Vintage Carriages Trust and our Vintage Wedding Gown Photo Shoot.

I'm that excited I'm simply fizzing! and no, Mr D is not driving a steam train, but we had a very exciting meeting with the man in charge, Mr Paul Holroyd.

The Ingrow Museum of Rail Travel is owned by Vintage Carriages Trust http://www.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ and as Paul said, "is nothing to do with them lot out there," pointing at the Worth Valley Steam Railway, so is to be the venue for a forthcoming photo shoot to showcase our small vintage collection of wedding gowns available to buy late February.

It's a very exciting time for us as we generally focus on bespoke wedding gowns,but now seems as good a time as any to launch the new vintage line.

We felt that the vintage theme needed a vintage setting and when Mr D quite aptly suggested the Vintage Carriages trust Museum, who better than to take the photos than my favourite photographer, Mr Rob Booker and supply the vintage headwear than HF Couture Accessories.

Rob sent Mr D and myself to check out the venue and asked for some sample shots of our all access areas to get a general idea of how he was going to work.

Paul Holroyd, who accompanies his beloved carriages all over the country while on location for films such as The Railway Children with actors such as David Suchet and Nicole Kidman and supplying memorabilia for train mad Roy Cropper of Coronation Street was an ever ending supply of knowledge and sheer fascination.

We really do have an access all areas which means we can sit in the carriages and even use the authentic suitcases lined up alongside the wonderful trains.

Our props!



It really is going to be super amazing and if you would like to come along and watch the professionals at work and also have a chat with photographer Rob Booker, accessories and bespoke jewellery maker Jane of HF Couture, makeup artist Leanne Anderson and super florist Leafy couture, then please do feel free to join us for what will be a fun and vintage themed gathering.
You are more than welcome to join us afterwards for a light lunch of sandwiches, cupcakes and lashings of ginger beer and of course, more wedding chat.

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When - Sunday 20th february 2011 at 12noon.

Where - Vintage Carriages Trust Museum Ingrow

Vintage Frocks http://www.dressesatno9.co.uk/

Accessories and headwear http://www.hfcouture.co.uk/

Photography http://www.robbooker.co.uk/

Floristry http://www.leafycouture.co.uk/

Makeup artist Leanne Anderson 01274833608/07862713910

Hair stylist Donna Judson

Venue Vintage Carriages Trust http://www.vintagecarriagestrust.org/

Please do be aware that there may be a small fee for the upkeep of the museum and a warm coat may be necessary as the shed doesn't have heating. The light lunch is free!

Very much looking forward to seeing you there!

Wedding Day Trouser Suit for a Yorkshire Bride.

It all began with a simple sketch; a favourite all-in-one outfit Sarah had worn many years ago and not wanting the traditional wedding outfit, chose something she knew she loved.

Slight variations were made to the original design by way of a back rather than the straps having the 'bib and brace' appearence.


The suit was made from silk crepe and lined with a silk lining. The edges were decorated with a diamante sparkle embellishment.

The happy couple married at Skipton registry office.

Reception at The Dog and Gun Crosshills for fish and chips.

The fabulous detail of the crossover straps.

Sarah, thank you so much for the images. You looked amazing.

The Dog and Gun

Dresses at No. 9 Competition and Meeting Our Winner.

This year seems to be marching on full steam ahead and in no way am I being left behind!

We seem to be in great demand from new clients and with some fabulous designs and gowns to get our teeth into our popularity doesn't seem to be letting up any time soon.

Today I had the greatest of pleasures to meet our Dresses at No. 9 competition winner, Abi and her wonderful mum.

Abi brought along the wedding ideas she had been collecting so we immediatly began discussing everything about it.

Romance is the key feature using soft palettes along with vintage elements to bring together the Tea Party theme set for the reception.

Abi doesn't want the traditional wedding breakfast, to be held at her Aunts 200 year old white washed walled barn (and Marquee), so opted for the tea party theme comprising of sandwiches, nibbles finishing off with plenty of cake. All served up on vintage crockery I might add.

"So," I said. "Will you be hiring the china for your 70 guests?"

"No," she said. "My aunt has plenty of the stuff. I'm sure she even has 70 cups and 70 saucers hidden around the kitchen!"

We talked about the bridesmaids outfits, flowers, the photography and even discussed an outfit for mum. Of course, the bridal gown is going to be a close guarded secret (a bit like Kate Middlestons gown) but I can say it is going to be one heck of a show stopper. Both Abi and I are very excited now the design has been sketched and fabrics chosen.

