Fashion Friday: Graceful new gowns by Amanda Wyatt

Amanda Wyatt's new collection of wedding dresses ‘She Walks with Beauty’ is a celebration of the golden age of fashion drawing inspiration from the old Hollywood glamour. Here's why we can't stop swooning over them!

Oozing charm and grace, these statement gowns feature daring cut-away back details with bejewelled accents worthy of a red carpet entrance. Alongside these designs, you'll find a selection of romantic gowns in Amanda’s signature chiffon.  

For her 2017 collection of over 35 gowns, Amanda has used a wide colour palette including dove grey, blush pinks, champagne and rich ivory. Brides can choose from an array of beautiful styles and intricate details - illusion backs, sleeves, jewelled accents and beautiful buttons.  

Amanda’s personal favourite from the 'She Walks with Beauty' collection is Violette. Graceful in design, this is the ultimate wedding dress gown in every way. Over 14 yards of fabric in the skirt create movement and flow both magical and graceful in equal measures.

Violette, Amanda's favourite gown from this collection.

To view photos of Amanda's Promises of Love collection, visit our feature here. 

Details

Amanda Wyatt

W: www.amandawyatt.com 

Fashion Friday: Elegance with Essense Gowns

Fantastic news for our brides this Fashion Friday! AnneHarding is holding a special Essense Designer Day on Saturday 29^th November! Book now for a chance to preview the brand new 2015 collection from Essense Gowns and get first pick before these gorgeous dresses hit the store in the new year. You’ll be treated to a free glass of bubbly and 10% discount on the day!

Essense is an Australian range of bridalwear which combines superb fitting with couture finishing – each design is made with luxurious fabrics like angel satin, chiffon, embellished with Swarovski crystals.

What is your idea of a dream dress for your wedding day? Tell us on Twitter and Facebook - we promise not to say a word to your groom!

Spaces are limited, so free up your diary, and book your place before it’s too late!  

Anne Harding

90-92 Shirehampton Road, Stoke Bishop, Bristol, BS9 2DR

T: 01179683074

W: www.anneharding.com

Fashion Friday: A Panorama of Wedding Dresses

With New York Fashion Week in its second day, we're already taking note of our favourite styles from the Spring/Summer 2015 collections - an abundance of white dresses to inspire our brides. Since travelling across the Atlantic isn't an option, we're watching the shows online and we've come up with an alternative solution - an exhibition dedicated to wedding dresses at the Victoria&Albert Museum, in London. 
  
Wedding Dresses 1775-2014 exhibition at the V&A offers a panorama of fashion stretching across two centuries of designer bridal wear. Displayed chronologically across two floors, you’ll find over 80 pieces – from romantic and glamorous to more extravagant wedding outfits.

Some of the most famous outfits in the gallery include the Dior wedding dress worn by Gwen Stefani in2002, the Duchess of Cornwall’s embroidered silk coat designed by Robinson and Valentine in 2005, and the couture Galliano gown created for KateMoss’s wedding in 2011.

                    

    

The exhibition hosts not only superb dresses and grooms wear but also accessories including shoes, jewellery, veils, garters and corsetry as well as fashion sketches and personal photographs. What better way to satisfy your curiosity about the history of garments than with an intimate insight into some of the wearers’ fashion choices and personal details.

The choice of designs reflects the changing attitude to wedding ceremonies and fashion over the years – early silk satin dresses in 1775,19^th century white muslin embroidered styles and modern innovative designs from Ian Stuart and Gareth Pugh.

  

WeddingDresses 1775-2014 takes place in the V&A Fashion Gallery, from 3 May 2014 – 15 March 2015. It is open daily 10:00 – 17:45 and until 22:00 every Friday, with tickets costing £12. You can also get your hands on the accompanying book, The Wedding Dress: 300 Years of Bridal Fashions by Edwina Ehrman (the exhibition curator) for £25.

Let us know if you're going to the exhibition and how it may influence your choice of wedding outfits. Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Photos: courtesy of V&A Wedding Dresses 1775-2014

V&A
T: 020 7942 2000

South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL

W: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/wedding-dress-1775-2014/

Fashion Friday: Wedding Fashion Takes Centre Stage

We at West Weddings love everything wedding related, especially when it comes to fashion, and this Fashion Friday is a special one. With September only a few days away, we're excited about discovering the new trends for 2014/2015 – from the glamour of London Fashion Week to the South West’s own fashion shows at Cribbs Causeway and Cabot Circus, fashion is everywhere!

