My Bridal Design Journey: Why I Chose to Dive into the Wedding Industry
The flourish of a pristine white veil, the details of a delicate neckline and the incomparable glow of a blushing bride as she walks down the aisle is a vision we all LOVE to see, right?
As an evening gown designer, I knew I wanted to delve into the wedding industry as soon as I had a little taste of it! Who wouldn’t want to play such a huge role in someone’s special day? Helping brides piece together their perfect look with a bespoke handmade gown is something I’m truly obsessed with, and I’m so glad I leapt into the world of bridal design with open arms.
What Do I Love About Weddings?
Weddings really bring out the best in people; the confidence of a bride, the happiness of the families and the general excitement in the air is magical! To play a tiny role in my clients’ love stories is so special, and it’s something I really hold closely to me. The reactions and emotions to a bride’s dress is probably my favourite part of an entire wedding. Seeing the smiles, tears and lustful gazes as a bride graces beautifully down the aisle in a dress that makes her feel so special, is an amazing feeling!
A Peep Into My Design Process
I love to be inspired by the things around me, so before I start designing I find a theme that is sparked by something close to me. I use my memories, experiences and life moments to craft dresses that have a history and personality behind them. Then I develop the idea by looking at textures, shapes and colour palettes that would work with the theme I’ve chosen. Searching for new and exciting fabrics and textiles is the next part of the design process which I absolutely love!
Once I have all of the pieces of the puzzle, I pull them together in a mood board and start sketching my designs. Whilst I’m sketching, I use a mannequin to drape, pin and pleat fabric; this really helps with the creative flow of the entire process.
I like to think that a design is never set in stone until the whole dress is complete. Details of the design may change as I’m pattern cutting or draping the fabric on the mannequin. All in all, it’s such an exciting and fulfilling process where I really get to channel my creativity and create collections that I know will make brides look and feel incredible on their wedding day.
My Advice For Brides
If you have just got engaged or you’re starting to look for your wedding dress, congratulations; this is truly one of the most exciting moments of your life!
I encourage all brides to have fun with dress shopping, and enjoy every single moment. Try not to feel stressed, and think of it as playing dress up - it’s the most fun you could possibly have! Channel your creativity, express your personality and make sure that your opinions are clear from the outset. Be open-minded and try on dresses you wouldn’t usually gravitate to; that’s the fun of the process, you can try on everything until you find one that you’re in love with!
Learn More About My Designs
So, that’s my story about delving into the wonderful world of bridal design. It is something I love doing every single day, so I hope you enjoy taking a peep behind the curtains of my design process.
If you want to have a chat about your upcoming wedding, I would absolutely love to connect with you. You can pop me an email at hello@leighalexandra.com, find me on Instagram at @leighalexandra_ and take a look at my bespoke process here too.
Speak soon,
