We now live in a world where (almost) anything is possible, and making your wedding day personal to you is now a must for brides and grooms across the world – no matter what your style. Going bespoke, getting creative yourself or customising your wedding dress are all options when planning your big day. Today we catch up with Jan Knibbs from Atelier 19 who gives us some top tips, ideas and inspiration about how to customise your wedding dress or outfit so it fits in with your style and theme perfectly – giving you the freedom to be truly you on your wedding day.
How To Customise Your Wedding Dress with Atelier 19
Inspiration
“Be yourself and think about what inspires you, you might have a favourite band. The bride that had this outfit customised for her was a big Stevie Nicks fan so chose this look as her primary inspiration. You might be inspired by an advert or photograph you come across. My first wedding was initially inspired by an iconic Mateus Rose advert by the romantic photographer Sarah Moon who also created the adverts for Biba.”
Your Old and New
“Don’t be afraid of mixing old and new, even something left over from your Mum’s or Granny’s wedding might be able to be customised. There are some beautiful lace petticoats and bodices online or in specialised Vintage shops that could work really well with something modern. This can create a real unique and edgy look if done properly – think of the images of Kate Moss wearing a lace dress and biker leather jacket.”
Go Shopping
“Ask your friends for help and advice, especially if you have one whose opinion you trust! A couple of girly days out looking for inspiration can be great fun and a good excuse for some shopping. A few visits to the right Wedding Fairs can also offer lots of inspiration and is a good way to source the right suppliers.”
Get Creative
“If you don’t have any creative friends (or you don’t trust their judgement), find a designer/stylist who you feel is on your wavelength or shares a similar aesthetic. Here at Atelier 19 we specialise in embellishment, often vintage inspired, ethical and a bit quirky. As I specialise in couture embroidery rather than one product in general, I pride myself that I look at the whole outfit. I also work with other designers, in particular Gemma Sangwine and Monique Kyraciou we can honestly make anything and we love nothing better than making sure everything coordinates.”
Accessories
“Commission a few accessories from a designer to pull it all together. The bride that wore this outfit came to me with a dilemma. She had ordered a dress from Etsy but when it came, it was shorter than she thought it would be and there were a couple of things that weren’t quite right. I had a vintage flower crown that she fell in love with, this ultimately set the colour scheme for her whole outfit. I suggested making a sash and shoe buckles with ribbon work flowers and a petticoat from a lace 1920s dress which I already had. She didn’t really want to carry a bouquet so I suggested an embellished hoop and she chose some of her favourite Stevie Nicks lyrics which I embroidered on the front. I also made hair ornaments for her bridesmaids which gave the bridal party a cohesive look.”
Embellishment
“Have your dress embellished or personalised. There’s no reason why you can’t buy a plain dress off the peg and have it embellished by a designer (like me) to make it more personal and unique. I’ve done this many times adding embroidered flowers, leaves, bees, butterflies or whatever takes your fancy. I can also embroider words, names, dates, lines of poetry or song lyrics.”
To Bouquet or Not to Bouquet
“Think about what you’re going to carry. Not everyone wants a traditional bouquet. You could carry a hoop with an embroidered message as this bride did, a bouquet of paper flowers, a parasol or even a mosaic bird or a fabulous fairy (all available at Atelier 19).”
Shoes
“Don’t forget the shoes! A lot of brides concentrate on their dress and hair accessories but forget to make sure their footwear also matches everything. This bride had already decided that she wanted to wear some bright green Doc Martens on her big day, partly as she was getting married in a field, and partly because they suited her personality. I suggested adding floral shoe buckles which instantly pulled the whole wedding outfit together and made them more special and “weddingy”! The buckles were completely detachable as I added a brooch back and hair clip to each one meaning they could be worn again and again as a lovely reminder of her very special customised day.”
The Team – How To Customise Your Wedding Dress
Photography – Danniella Jaine Photography
Dresses and Accessories – Atelier 19
Model – Lottie Tarrant
Hair and Make up – Nadezhda Hardiman
Mosaic bird – China Jack Mosaics
Venue – Confetti Fields for The Real Flower Petal Confetti Company
Not sure on whether you want to customise your wedding dress but want more wedding dress ideas and inspiration? Check out Embroidered and embellished wedding dresses for the creative bride