One of our favourite events of the season is the Wedding World Exhibition, in association with West Weddings, which brings all the latest collections of bridal gowns, suits and accessories, in a one-day event on Sunday 14^th September at the prestigious Bristol Marriott Hotel, near Cabot Circus. 

We’re dying to see the latest bridal trends and swoon over our favourite wedding dresses and groom's outfits. The spectacular catwalk shows are the highlight of the day featuring the latest designs for brides and grooms, as well as bridesmaids, flower girls and ushers - all from a range of carefully selected boutiques. Fashion savvy mums will also be treated to exquisite mother-of-the-bride outfits and accessories.

On the day, you’ll get a chance to meet with over 100 local businesses, pour over your favourite styles and benefit from the unique discounts and offers. The event is free, with pre-booked tickets, or you can pay £2 on the door. Take a look inside our autumn issue of WestWeddings magazine to find your free tickets (on page 8)!

A second Wedding World event, the Donwtown Abbey Wedding Experience, will take place at Westonbirt House on the 2^nd November. You can find out more details and how to book your tickets on our previous blog post here.

Fashion Friday: Groom Style

We hope our brides don’t mind us focusing on the grooms this Fashion Friday - after all they need to look smart, too. Grooms-to-be, get ready to discover the latest fashion trends so you can rock your frock on the big day. 

There are plenty of choices for menswear wedding suits ranging in colours, styles and cuts available. If you’re fans of tails or kilts, then you’re probably better off renting one from a wedding specialist – we have a list of local stockists on our website and inside the pages of West Weddings magazine. However, if you’d rather invest in a suit that you can wear long after the wedding, then why not arrange a shopping trip with your best man – large department stores like John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenhams are a good place to start.

Suit

Invest in a morning suit that fits well and makes you look and feel great. Adding a waistcoat is optional, but wearing one will give you a more polished look once you take off your jacket after the ceremony.

Shirt  

There’s something special about wearing a crisp white shirt fitted to perfection – your wedding day is the best time to let your personality shine, and even channel that James Bond look you’ve always wanted.

Stylish shoes

Make sure the wedding shoes you choose go with the suit and feel comfortable - wear them in before the big day to loosen them. Get ready to impress your bride and guests with your dance moves!

Accessories

Wear a bright tie or dickie bow to jazz up a dark suit and, if your wedding has a theme colour, then your tie could match the bridesmaids’ dresses. When it comes to cufflinks, why not splash out on a personalised pair that will make you stand out from your groomsmen. No wedding day look is complete without a stylish belt and your signature fragrance – perfect for making a statement!   

Before making your decision, take a look at these grooms’ outfits – you’ll recognise them from West Weddings magazine. We’ve also created a Pinterest board dedicated to grooms’ fashion - let us know which ones you prefer on our Twitter and Facebook pages.  

                                                                                              

Follow West Weddings's board Groom Fashion on Pinterest.

Fashion Friday: Silver wedding shoes

Let’s talk wedding shoes this Fashion Friday! Take your pick from these carefully selected silver shoes we’ve put together for you today. From sparkly crystals to smooth, shiny metallic, it's hard to choose only one pair - we want them all! 

Which of these heels gets your vote to showcase your fabulous feet on your wedding day? Tell us in a comment below or get in touch via Twitter, and make your feet happy today! And if you love shoes as much as we do, then why not create your own inspiration board on Pinterest or Polyvore and share it with us. We would love to feature it on the blog!

                                        Shiny shoes by westweddings featuring L.K.Bennett

Clockwise from top left 

             

Charm evening pump in silver leather by Kate Spade

Add sparkle and glamour to your wedding day look with these Kate Spade glitter sandals. The soft leather lining and cushioned footbed will feel extremely comfy, while the beautiful bow detail will catch your groom’s eye as you make your way down the aisle.

Blue by Betsey Johnson

For an elegant, classic wedding day look, we think this chic pair are spot on! With round open-toe and secure ankle strap, you’ll keep them on all night – just dance the night away with your new husband!