We chatted for over three hours and after Abi and her mum left, I felt a little like I'd just done the Conveyer Belt from The Generation Game! ("Did we go a bit fast for you there?") with everything still wizzing around in my head.

So, with the design drawn, fabrics covered along with other ideas, it's full steam ahead. And I simply cannot wait!!

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Dresses at No. 9!

At precisely 12pm midnight tonight, it is officially our 2nd birthday.

My gorgeous husband Mr. D is my number one fan. He says he is so he must be!

It's been one heck of a year for us with two magazine features a ton of clients and making friends with some lovely people in the wedding industry.

Family has taken a little back seat so this will be something I shall address in 2011.

We've decided to make a monthly 'Bucket list' and my five-year-old has suggested our first should be a hot air balloon ride. So, that seems to be first on the agenda. We will also have a year end one too and next year, I rather fancy Lapland!

I've said hello to some wonderful new clients, and goodbye to a few to.

I've also waved off my son who joined Plymouth University this past September. It's been a bit of a wrench for all of us, but he's happy and we feel we've given him the best start we can, so I'm happy! (even though I still cry each time I see him and more so when I leave him)

We've also made a brides dream come true with our fabby competition and I cannot wait to get my teeth into 2011 and her gown among others.

I've had one week's holiday in Devon this year where no mobile phone reception was a blessing in disguise. A good opportunity to totally recharge my batteries.

We also have a further two magazine features pending and an exciting new collection to launch in the New Year.

It's going to be a busy one, with our books at full capacity at this time until September 2011, and a new booking today for 2012.

I cannot thank my clients and wedding suppliers enough for their ongoing support.

So, may I take the opportunity of thanking my past and current clients for their custom and wedding suppliers for their inspiration and on going support.

A very Happy New Year. Let's make this a great one!

Dress shop, Internet or Other for your Wedding Gown.

So the question arises yet again among many brides.

Where has everyone bought their wedding dresses from?

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One lady said. "I'm gonna get a stereotype dress because I know if I try to be quirky I'll not only look like a loser but I'll always regret not wearing a proper dress! I want a sample dress. I refuse to pay full price for a wear-once dress. I'd be calclulating how much it's costing me per hour it's worn! I know that in a shop, you're paying for the 'experience' & getting it made but is there anywhere else that's good? I don't want to wait months, I want it NOW!"

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Another said. " I got my dress from the internet."

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More. "I would say definately go to the shops and try loads on, I thought I knew what style I wanted until I found it didn't suit me! I didn't want to pay shop prices either, so I bought a dress off ebay, and had a horrendous time with a seller, so I ended up going with an internet based shop t'up north and saved myself a packet."

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"Everyone's different and as long as you find your dream dress it doesn't matter where you order it but personally I was glad I saw my dress in the flesh and tried it on to get a feel for it. I think if I ordered a dress straight off the internet I would be worried it wouldn't suit my shape etc."

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And finally. "I'd like to recommend www.dressesatno9.co.uk. I'm having my dress made here. Linda is based in Yorkshire and gets booked up pretty quickly. Her ethos is 'bespoke is an affordable option'. I sent her a picture of what I wanted and she's quoted me a fraction of what other dressmakers were trying to charge me. The highest quote I had was £2000! I found her through using another forum and several ladies there have had their dresses made by her - the pics are stunning!"

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Yes, I'm sure you know I do provide the service where you send me your measurments along with your design or ideas and I will custom make your wedding gown. I work in a very similar way to the offshore companies, but I remain in constant contact with my clients, don't charge them for their progress photo's and issue free samples for them to choose from.

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I do prefer to see my clients regularly in the flesh so to speak to attain the perfect fit of their wedding gown, but with many ladies choosing to purchase via the internet I wanted to provide the same service I would for all of my customers.

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Below are a few of the gowns I have made using the distance selling method.

Jodie sent me her images along with her budget. Her gown was constructed using a synthetic duchess satin skirt with silk chiffon feather effect train.

The bodice was gold brocade with piped edging and corset closure back.

Definately not something you'd find on the high street!

Jodie had one fitting for her gown as she was based in Milton Keynes. Her gown was then completed for a perfect hem length and shipped out to Jodie by track and trace courier.

Below is Rebecca's wedding gown.

Rebecca had a disaster with her offshore synthetic fabric wedding gown.

I used over 15meters of 100% silk dupion in ivory with a fabulous beaded lace applique detail.
The gown included a built in lace edge petticoat.

Rebecca travelled with her family from Stoke-On-Trent to see me for her final fitting and collection of her, and her bridesmaid gowns.

Her gowns fit like a glove.

