Our Bridal Muse - Anne Marie

What a January , meeting new brides has been so invigorating. To explain - Sarah Foy brides are amazing, they love to be unique, march to their own beat and truly a dream to work with. This little lady Ann- Marie is no exception. From day one she had a vision of how she wanted to look and trusted that vision to me

What is your best memory of your wedding day?

My best memory of the day for me was straight after dinner we had drummers play they really put everyone into gear for the dance floor.

What is your advice to a bride to be?

Your going to have so many opinions. I would say write your dream day down at the beginning and when you feel yourself going of track to refer back to it.

What was your biggest worry about getting your dress made?

My biggest worry was that I wouldn’t find the right person to do it. But after finding Sarah from the very first meeting she put me at ease and I knew she was the one.

What part of the process of having your dress made was most fun for you?

Every time I went for a fitting I didn’t want to take off the dress. It was so amazing watching it come to life piece by piece my very own dress that no one has tried on before or even set eyes on - It was one of a kind.

Thank you Ann-Marie for sharing your truly unique day

The Dream Team

Our photographer was Susan Jefferies www.sjphotography.ie

Our Videographer was Adrian Carton www.amcfilms.ie

Our hair was Mia Kane 086 888 4894

Make up was Lesley Nugent 083 863 4761

Our Venue was Rock Farm Slane http://rockfarmslane.ie.


Our Bridal Muse - Amy

Creating embellishments is my favorite part of making a brides dress. Developing a unique design for our brides every single time. Amy wanted a bodice detailed with 3D flowers pearls and crystals - Your wish was my command.

What is your best memory of your wedding day?

There are so many, its hard to pick one. I actually loved having our pics taken. It was a little time to ourselves after a very emotional and nerve racking morning. Our photographer was great, we had lots of giggles, the chance to talk about the day so far and spend a bit of time together, I finally felt totally relaxed.

What is your advice to a bride to be?

Just really try to chill and be in the moment. Easier said than done I know. Everyone says how quickly the day goes by but you just can’t comprehend how true that is, blink and its gone.

What was your biggest worry about getting your dress made?

I didn’t have a worry, Sarah made me feel totally at ease. I had gone and bought a dress previously and realized it was not ‘the one’. After a chat with Sarah I felt confident selling it and leaving my ideas for my dream dress with her

What part of the process of having your dress made was most fun for you?

 I loved the regular fittings and seeing it come together… really felt a part of the dress being made and it kept up the excitement.

The Dream Team

Our suppliers were all amazing. We got married at Coolbawn Quay in Tipperary and the staff there went so out of their way to ensure everything run smoothly and everyone was having a great time. They also did their very best to calm me down and take any extra tasks off my hands, cannot recommend them enough. The food was also out of this world and people are still talking about the lamb 3 months later.

Our photographer Derek - Memento photography had us giggling and feeling relaxed all day. He was also really quick so we didn’t miss much of the reception and had plenty of time with our loved ones. When we received the photographs it brought back the whole day, he caught so many natural moments and that is exactly what we were looking for.

Hair by Joanne, Nenagh. Joanne was so great on the morning of the wedding. Kept everyone calm and managed to please four very different bridesmaids.

Make up  Jane Greely

Videographer  Blat Garcia, Edithouse

Flowers Elizabeth Rose, Nenagh

Band Poplife really did make our day… we had to of them play the ceremony and reception drinks and then the full band on the night. Absolutely loved them and all of our guests commented how great they were.

I loved our fittings too Amy, designing for you was a dream.


A year in pictures

For me pictures speak volumes - I’m a visual girl so what better way to sum up my year.  

Wishing you all a wonderful 2019  

Our Bridal Muse - Fiona

How do you have it all? How can you have a romantic dress and a slinky evening wear style ? How can you incorporate the lovely details you have pinned on your secret Pinterest board ? Todays bridal muse Fiona was exactly like you. She had a dream of what she wanted to wear on her wedding day and I helped her to bring those ideas to life.

What is your best memory of your wedding day?

Myself and my husband walking around the streets of Sorrento (Italy) town with our photographers. By that stage we were more comfortable having our photos taken and most of my nerves had subsided after the ceremony. It was lovely having some time together and having so many passers by congratulate us and compliment me on my dress. I had removed my overskirt for this part of the day so it was easy to walk around in the main slimmer fitting dress and I didn't get overheated at all.

What is your advice for a bride to be?