Rhinestone T-strap sandal by Express

We love these sleek and stylish rhinestone-embellished sandals - perfect for a relaxed beach ceremony or as a second pair to change into for the evening party. They're also on sale, so you'll need to snap them before they’re gone!

 

Caroline silver court shoes by Miss KG

This graceful pair of Kurt Geiger shoes are up there on our wish list. The sleek peep toe featuring a hidden platform and bow detail will up the glam factor on your wedding day. Need we say more?  

Karol glitter heel by L.K. Bennett

A fairytale for feet, these Karol heels were created to make your wedding dreams come true! Once you set eyes on them you’ll fall in love just like us – who can resist the gorgeous bow and shiny polished look?  

Metallic skinny heel sandals by Jane Norman

Add a touch of wow to your look with these stunning skinny heels - a must-have for any glamorous bride! Featuring a thin buckle strap diamante embellishment and stiletto heel, these sandals are superb - we’re certain even Carrie Bradshaw would approve! 

Alfie court shoes by Gina

We can’t take our eyes off these show-stopping Alfie courts. Whether you’re getting married in a country mansion or city hotel, be sure to stand out in these exquisite heels adorned with Swarovski crystals – because your wedding is your time to shine! 

Fashion Friday: Flower girls faves

We’re so happy to bring you the most adorable looks for your little bridesmaids on this Fashion Friday. Whatever the theme for your wedding, you can keep the young ones stylish and smiling with these sweet outfits that will make them look and feel the part! As to the ‘cute factor’, little girls dressed as princesses will look picture perfect.  

How will you style your tiny tots for the big day? We'd love to hear from you, so leave a comment below or get in touch via Twitter (@WestWeddingsMag). 

Clockwise from top left

Pink Champagne Tutu Dress by Etsy

This adorable dress is made from lace and satin and it has a laced up back so that it’s easy to adjust the fitting. And with the option to customize the colour and style, your flower girls will feel special on the day and complement your wedding dress.

White Knitted Cardigan by Sarah Louise at Childrensalon

This cute cotton bolero cardigan will keep your flower girls warm after sunset. Soft and stretchy, it features delicate flower and pearls detail on the front.

Pink and yellow flower headband by River Island

For stylish headbands, check out this colourful design from River Island. The pretty flowers will go well with long and short hair, and the stretchy band makes it easy to slide on and comfortable to wear. 

Pink glitter corsage pumps by Debenhams
When it comes to choosing shoes, these sparkly glitter pumps are a winner for your little guests. The beautiful flower corsage adds detail and they are extremely comfy and secure, so they can run around all day.  

Mixed butterfly hair clip set by George at Asda

Keep bouncy curls and long locks tidy with these bright and beautiful accessories from the George collection.The set of 2 hair clips and 2 hair bobbles will brighten up any hairstyle for the wedding day.   

Rustic wedding basket by Morgann Hill Designs on Etsy

This beautiful, naturally inspired flower girl basket is perfect for a garden or shabby chic wedding. Made of wood, handpainted in a distressed finish, it allows your little maids to carry a special message and sprinkle rose petals as you make your way down the aisle - so cute!  

Fashion Friday: Modern Wedding Fascinators

We love wedding traditions, and one of our favourite British ones is the fascinator. As with many traditions, however, as they age they can tend to get a bit stale. Many modern brides and wedding guests are ditching the fascinator altogether - but we don't think this time-honored tradition should die!

To do our part to save the fascinator, we've put together a collection of some of our favourite modern wedding fascinators (and close cousins), for brides and wedding guests alike. Happy Fashion Friday!

While these cover a range of styles and tastes, they all share some common elements: unexpectedness in design, simplicity, and a tasteful amount of volume. These all allow you to partake in the fascinator tradition without making national news. Jewelled hair pins or clips are also a great way to add a little something extra to your hairstyle if you don't feel daring enough to sport a full fascinator.

What do you think? Would these fascinators convince you to get with tradition? Or do you still plan to avoid them? Let us know by leaving a comment, or via Twitter (@WestWeddingsMag). If you have some of your own to share, build your own pinboard on Pinterest or Polyvore and share them with us. We would love to feature it on the blog!

