Summer Series 2012 : Wedding gowns

I am so pleased to share with you the second installment of my Summer Series, breaking down all things weddings. Today Katie Colgan from Loui Col Designs has been kind enough to let me interview her on one of the most important parts of wedding day planning – the dress.

It was a conversation with a bride a few months ago that actually sparked this concept of the Summer Series 2012. She had just begun searching for a dress and was feeling discouraged as the salespeople were expecting her to just tell them exactly what she wanted when all she wanted was for someone to step in and guide her to her perfect dress for her personality, wedding style and body type. I couldn’t help but empathise as my own experience in wedding dress shopping was less than enjoyable and something I just wanted to finish as soon as I started it.

Katie offers a bespoke service to her brides which sounds like a wonderful experience. Her gowns are exquisite and I am so pleased she took a moment to answer some of my questions. I’ve been intrigued by the concept of creating a custom gown and have seen a few of my own brides go down this path themselves to really inject a little more of their own personality into their day. We were fortunate to work together last winter on a project when I was able to see and photograph her work up close and they are as beautiful in person as they look on film.

All images by Angela Higgins

How and when did you begin designing wedding dresses?

My journey began almost 20 years ago! I was always interested in fashion design and dress making and completed 2 weeks work experience at Silk’n’Satin bridal shop in Subiaco. I was blessed with the opportunity to work with the amazing designer Marie Perry-Watson. Her back ground was in theatre, ballet and made to measure. She took me under her wing and I haven’t looked back.

Where do you get your inspiration from when you begin designing a new dress?

My inspiration is driven by the person wearing the gown, their personality, style and how they aspire to look and feel both inside and out, on their special day. I’m also entranced and enchanted by the vast array of stunning materials available both nationally and internationally. Quite often I will start with a design and get excited about all the options that present as the dress comes to life. I love reflecting on the history of design as it unveils the secrets of bygone eras, when women dressed beautifully from head to toe.

What trends do you see for the 2011/12 wedding season here in Australia? What is getting you excited?

I’m very happy to see lace is still strong, hem lines are long and ladies are exploring beautiful necklines!

Why should a bride consider coming to you for a custom experience rather than buying off the rack at a big chain store?

Having a bespoke gown made at Loui Col is a special treat, for a special day. I want my girls to enjoy the whole experience from start to finish. I aim to understand each bride individually and support a creative environment where we can explore beautiful designs, laces and materials. They are involved in the whole process. My brides look forward to their visits as each new fitting brings their dress to life. It is a wonderful space for the bride to either come by herself for her own personal experience or to share it with mums and friends.

When should a bride begin to look for her dress and when should she have bought a dress in relation to her wedding date?

When she is ready! For a customized Loui Col Design the construction process starts 3 months prior to the wedding. Most girls will meet with us 9-12 months before to book their dates and from there we use this time to work on designs and chose the perfect lace, silks and trims. I don’t believe that process should go on and on, I don’t know anyone who really wants to choose a dress 12 months before wearing it. We are women! We change our minds!

What is the average cost your brides are investing in their wedding gowns?

Every gown is costed according to the lace, trims, materials and time that will go into creating the perfect bespoke piece.

Do you have any advice or tips you could offer brides when shopping for their wedding gowns.

Find the right person to work with. You have to be confident that ideas and designs are going to work for you. Follow your heart and trust what really inspires you. Don’t always follow trends, check them out, admire them but be guided by what suits you and your day!

Stick to a classic design and incorporate your own elements whether they are vintage, spunk, elegance or a modern feel. Be careful not to be influenced by others if they have particularly strong feelings as how ‘they’ think you should look.

How can brides be fashion forward (or even draw inspiration from the past) without ending up with a style that will date badly?

Keep it simple look for gowns and designs to suit you and your wedding day. You want your gown to be a family heirloom, to be passed down and admired. You don’t want to be experimenting with ‘something different’ on your wedding day!

