Ruth in Edwardian lace wedding dress – an enchanting vintage bride for 2016.

Dear Reader,
The Happiest of New Years to you! 
I'd like to start our 2016 with an enchanting vintage bride in the prettiest Edwardian wedding dress. Meet Ruth!

Ruth and Conor were married in late Summer at St Mary's Parish Church, Kilmood, County Down in Northern Ireland. Befitting this wonderful couple, their whole day has a beautiful handmade and simple vibe that perfectly suited the innocent charm of Ruth's beautiful Edwardian cotton lace wedding dress.

To complement her vintage wedding dress, Ruth wore a charming floral crown together with an elegant fingertip–length veil in silk tulle (the veil was handcrafted by the bride's talented mother!) The overall effect is simple and stunning.

The lovely, personal feel of their day continued inside the Church. Conor comes from a musical family, so Ruth walked down the aisle to a live performance by two family members of Simon and Garfunkel's The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy).

Their reception was held at Field of Dreams in Bangor, County Down. It's a stunning rural location – with a Scandinavian-style wooden lodge decked out in beautiful garlands, as well as marquee, meadow, lake and even a standing stone circle!

Inside a traditional canvas marquee – handsomely decked out with wooden tables, hay bales and floral garlands – a good friend played mixologist for the night, creating fresh juices and cocktails including Rhubarb Margaritas and Apple, Elderflower and Gin Rickeys. So good!

Groom Conor is a Fine Bench Joiner and Cabinet Maker and made the stunning maple and birch wood tables himself! (He's since sold half of them to a bar–restaurant in the French Alps, but the couple are determined to keep one as a memento of their fab day.) 

A wonderful, casual meal was followed by many hours of dancing to great music, courtesy of a band of friends and family. The first dance was to Twist and Shout by the Beatles and Ruth reports that after that she didn't stop dancing until the very end of the evening!

What a beautiful day! I'll leave the last word to our fabulous bride Ruth...

"Thank you again for helping me find the perfect vintage wedding dress. It was amazing – just wonderful! So comfortable, flowed beautifully when I walked and danced (and I did a lot of dancing!!) and it felt like it was made just for me. I received so many compliments. My dress really was such a big part of what made the day so special."

Thanks for visiting my vintage wedding blog, dear reader. I hope you'll pop back again. If you'd like to see more of Conor and Ruth's magical day, click here. And meanwhile, I wish you a magical 2016.
Love 
Helena 
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, check out…
Sophie in pretty 1950s lace wedding dress – and sneakers!
And try more Real Vintage Brides on my website, here.

Groom's suit by ASOS
Bridesmaids' dresses by In One Clothing
Flowers by Floral Creations
Photographs with thanks to Honey & the Moon Photography

Read more

Clare in 1960s-style lace wedding dress – our Vintage Bride of the Week.

Dear Reader,
Meet Clare – in 1960s-inspired lace wedding dress 'Stella'…

For her wedding to Ed, Clare teamed the all-lace Stella dress with a gorgeous 60s-style updo and fabulous super-high heels for a chic and slinky look. (Look close further down the post and you'll see she cleverly has a pair of flats on standby for dancing in!)

Clare talks about her experience of choosing the perfect vintage wedding dress…

"I found Helena on a last minute hunt for a dress after another option fell through. It was the most welcoming and relaxed experience. 

I shopped around a bit and didn't find anywhere else that offered such an individual and special approach. 

All Helena's dresses are beautiful and as well as finding the right dress for me I had a brilliant time trying on a selection – some vintage and other originals all made or altered by Helena. They're all unique and alterations are offered by another lovely lady called Grace who Helena works with. (I've already recommended them to many friends!) 

I loved wearing this dress on a day that I enjoyed more then I could possibly have imagined."

"I have never been a girl that has dreamt of the perfect wedding day or much of weddings at all to be honest but I absolutely loved it. I knew we'd have a lovely day but I had completely underestimated how very special it would be and as a memory always will be. 

To have all the people you love with you to celebrate your future together is like nothing else. A day full of smiles, warmth, tears and much much love, topped off with dancing into the early hours."

And let's give gorgeous vintage bride Clare the last word today,

"...Happy wedding days and future journeys where ever they may lead!"

Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, please try
My Top 7 vintage brides of 2014

And for more Real Vintage Brides, check out my website page here...

Read more

Vintage Bride of the Week Susie - beautiful in 1940s wedding dress 'Bette'

Dear Reader,

I promised a special Bride of the Week, and here she is: Susie, wearing 1940s 'Bette' dress from my Heavenly Collection. 

Susie wears the dress beautifully, teaming it with a charming mini veil and woodland flowers...

And thanks, Susie for your kind words...!

"Thank you so much for your fantastic dress designing skills! I knew as soon as I found your website that the Bette dress was for me!

 You made the dress trying on process so relaxed and fun and gave such good advice, it made everything so easy. I didn't go to any other dress shops or designers as I knew I didn't need to! Lots of people complimented me on my dress on the day - your designs are so brilliant. Thank you so much."

After featuring the dress on a model at the start of this week, and then indulging in a little Bette Davis inspirational moment, it's lovely to return to what it's really all about: a radiant bride on a perfectly happy day.

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, please try

Bette Davis, glamorous inspiration for the Bette dress.

Photography with thanks to Seth Baines

Read more

Real Vintage Bride Genevieve - Keeping it in the Family!

Dear Reader,

Today I'm specially pleased to show you gorgeous vintage bride Genevieve…

Vintage bride Genevieve in 1940s lace and satin wedding dress

Genevieve is one of four stunning sisters from a truly charming family. And Genny is the third sister who visited my London studio to find her perfect vintage wedding dress!

Champagne satin and beading on glamorous 1940s wedding dress

Genevieve chose a champagne-coloured satin 1940s wedding dress. It's a very glamorous dress with exquisite beading on the bodice and a long, long train with delicate lace inserts.

Real vintage bride Genevieve shines in her 1940s dress

Genevieve has such a lovely personality, and her 1940s dress was the perfect complement - allowing her graceful beauty to really shine. 

You may remember seeing more of Genevieve's family here on my blog and on my website. First, at sister Felicity's wedding (with bridesmaid Genevieve on the far right)...

Felicity in vintage cotton lace wedding dress, with bridesmaid sisters!

And then again at sister Molly's wedding...

And sister Molly wears gorgeous 1960s wedding dress with high neckline

Each sister has her own distinctive style. And as you can see each is a stunning bride! Charming mother Sue and Aunt Molly add to this remarkable family who were such a pleasure to work with. In Genevieve's kind words...

"I wanted to say a huge thank you for all your help in finding me my wonderful wedding dress! It was a perfect day and I felt beautiful in the dress and had so many compliments on it.  

The day really wouldn't have been the same without your help! I will of course be recommending you to everyone (not just for the family tradition!)"

What a family! I hope you've enjoyed seeing them. (And thanks to photographer Mairead McDaid.) Pop back next week for my Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2015.
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

For more Real Vintage Brides, check out my website page here...

Read more

1930s–style lace wedding dress 'Angel' for Vintage Bride of the Week, Rosemary.

Dear Reader, 
I have another gorgeous vintage bride to show you today. Meet Rosemary...

For her summer wedding, Rosemary wore 'Angel', the 1930s–inspired lace wedding dress from my Heavenly Collection.

With its flutter sleeves and deep v back, Angel is such a romantic dress. It perfectly suited Rosemary's graceful beauty. And we made it in a very special lace too...

This time we used the 'English net' style of lace – so pretty with its delicate trellises of flowers and bows. And as with most of our laces, it's an original 1930s design. It is remade exclusively for my Heavenly Collection, by its original Nottingham fine lace–makers.

Ros and her lovely mother Alison were a delight to work with – a charming and very stylish family. I loved the combination of jewel tones they chose for the bridesmaids' dresses, and for both Ros' and groom Vivek's families.

And now I'll let the pictures of Rosemary and Vivek's brilliant day speak for themselves...

1930s lace, jewel satins, woodland flowers… and a tuktuk! Thanks to Rosemary and Vivek for giving us a glimpse into their colour–filled day. 

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, please try…
1960s Lace Wedding Dress for Real Vintage Bride Suzanne

And for more amazing Real Vintage Brides, check out my website page here…

Rosemary's photos with thanks to Stephanie Swann Photography.

Read more