. I can also see  bigger, fuller, more detachable details like bows and trains being included next year – great for creating a more formal look during the day and easy to remove for a more casual look for the evening reception. In 2021 we went  back to basics – simplicity and delicacy. The covid crisis has pushed a reset button for all of us – not only for wedding and event suppliers but also for the whole fashion industry. Although prints and colour will be visible, I believe organic styles will prevail. Though 2022 will be a blank page for all of us...Just expect the unexpected!  Brides are looking for something special and something personal, something unique. Support for home made, environmentally friendly and a personal experience seem more important than ever.

What do you think will be the future for weddings?

New online store @joanneferguson.com

I have a new online shop that has been a work in progress while in lockdown. Should you wish to view what I have been working on please message me.

Selling products online has become more of a necessity since lockdown, people make it look easy, however I find it difficult. Recently I managed to sell my first headpiece online and I know that it has encouraged me to photograph more to show people what I make and hopefully they might want to purchase them. 

To do any of my items any justice, I need to take time to photograph them in the best light and setting.

All of this takes time just like my process of making things, so I hope you will stay with me and watch my progress.

To start with I have taken photos of some of my christening robe collection what do you think? It's really difficult to show the detail in a photo that shows the whole christening robe and then I feel you really need to see it on a baby.

Detail of one of my many christening robes.

The first headpiece sold online !

But just as I was working on how to sell things online a bride that I had been working for through the pandemic through a curve ball at me which hit me hard!!

I have been making dresses and accessories for 36yrs and experience has taught me to listen to people. Maybe my most important skill is to be able to read as best one can someone else's mind.  Yes I need to be good at the sewing and making but more importantly I need to be able to listen to what the customer is telling me or not telling me. Last year 2020 I was asked by a bride's mother to make the bride the "dress of her dreams".  I listened, I made what was asked, then I listened to the changes requested and managed them, then I embellished and beaded the dress to try to make the bride happy. As the wedding got closer the pandemics restrictions got worse which intensified the poor brides situation. Finally she seemed happy with the dress and couldn't wait to take it home, so I hand stitched the last bit and then once she had it home a week she paid me in full online. 

Exactly a year later less two days, the 2nd July 2021 one of the saddest days of my career the same bride and I were in court before a judge as the bride wanted a full refund for the bespoke dress I made for her. Part of her arguement was that  Facebook  states that if you want you can have a refund for something that wasn't used within 45 days you could get a full refund. Can someone please explain to me where this is on my facebook page? I have terms and conditions that set out my refund policies but how can someone expect a refund on an item that has been made bespoke to their requirements. So sad that this had to end up in court but the bride left us with no other option than to have a judge rule on the matter. The  Judge dismissed the brides claim after listening to the evidence from both sides and no refund was given. Then within a day of this court case the bride is now trying to damage my reputation. Social media and the internet can be so enlightening when used to educate and inspire us but when it is used to be defamatory and cruel it is vile. The damage this has done to my career is unknown to anyone, this has been my livelihood for 36yrs and I seriously question being able to trust my instincts with a bride again. so far I haven't taken the password off my new online store I'm not sure that I want to continue anymore! My faith and trust in people has been hit hard, it's going to take me time to get over this. Meanwhile the bride has taken to the internet to put defamatory reviews up about me after losing her case in court, it's so difficult to know what is the best thing to do next. 

Watch this space, no doubt I will write it here first. Joanne

Northern Ireland Dress Designer talks openly about her profession.

 Wow, I never quite know what to say when people ask me what I do for my living. I'm not a pushy, confident, self promoting character and thank fully to survive so far I haven't need to be. How do you best describe what I do?

  What does it take to be a dress designer?

I would say passion and professionalism. I didn't plan to do what I do so I don't know nor did I think before I started this job what it meant or what I needed, I was passionate about giving it a go. ( not the best business practice, nor a sound business plan. However I decided straight away if people were going to take me seriously I needed a proper business premises.

  Why dress design?

I went to Ulster University and studied embroidery as my specialist subject but naturally fashion was part of the course. When I started my career straight after my degree I would make bridal headdresses and bridal veils for clients. As to the dresses, well at the start I did the embroidery work for other designers on their dresses, it took a while for me to be brave enough to work directly for the client.

  Tell us about your first bridal dress commission.

My first bride was a lawyer, which when I look back now was a bit scary! However we had plenty of time and she and I knew if things hadn't progressed in the right direction we both had options. I can  look back at photos today and say that it is still one of my favourite dresses and I loved the flowers I made to go with her dress.

  What is it like being a dress designer?

Its exciting, its scary, every client is different. I feel I have to be good at sewing but maybe more importantly I need to be good at reading my client's mind. To be a good dress designer uses lots and lots of different skills, communication, patience, adaptability and a passion to keep up to date with everything from style to fabrics even social media and best business practises.

What do you like about being a dress designer?

The people I meet the people I help and they things that I learn from them and about myself each garment.The longer the time I spend in this job the more I learn. It was fascinating to learn when I watched David Emanuel on the TV programme "I'm a Celebrity" how he got on and communicated with the other contestants, then I thought that's what you need to be a good couturer!! ( which is really another word for dress designer) Just for those who need to know he created Princess Diana's wedding dress with his wife Elizabeth. One of Diana's other popular dress designer's was a lady called Catherine Walker. Why do I mention her, well it was the relationship that the pair built up. I know that by the time I design and make a dress for someone that we become very close and usually remain friends, that makes my job very special. While I'm writing this, it's the weekend of the funeral of Prince Philip and who is to be beside the Queen at the funeral, her trusted dress designer Angela Kelly. All this mention of the royals, I feel I need to explain myself. I grew up on the shores of Strangford Lough far from the influences of dress designers. My only knowledge or introduction to the subject was when an important occasion hit the headlines. Most of our headlines in Northern Ireland were about the troubles then, so any mention of fashion designers and it sparked my interest. I lived on a farm with my mother who had done a little sewing, her cooking was more her thing. Maybe sub consciously my great aunts who sewed and made things rubbed off on me. As a family we rode and competed with our ponies and horses all around Ireland meeting and interacting with lots of different characters. How did I ever end up doing what I do? Is your life mapped out for you or do you decide? Are we put on this earth to inspire and influence others? I always end up with more questions than answers! What about You?