Below is Natalie from Glasgow's wedding gown.

Again using 100% silk Dupion, she said her wedding gown cost less than her mother's wedding outfit!

Our ethos will always remain. Bespoke and made-to-measure will always be your affordable option.

Happy wedding dress shopping.

Vintage Bridal Wear in West Yorkshire.

The vintage trend still seems to be set in 2011 for brides seeking something a little different for their special occasion.

With blogs such as Love My dress, hosted by the wonderful Annabel Beeforth, with whom I've been fortunate enough to have been a guest blogger writing, How to find your ideal dressmaker and without forgetting the ever awesome, Kat Williams aka Rock 'n' Roll Bride where again I was mentioned when Kat featured the smashing Emma Case after she shot one of my clients Helene after her Vintage inspired wedding, couples can expect to find something exctitingly different and feed their vintage/retro inspired wedding ideas until bursting point.

As I seem to be working with many clients this year who have opted for the trend, I am very excited to announce that I shall be putting together a small collection, to start with, of vintage/retro wedding gowns.

Speaking to a few of my clients who have come as far north as County Durham and Glasgow, it seems there is little in the offering in the north for Vintage inspired bridal gowns to try and try something that will fit.

Brides seeking authenticity will find that sizes are much smaller than they are now. During the war, the 1940's, food was rationed and ladies were much thinner especially around the waist! By the 50's, ladies were a little more curvaceous.

Of course there are boutiques/designers such as the legendary Candy Anthony and very popular, Fur Coat no Knickers who stock or make your wedding gown to order, but both are based in the London area.

A short while ago Mr D and I were approached by a young lady oozing amounts of talent and experience in fashion design looking to fulfill her own passion and dream of working solely in the bridal industry. So, we've teamed up to provide the bride looking for something a little different yet still holding onto our ethos that brides do not have to pay a fortune to have the dress of their dreams.

Clients will have the opportunity to come and try one of our samples or simply opt for our made to measure service where measurements will be sent and we shall supply their dream wedding gown.

And of course, this means we get to go out on location to photograh the designs with fabby photographers.

If you require further information then please do contact us. However, do watch this space in the New Year for a brief glimpse of our designs followed by our exciting samples.

Winter Weddings and another Vintage Twist.

With the right elements, such as sunshine in the summer, a winter wedding could be a glamorous wonderland. However, when I asked my client, Donna, recently if she was happy about the vast amount of snow we've had, and the fact her 'white wedding' will actually be white, she said. "Not sure I really want to drag my train around in the snow for it to get all wet and soggy."

I guess the concept is nice, but reality is a different matter!

Donna chose to mix her sultry, old Hollywood style wedding gown, Gatsby, complete with marabou shrug jacket with upbeat swing style 40's numbers for her bridesmaids.

With an age difference between the younger bridesmaids (and we all know those ten-year-olds think they're at least 15) Donna wanted to keep the style appropriate for the youngsters, yet allowing the older of the two to feel a little more grown up. She opted for a spot satin for the younger and a plain duchess satin for the older.




The adult gowns were based on a 1940 swing dress. The 1940s saw two distinctive styles in women's clothing. From the beginning of World War II in 1939 till the dawn of the New Look in 1947, women's dresses were knee-length with silhouettes austere (simple and basic)
Once the war was over, the Paris couturiers, once again took the fashion helm. Christian Dior pioneered the New Look, which featured a nipped waist, longer lengths and fuller skirts, with yards and yards of fabric used and a more classically feminine image created.


To integrate the look with a modern twist, I suggested small shrug-type jackets for the season which would incorporate the 1940’s trench- coat detail with an exaggerated element in the high collar. Lining the jackets in the polka dot fabric would gel everything together.

The petticoats were 2 layers of 3-tiered net with a satin bound edge.

So, with the bridal party sorted, Donna asked if I could accomodate her mum with a dress for her big day.

Her mum had tried on a few gowns and had fallen in love with a style by a very well known wedding and occasion wear designer. However, the jacket had a very elaborate sleeve style which Donna's mum wasn't so keen on.

Donna's mum chose a sumptious purple silk dupion fabric for her slight 'A' line strapless gown. The bodice had the ususal inner corselette and the pleating detail was all done by hand.

To finish, we opted for the bolero type jacket with a self tie to the front. This could be worn simply tied or for a more elaborate effect, tied into a bow.

Of her gowns, Donna said. "Thank you so much for all of your hard work and understanding what was in my head. I'll be sure to send some pictures of us looking fabulous!"

Donna, it was an absolute pleasure. I hope you had a very happy wedding day.