This is by no means unique advice as I myself had heard it so many times before my actual wedding but it is "enjoy ever second as its over so fast". Also, don't care what anyone thinks, its your day, as you've invested so much time, money and energy planning it, you want to enjoy every moment and have no regrets, for instance if your nervous remind yourself this is what you wanted and enjoy all the attention as you only get one day! Also, enjoy all the lead up to the wedding as much as possible while it lasts, as everyone is so interested and happy for you and your hubby to be!

What was your biggest worry about getting your dress made?

That what I wanted overall wouldn't work, as I would have liked various aspects of different dresses that I had previously tried on but no one dress had it all! Sarah knew exactly what I had in mind when I showed her some photos from my Pinterest board. I had confidence that Sarah would advise on what would work and not work all throughout the design process and at each fitting I might have had a new idea to run by her, and I always worried that I was asking for too much or being too fussy, but Sarah was open to all my ideas along the way and would always say that we can try this and see if it works and if not we can remove that part.

What part of having your dress made was the most fun for you?

Having my own input into my dress was the most exciting as I ended up with exactly what I wanted and was able to merge different styles and end up with something modern, romantic, with vintage aspects and overall unique. I also enjoyed attending the fittings every couple of months with my mam and/or mother in law to be. We would make an afternoon of it and go for lunch somewhere nearby afterwards or a walk on Bull Island. It was exciting being able to share this with them and talk about the progress that had been made with the dress after each appointment.

The Dream Team

Location Sorrento in Italy

Hair and makeup Joanna Falanga www.makeupartistsorrento.com

Photographer Enzo Campitelli

Wedding planner Sorrento Sunland - They were extremely organised and provided visibility from the start on prices unlike a lot of other wedding planners that I had contacted. Sorrento Wedding Planner (@sorrentosunland) • Instagram photos and videos

Dream location and dream wedding thank you so much Fiona for sharing your day with us. It was such a pleasure to work with you and bring your vision alive

Have you got a dress in mind that you want to create for your wedding? This is what I love to do so drop me an email now info@sarahfoycouture.com

Creatives We Love - Noeleen At EF Creative Studios

Make up is another big decision to be made for the big day. You need someone that knows their stuff, that can create your imagined look, but that also compliments your natural features. You just need to take a look at todays creative Noeleen Cunningham’s Instagram feed to see that you would be in safe hands. Today she shares with us her inspiration and work.

Who is your bride?

I think I'll have to say Megan Markle. Since I did Megan's make up 3 years ago, I get a lot of requests for her look. What is not to love about a timeless, elegant and natural look. But truthfully, it's a really difficult question to answer as every bride is unique. I think that's what I love most about bridal makeup, the character and personality of each bride, our partnership to create a look that helps them feel amazing. This is our ethos at EF Creative Studios, tailor making looks that capture a bride's true personality. I also love being involved in one of the most important moments of their lives.

When do you feel most creative?

As a deaf make up artist living in a world without sound, my whole life revolves around my visual sense. Nature, the changes in seasons and the colours of the earth have always inspired me when it comes to creating mood boards. I love bringing this inspiration into my work, I have created signature bridal looks which we will be launching soon.

How do you feel meeting a new bride to be?

At the trial, I always feel a little nervous as I am keen to give my brides exactly what they are looking for. On the big day, I always feel calm and relaxed as myself and my bride know the look we are going for and I just need to ensure that she has the best day ever. The bridal trial is crucial for me, as I can't hear the sound of the bride's voice over the phone I rely on seeing them in person to get a sense of who they really are, allowing me to harness their natural beauty. I love it when brides bring photos or inspiration with them, it is so exciting to watch the spark in their eyes as they describe the look they want.

What do you like to hear from a bride?

I absolutely love it when I'm asked, ''can you do this?'' as they show me a photo or describe a look they want. I love the artistic licence this allows me. No look will be the exact same on two different people and no two people are the exact same so I have the opportunity to use their natural beauty and my makeup skills to create a look that will be unique to each bride.

How did you find your calling?

I have always been extremely creative and enjoyed working with people. Initially I worked in fashion design and child care before finding my true calling of being a makeup artist. I also enjoyed a brief stint of a modelling representing Monaghan in the Rose of Tralee in 2005. I soon realised that I preferred being the artist rather than the canvas. I moved into makeup because I loved the connection with people. I initially worked as a freelance hair and makeup artist, but joined the EF Creative Studios team a couple of years ago. It is so brilliant to be part of an amazing team of creative artists, we learn from each other and push each other to try new products and techniques and be the best artists we could possibly be.

Thank you Noeleen for sharing with us. Want to see more? Check out Noeleen’s instagram feed for your bridal make up inspiration - @noeleenmua or www.efcreativestudios.com

Our month in pictures - March

Snow days hit the studio this month again but spring is starting to appear day by day. The rails are at busting point in the studio which signals summer wedding season is on the way.