How do wedding dress fashion rules differ from everyday fashion rules? Such as avoiding cropped jackets if you’re short in stature. Are there different things to keep in mind when shopping for your dress?

The wonderful experience of having a gown made to fit you is getting the proportions correct. So often I have girls saying ‘I love this idea but I can’t wear that style’. A lot of the time we can wear it when it is fitted correctly.

ATTIRE ETIQUETTE

After the wedding day, how should the dress be care for and stored?

Dry cleaned is always recommended and then boxed accordingly. I am lucky enough to have mine on display! Why not if you have somewhere in your home to have it on display?! In the coming months Loui Col Designs will be displaying some of our gorgeous brides wedding dresses in our shop window with their wedding photos! We all like to see real brides on their day with their special glow to highlight everything.

Why is it important for guests to follow the dress codes given by the bride and groom? I.e., black tie, semi formal, cocktail.

The dress code compliments the scene and atmosphere that the bride and groom are creating for their special day. We must respect this. I always tend to think that it’s always better to be over dressed, than under dressed!

Can a guest ever wear white to a wedding?

Ah, I’ve mixed feeling about that one. With so many wonderful colours in our world why would you chance it? I had my beautiful bridesmaids in all the same ivory silk as my own gown, assuming that my guests would all wear colours. This way my whole bridal party had the opportunity to shine with us!

I have been so inspired lately by the trends in wedding gowns, especially after all the royal weddings in 2011 and was so pleased to find out from Katie what her thoughts were where trends are going and how a bride could go about creating her wedding gown while having a great experience.

If you’re just starting the pilgrimage to finding your perfect wedding gown, definitely have a chat with Katie at Loui Col Designs about her made to measure wedding and evening gowns. Katie just opened her new studio storefront at 7/14 Money St, Perth and would love to hear from you!

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stay tuned for the next installment of Summer Series.

Summer Series 2012 : Wedding Stationery

Happy new year! I just love the possibilities that a new year brings. Such optimism and hope and I have a few things up my sleeve that I hope to share with you here on the blog. The first of which is the Summer Series 2012!

When talking with some of my brides recently I began to realise that there are some couples out there that can get confused with the do’s and dont’s of weddings.  I’ve always felt that as a wedding vendor, it shouldn’t be assumed that your client knows all the ins and outs of the industry. After all, they come to us because we are the professionals in this field. There are so many aspects that can be overwhelming and as a recent bride, I can appreciate the head-swirling affect this can have on you.

I decided to set myself and some of my favourite local vendors a little challenge to hopefully shine a light on just some must-have areas of wedding to-do’s. Over the next few months I’m going to be interviewing some of the best vendors that Perth has to offer in each of their specific tasks of expertise and I hope that at least one bride or groom finds something useful as they plan their wedding.

Our first interview to kick off the Summer Series 2012 are my friends, the Mesdames Mitchell & Dent. I fell in love with their work the minute I saw it and had to have some of their fabulous letterpress for my own business stationery. We even worked on a little project together in 2010 when I photographed their new range of “ready-to-wed” designs. These lovely ladies (as if they hadn’t accomplished enough) are also the masterminds behind the First Comes Love Bridal Fair that I was also fortunate to be a part of last May.

They have been creating gorgeous stationery for Brides and Grooms since 2009 and I am so pleased they were able to take a moment to answer a few questions.

All images generously supplied by Nic Montagu and Jessica Shaver

Where do you find inspiration when designing new stationery suites?

Oh goodness, in an endless array of places. Recently we’ve been influenced by teacups and tattoo typography, Palm Springs and old postcards, family crests and mid-century frou frou.

What trends do you see for the 2011/12 wedding season for wedding stationery here in Australia?

More and more, we see mash-ups of the traditional and contemporary. Letterpress, lined envelopes and wax seals; but with modern typography, geometric patterning or eclectic illustration. Postcard and concertina-style invitations with perforated RSVPs that fit in standard-sized envelopes are becoming popular. And colour? Peaches and soft pinks with copper and gold. Navy and naturals. Pops of bright hues such as scarlet, orange, turquoise or acid yellow.