Fashion Friday: Modern Wedding Fascinators by westweddings featuring a feather headband

Four Trends to Incorporate This Wedding Season

We here at West Weddings Mag do our best to keep an eye on the latest fashion trends, and we know our readers do too! Without putting together a particular ensemble, today we wanted to share our favourite 2014 fashion trends that we are trying to incorporate in our ensembles this wedding season.

What's your favourite 2014 fashion trend, and how are you wearing it? We'd love to know! Tweet us at @WestWeddingsMag or let us know by leaving a comment!

4 trends to incorporate at your next wedding by westweddings featuring a full length maxi skirt

1. Full length maxi skirt in rose

This maintains the elegance and sophistication of a full-length gown, without becoming over-done or fussy. It's also lightweight for summer, and its pretty sheer overlay keeps it from looking too staid. We can't get over this blush rose colour either. What do you think?

2. Gladiator high-heeled sandals

This trend is literally taking the gladiator-sandal look to the next level! The outfit you'd pair this with is quite different than the look you'd be going for with the maxi skirt, but nevertheless could be entirely wedding appropriate with a bodycon floral or pastel dress!

3. Cream and gold clutch

We couldn't leave out one of our favourite wedding accessories - clutches. This clutch is understated for summer, but would also transition well into autumn and winter because of its warm cream colour. We love the sleek gold accent as well, which leads us into our next trend...

4. Triangle necklace

With little bunches of pearls on either side, this necklace goes from being simply on-trend to being perfect for a wedding. Simple, understated, and so elegant. Perfect for a dress with a low neckline, or a strapless dress.

Fashion Friday: Favourite Etsy Finds!

Today for Fashion Friday we went to one of our favourite repositories of handmade and vintage items - Etsy! There we found several pieces that we just had to share with our readers - specifically those of you looking for something a little different or more special to be part of your wedding day.

Fashion Friday: Favourite Etsy Finds! by westweddings featuring a lace gown

1. Felt Flower Bouquet by Beaubuttons

We absolutely adore this non-traditional bouquet from London-based Beaubuttons. Not only will it add a creative touch to your big day, but it can be kept as an heirloom - something those of us who had traditional bouquets can only revisit through photos.

2. Couture Swarovski Headpiece by Millinery by Carrie

For a unique, handmade element to add to your bridal ensemble, we recommend this gorgeous piece from Millinery by Carrie. It features 500 Swarovski beads and can be customised in colour to suit your theme. The only thing that makes us like this even more is that it was made nearby in Bath!

3. Gold Skinny Wedding Bands by Fiona Earlam Jewellery

These solid gold hammered wedding bands are a great choice for their simplicity, elegance, and timeless design. They're also made nearby in Bristol, so you'll have the satisfaction of supporting a local business.

4. Lace & Chiffon Wedding Gown by Lianimal

This is our only choice that comes from outside the UK - but don't worry, they do ship here! This fantastic handmade gown is listed on Etsy by a New York-based designer. It layers delicate lace upon delicate lace, with a lightweight chiffon skirt. Fashionable and handmade - we don't think it gets much better than this.

Fashion Friday: A Sparkling Collection from The Bridal Room

Tucked away on the high street of pretty Bristol suburb Westbury-on-Trym, The Bridal Room stocks a range of exquisite wedding dresses. With designers including Charlotte Balbier, Amanda Wyatt, Alfred Angelo, Sophia Tolli and St Patrick, you'll be spoilt for choice, although the experienced staff will be on hand to guide you into finding the dress of your dreams.

For 2014, The Bridal Room is pleased to stock the latest gowns from designer Mori Lee, which features a collection of on trend bridal dresses. With romantic lines, opulent fabrics and a variety of silhouettes, the gowns in this collection are sure to offer you plenty of inspiration!

THE BRIDAL ROOM
40 High Street, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
T: 0117 908 9010 W: www.thebridesroom.co.uk

1862 - Simplicity at its best – this stunning fishtail gown, made from Alencon lace, will make you feel fabulous. For a more detailed finishing touch, you can also opt for a removable lace keyhole coverlet.