Bridal Muse

Snow days are finally coming to an end here at HQ. But I had to share our first bridal muse of 2018. A blush and gold dress paired with a herringbone wool cape, beautifully captured at this Canadian wedding - snow included. Creating this dress was fun and exciting, our bride Naomi a pleasure to work with has shared her tips for the big day and having her dress made.

What is your best memory of your wedding day? 

It’s a cliché but the wedding day really is a blur to me, a happy blur, but it goes by so quickly! I really loved our ceremony, it really stands out to me as something really meaningful, it was very tailored to us as a couple and resulted in a lot of laughs from everyone and also lots of tears (but the good kind). My all-time favourite moment of the day though was during the wedding party photos; we had a winter wedding and my shoes were definitely not well suited for the snow! It was so cold on the day but we all had so many laughs outside and just kind of goofed around (complete with a really ill thought out snowball fight, luckily no one’s outfit was ruined) and my new husband had to help me as I slipped and slid all over the snow which resulted in a lot of laughs for us. It was so lovely for us to have a moment of silliness and fun between ourselves, but also with our very closest friends, it was really special.

What is your advice to a bride to be? 

I planned a wedding long distance (living in Ireland and the wedding was in Canada), while working full time, and doing my masters part time- it was a lot, but it is doable! It all worked out because I tried my best to organise my time really well- I scheduled time for planning and doing wedding things whenever I could and that really helped balance everything.

I would also advise to really think about who you ask to be in your bridal party-I kept it to a small group, which is not for everyone of course, but this meant I really had my best girls on the job. I was a fairly laid back bride (or at least I hope I was!) but I needed help sometimes and my bridesmaids were always ready to help out with anything they could, came up with ideas and solutions and were really supportive and involved, that really made the whole process so stress free and even fun.

The last thing I would advise is really remember that this day is about you as a couple, if you want something a bit more non-traditional or different (like I did with my dress, or we did with our ceremony) and people aren’t receptive or happy about your choices, try not to take it to heart. On the day you’ll be happier you went with something that is truly you and the people who didn’t like the ideas you had will completely come around.

What was your biggest worry about getting your dress made?

Before starting the process I wasn’t sure how everything would work out because I wanted something unique, but also something that looked bridal. I was worried that wouldn’t be possible, and that I’d end up with something too far one way or the other which would make me look either too much like someone I’m not, or just way wacky and out there and not like a bride at all. Also, as a “plus size” bride, I really struggled initially to find anything I liked on me in the shops, I was worried the same would be for any dress I got made and that the look which I had in my head would look horrible on me. Happily none of these fears turned out to be true, having an expert there to guide the process and tease out the concepts in my head was an amazing process and the result was fantastic!

What part of the process of having your dress made was most fun for you?

To be honest, I loved every bit of it! Getting the first sketches was so exciting-even though we went a bit different from the initial ideas it was so amazing to see exactly what I had in my head set out on paper. Choosing the fabrics was also amazing because I wanted a dress which was a bit on the non-traditional side and finding this lovely blush colour and the subtle gold lace to go with it was just so amazing, it was exactly what I wanted- still very bridal, but something different as well! Seeing it all come together bit by bit was just so exciting, by the time we were getting near the end I absolutely couldn’t wait to wear it. I got so many compliments on the day, from everyone there and even from friends of friends whom I didn’t even know but who saw photos on Facebook and Instagram! I really loved having something unique which reflected me as a person but which was also really stunning!

A big thank you Naomi for sharing her tips and her wedding day with us. I don’t believe any bride could regret putting their own personality and style into their wedding. It is vital to do what makes you and your partner happy, everything and everyone else comes second - a great way to start married life.

 

Naomi's Dream Team

Photography: Gillian Foster Photography - http://www.gillianfoster.ca/

Hair and Makeup: Bridal Beauty, Niagara-on-the-Lake - http://www.mobilebridalbeauty.com/

Shoes: Irregular Choice - https://www.irregularchoice.com/eu/

Venue: Prince of Wales Hotel, Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario, Canada - http://www.vintage-hotels.com/princeofwales/

Behind the Scenes

On a January evening three weeks ago I sat down on my couch utterly exhausted. My phone beeped -  an email from Aisling at Butterfly photography with just one picture from the day. Breathtaking, it had been a busy day but it was all worth it for that one amazing image.

Butterfly Photography

Today we give you a behind the scenes look at our latest photoshoot.