Why should a couple consider having a custom stationery suite made rather than purchasing a template or choosing to DIY?

What do we keep when the big day is done and dusted? The pictures and the paper, of course. Stationery becomes a physical embodiment of joyful memories – just perfect for bringing out to bore the grandchildren with! It is like holding your history in your hands.

Why splurge on custom designed stationery? For the same reason you splurge on a beautiful gown or suit and good food and wine to accompany the most important pledge you’ll ever make. It is special and makes you feel special. And it is personal. And appreciated. Receiving a beautiful invitation in the mail is like a little paper hug.

When a couple come to you ready to create a bespoke stationery suite for their nuptials, where do you begin the process and how long does it take from concept to delivery?

The first question we ask a couple is if they prefer letterpress or printed stationery. It can take 4-6 weeks to create a custom letterpress suite; as it is first designed, then blocks are cast for each ink colour. The printing process itself is also slow, as our 1905 Chandler & Price platen press is hand-fed and only one colour can be printed at a time.

Printed stationery is quicker, especially if a couple opts for one of our ready-to-wed designs, which are pre-existing. The process typically takes 2-3 weeks from phone call to pick up. We have been known create stationery in 3 days, but it doesn’t do much for the nerves.

In your opinion what are the must have/non-negotiable items for a wedding suite at its most basic?

The invitation of course. RSVP cards are lovely, but you could always pop the details on the invitation itself. Gift information? Ditto. A service card or booklet is necessary if you have hymns or prayers guests are invited to participate in. Many venues offer a printed menu service, but place cards are always important, especially if you need to keep any feuding family members apart. And thank you cards sent after the event is just plain good manners. Even if Auntie Mabel only gave you monogrammed handkerchiefs.

What is the average cost your brides and grooms are investing in their letterpress and/or printed stationery?

People spend anything from $600 to $6,000 with us, but the average is around $1,200 to $1,500.

Lastly, do you have any advice or tips you could offer brides when deciding on their stationery.

Have a little chat with the mums before you come to see your stationer. The only hiccup we see in our studio is when a couple has their heart set on something and the mother of the bride or groom doesn’t approve.

STATIONERY ETIQUETTE

How long before a wedding should the invitations be sent?

Send the invitation 6-8 weeks prior, with an RSVP date that is 2-3 weeks before the event (do check with your venue to see when final numbers need to be supplied when setting the RSVP date). Sending a ‘save the date’ to international and interstate invitees at least 6 months prior to the wedding is always appreciated, allowing time to make travel arrangements.

There is always at least one guest that feels they don’t have to RSVP. What do you suggest to speed them along and get their response?

Here are our top tips for persuading impolite peeps to get back to you:
• include a pre-stamped RSVP card with the invitation
• use the phrase ‘please reply’ instead of ‘RSVP’ (not everyone knows what it means)
• include e-mail, mobile or twitter details on the invitation for the technically-talented but stationery-inept
• passive-aggressive status updates about RSVPing tardiness on Facebook might goad the guilty
• and if all else fails, why not phone and ask if they’re coming? Works surprisingly well.

How soon after the wedding should the thank you cards be sent to the guests?

As soon as you return from the honeymoon is ideal. That might be 4 weeks or 4 months after the wedding, but not sending a thank you is not very polite.

Thank you so much Mitchell and Dent for all of your advice! The ladies just opened their very own store that is open at Studio Bomba, 379 Oxford Street, Leederville, Thursdays to Sundays from 10.30am to 6ish. Just look for the yellow door. I may be biased with my self-confessed weakness for stationery and paper goods, but if you want to get inspired stop on by to start the conversation about your own wedding stationery.

I hope you liked our first installment and stay tuned for my next interview next week!