1908 - Oozing Hollywood glamour, this delicately beaded draped gown creates a beautiful silhouette. A V neck front and back will flatter everyone, and the column skirt gently drapes into a puddle train. There's also a detachable beaded belt, for an extra embellishment, and the dress comes in either white, ivory or champagne.

1960- Gorgeously romantic, delicate and sparkling – what more could you want from your wedding dress? Alencon lace over net forms the bodice of this dress, which then flows into a princess skirt. The back is equally pretty, with beautiful lace detailing adorning a V shape, plus a row of pretty buttons.

 

2612 - The beaded yoke on this mermaid gown makes for an unusual and eye-catching detail, while the ruching along the bodice and skirt creates a gown that hugs your curves in all the right places. This dress is available in white/silver and ivory/silver.

5213- Intricate beading on delicate chiffon creates a dress with a soft, A line silhouette. The delicate ruching at the waist and bodice is enhanced with beautiful crystal beading along the neckline and at the back of the dress, to add just the right amount of sparkle.

Fashion Friday: Dotty for You

This Fashion Friday collection centres around this sleek, tailored, white peplum top from House of Fraser, which we think creates an ultra-sophisticated look. Besides incorporating white into our ensemble, we've also broken another wedding tradition with these spotted trousers, which are the 'ying' to the 'yang' of the staid and grown-up top by adding in a bit of playfulness - after all, what is a wedding if not fun? We've paired them with some pops of colour in the clutch (from Debenhams), as well as some 80s'-vibe lavender nail polish and light pink lipstick.

Love? Hate? Let us know by leaving a comment, or via Twitter (@WestWeddingsMag)!

Top: House of Fraser, £140

Trousers: House of Fraser, £205

Shoes: Zara, £30

Clutch: Debenhams, £40

Cuff: Sass & Bide, £270

Lipstick: MAC, £15

Nail polish: OPI, John Lewis, £12

Fashion Friday: Dotty for You by westweddings featuring a peplum shirt

Fashion Friday: Coral Crush

Today's Fashion Friday features a collection put together on Polyvore by James Leaney Jewellery.

This look jumped off the page to us due to its simple and fresh spring palette, with a generous (but not too generous) helping of glamorous sparkle. These colours are perfect for spring, but also will work well throughout the summer, particularly with the festive hairband.

If you'd like to be featured on Fashion Friday, just create a set using a free Polyvore account and let us know in the comments or via Twitter!

Gown: Dolce & Gabbana, £960
Shoes: Christian Louboutin, £370
Bracelets: Forever21, £3.42
Earrings: Henri Bendel, £28
Hairband: American Eagle, £5.89

Coral Crush by jamesleaneyjewellery featuring a mini dress

Fashion Friday: Spotlight on Wedding World

There's no denying that fashion is a crucial element of any wedding - and therefore has a prominent role in wedding planning! Wedding World, in association with West Weddings, puts fashion centre stage in their wedding exhibitions (see dates and details below) by featuring two professionally-choreographed catwalk shows at each.

As you sip your complimentary glass of bubbly, take in a range of bridal fashion to suit classic, modern and vintage tastes. The shows feature everything from bridal gowns, dresses for mothers-of-the-bride, flower girls and bridesmaids, suits for the grooms, and even ensembles for the fashionable wedding guest (a concept that we love!).

To find out more, visit the catwalk page of Wedding World Exhibitions.

Fashion Friday: Silver Bridals

Silver Bridals is a bridal shop in Kingswood, Bristol that has been serving brides from the South West region since 2009, and are celebrating their fifth anniversary this year.

Lisa from Silver Bridals prides herself on helping brides select the perfect gown for them. And she truly goes the extra mile, promising that they won't sell you a dress until you're 100% satisfied with your choice. She knows what a big choice this is in a woman's life! Silver Bridals are also able to answer all your gown-related questions, and offer advise about fit, cut and shape, so that you leave with a dress that you know will flatter you completely.

For today's Fashion Friday we're excited to share some of our fashion favourites from among Silver Bridals' wide selection!

For further information:
Silver Bridals

Address:
12 Regent Street
Kingswood
Bristol
BS15 8JS

Telephone: 0117 961 3858
Email: enquiries@silverbridals.co.uk

www.silverbridals.co.uk