Inspiration for the day started back in November last year. A meet up with Stacey from Making Faces Gorey got us all excited to collaborate again. How did we collect our ideas? I love Pinterest so that's always a good starting point for me - check out our Pinterest board.

I wanted warmth, tranquility. I choose soft tulle in warm gold, heavy silk crepes in creamy tones and finally luxurious silk velvet in pale pink. From there I draped and played with the fabric till a dress was formed.

The day began early with fires burning at Murphy's Barn to keep Prima model Natalia warm while Catriona from Headrush.ie and Stacey from Making Faces Gorey worked their magic.

Event stylist and florist Sharon from Frog Prince Events was let loose on the Barn. Spending hours transforming the venue into the most beautiful wedding scene. While also whipping up our bouquet and floral crown .....one amazingly talented lady

It's was our photographer Aisling's idea to take a trip to the beautiful Raven Nature Reserve and Curracloe beach. Teamed with the amazing weather and Butterfly photography's talent these images where dreamy perfection.

To finish of our wedding scene. The super talented Jen from Cupcakes and Counting supplied us with her stunning three tier cake. Which got the styling treatment with Sharon at Frog Prince Events. With wedding stationary from Wedding Fusions.

So much fun working with all of these super talented artists. When let loose to imagine and create their magical touch shines through. Check their work out below

Venue - Murphy's Barn

Model - Prima Model Natalia

Hair - Cathriona at Headrush

Make up - Stacey at Making Faces Gorey

Photographer - Aisling and Dan from Butterfly photography

Event Stylist - Frog Prince Events

Cake - Cupcakes and Counting

Stationary - Lula at Wedding Fusions

 

 

 

Creatives at Work

Camelia from Austen Flowers

Picture an empty room with exposed stone work walls, wooden floors and a large cable window. The first time I worked with Camelia was at a photoshoot at the Old Deanary in Ferns, Co. Wexford. She was let loose on this room for an hour and transformed it into wedding bliss. Delicate winter flowers on the table dressing and creeping vines along the walls to bring the surrounding nature into the room - that is talent. So where does Camelia draw her inspiration from and how does she go about finding the right combination for your wedding

Photo by Butterfly Photography

Who is your bride?

Being based in the picturesque Wicklow countryside and with a background in horticulture, my floral style is natural, loose, organic, full of textural foliage and architectural twigs and other foraged finds, so my bride is a nature loving person, adventurous, stylish, travelled, hunts unusual floral designs and is not afraid to be ‘different’.

When do you feel most inspired?

The more quirky and unusual the brief, the more exiting the project becomes. Each wedding is approached as a blank canvas: we start with a mood board of images (not necessary of flowers) and develop a theme. The next step is choosing the perfect seasonal flowers for the designs (I insist on seasonal, both from an environmental and cost view).

I feel very lucky to work in an ever changing environment and the inspiration can come from the most unexpected places: the pattern of a scarf, the icing of a cake, the colours of a comic, and the texture of a feather…

How do you feel meeting a new bride to be?

The flowers are such a new and unknown subject for many of my brides. Our consultations are a flutter of ideas, images, mood boards, fresh flowers – we start from ‘I have a vague idea of what I want’ and finish with ‘I know that you will bring my vision to life’. My relation with most of my brides starts as a client and ends as a friend. The process of designing the wedding flowers involves a long conversation (in a virtual medium most of the time) that, by the time I deliver the bridal flowers, I fell that we have known each other for a lifetime.

What do you like to hear from a bride?

I’ll keep it simple: ‘I trust your artistic flair and I am happy to leave the whole creative process in your hands.’‘ Is there anything you can’t do?’ because the answer would be that, in floral terms, the impossible doesn’t exist (I just love a challenge!)

How did you find your calling? 

I suppose I had a love of nature since I can remember. I use to spend my holidays with my Granny in the countryside and her love of gardening and outdoors was my greatest inspiration. From there followed a 5 year degree in Horticulture and a Masters in Plant Protection. After a short stint in my mother’s ‘Louise Austen Catering’ company in Wicklow and several experiences both with creative freelance floral designers and florist shops in Dublin and Wicklow, I established my creative venture, Austen Flowers, and, as they say, I never looked back.

 

Thank you Camelia for share insight into you passion. Check out Austen Flowers

www.austenflowers.ie
https://www.facebook.com/austenflowers/
https://www.instagram.com/austenflowers/
 

Flowers are such a beautiful tradition for weddings. From a simple bouquet to a grand top table display. Are flowers top of your wedding list wants? Or are you overwhelmed with the choices and combinations out there. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and see if we can help