Hiya,
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Happy New Year, hope you had a lovely time over the Christmas period.
It's nice to talk to you again, and if your new here looking for some wedding inspiration, welcome!
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So, as it's a new year, I was thinking of ways to freshen up what I offer you here on the blog. Don't worry, I'm not going to suggest communal star jumps on zoom, no-one needs that, I was thinking more wedding inspiration-based gems of information from me to you. Through a series of blog posts, I will give you an insight into the process of designing and making the accessories you see on my website and socials, as well as offering up tips on how to customise a design or start a bespoke commission. I will chat to you about how to incorporate colour and embellishment into your look and how to style your accessories to work with your outfit. Handy diamonds of information, but always with the intention of inspiring you to achieve your perfect wedding look by taking care over choosing your accessories.
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Today, I thought I'd give you an insight into the design process from initial idea to finished product. I'm going to do this with the help of images from an EPIC Ibiza inspired styled shoot for Killer Filler Workshop organised by the amazing photographer, Nicki Shea. Killer Filler is a content creating film and photo workshop ran by Nicki and Jade, the one woman band behind Hushabye FIlms. If you are looking for all round stunning wedding inspiration, look no further then this incredible pair.
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For this Ibiza inspired styled shoot, Nicki sourced all the outfits and accessories as well as location, stationary, decorations, props, food and drink and everything in-between to create really modern and exciting wedding styling full of fun and celebration. Nicki contacted me to supply a sequin bow veil, sequin flower crown to be worn as a garter and an embellished overskirt to be worn at the 'pool party' reception. I bit her hand off to be involved.
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Where does the design process begin?
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If you want to commission a customised or bespoke piece, the first thing you need to do is convey your ideas to the designer. This is much easier than you might imagine. It doesn't have to involve any fine art drawings or essays about what you want. The easiest way to do it is show me your Pinterest boards or your mood board and then we have a chat.
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A mood board is an excellent way to describe how you want everything to look on the day of your wedding and it tells your suppliers what you want. The perfect tool for your planning and a great start to the design process.
If you're not familiar with using a mood board, or you don't know where to start, you can take a look at my 'Blog: Create a colour palette and Design a Mood board to Inspire the Look of your Wedding', (apologies for the very non-zippy title there, but it does what it say's on the tin).
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Nicki showed me her ideas using Pinterest boards, and after a brief chat over Instagram, I felt confident I knew the vibe she wanted to create.
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example of Ibiza inspired shoot Pinterest Boards
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Next step; draft designs...
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Every designer is different but if I'm making something bespoke for you, the first thing I will do is sketch some designs based on your mood board and your brief. I'm old school and use a pencil and paper but the most important thing is for me to show you an image that shows you that I've understood your idea.
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After seeing the designs, Nicki made some suggestions for alterations such as the floral design of the overskirt being too pretty and could it be designed to be less floral and more edgy. The colour palette was also a little too primary. I amended the designs and we were onto the next step.
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Nailing the colour palette and the materials.
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I sourced sequins and beads to match the colour palette, taking on board Nicki's request that it be a little more pastel neon.
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Next step; Samples...
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This is a really important step. A sample is literally a portion of the design using all the materials that will be used on the real piece. It's not the whole design but the point is to give you an exact idea of how the finished piece will look. I want my customers to be happy and confident that they will receive exactly what they want. If you chose to work with me to create your perfect customised or bespoke wedding accessory, nothing will be a surprise or left to chance, it's a collaborative process that I will guide you through.
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Making Stage; The pieces come to life...
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With the design and materials signed off, it was making time. It was an absolute pleasure to make these pieces full of detail, intricate design and personality. I had quite a free reign over the design of the skirt and really went to town on making a show-stopper. I mean, an embellished hand-embroidered sequin and bead over-skirt worn over a bikini at a wedding pool party - come on, you've got to go to town.
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The Shoot...
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This images from the shoot really do give 'celebration of love' feels, don't you think? In addition to the amazing styling of the venue, I also LOVED how the outfits were put together. They seemed to evolve throughout the day, adapting to the different backdrops.
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I LOVE that you can use your accessories to alter your wedding look. Start with a veil or a bow and embellished gloves, move into the afternoon by changing into a flower crown and finish off the day by adding an embellished overskirt or hand-breaded cape to your look. The options for tailoring your look to suit the different parts of your day or the different zones of decoration you've created are endless, as are the possibilities of what your look can be.
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Now, for some of the incredible images from that day....enjoy!
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If this blog has inspired you to think about your wedding look as more than just a dress, then I'd love to hear from you. What accessories would you have to elevate your look. It's allllll in the details.
Much Love
Emma xxx
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Photoshoot Credits:
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Workshop: @killerfillerworkshop
Concept/Lead Photographer @nickisheaphotography
Venue @shortmeadhouse
Tablescape and Co-ordinator @brash.events
Assistant @elizabethdunnevents
Models @enplanafro and Neo
Make-Up @charlie.adams.makeup.artist
Hair @lovehairbylou
Percussion @king_konga_percussionist
Violinist @alleyaviolin
Stationary @ymo_youmeoui
Bow Veil, Sequin flower Crown garter, Sequin overskirt @claude_bridal_studio
Balloons @bigupballoonsco
Streamers @the_prop_library
Flowers @bettysflowerclub
Pinatas @pinyatay
Confetti @yourconfetti
Smoke Granades @smokegranades
Celebrant @maisiethecelebrant
Tables and Chairs @countrytipis
Champagne Tower @misscarlysleandco_events
Banner @daydreamer_creative_studio
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