I just can’t believe that we’re in our 14th year of dressing Brides and Grooms from all around the Essex region. Our little wedding dress shop may be based in Colchester but actually, we attract Brides and Grooms from every corner of the South East region which includes Norfolk Brides, Suffolk Brides, Kent Brides and Surrey Brides too! You know once we had a Bride fly in from Dubai to try and then buy a dress from us, we’ve also looked after a Bride who flew in from Paris and Amsterdam!!! How cool is that!?! I guess when money is no object you can just select where you want to go and then boom...how amazing is that!
Inevitably lots of our Brides are from Colchester and Essex and lots of our weddings actually take place in Essex too but there is a big trend these days for couples to marry out of their home area too. We find that Brides and Grooms love combining a special wedding with a holiday! After all what's not to love about saying ‘I do’ in guaranteed sunshine and then relaxing on an instantaneous honeymoon for a few weeks? Favourite locations include Santorini, Italy, and France.
Closer to home, we are so blessed that Essex and surrounding is blessed with some incredible wedding venues. There are a few new ones that have sprung up including the gorgeous Villiers Barn, wow what a stunning barn that it! Plus East Mersea Hall is looking fantastic under its new owners and management. Then, of course, you have all the other amazing venues that Essex boasts including The Fennes, Vaulty Manor, Gosfield Hall, Prested Hall, Eastern Grange, Hengrave Hall, The Compasses at Pattiswick, Layer Marney Tower, Channells, Eastern Grange, Houchins, Milsoms, The Lion Inn, Wivenhoe House, Colchester Castle and Colchester Town Hall, Jimmy's Farm, Maidens Barn, Smeetham Barn, That Amazing Place, High House, Newland Hall, Blake Hall, Leez Priory, Kegrave Hall, Milsoms, The White Hart at Yeldham, Copdock Hall, Braxted Park, Woodhall Manor and Crondon Park…. This isn’t all of them! There are so many! Cripes now who haven’t I included???.... In terms of the trends for weddings in 2020 we all know that ‘Boho’ has been the buzz word in weddings for some time. Whilst engaged couples of today strive for self-expression and wedding individuality, there’s a definite trend towards relaxed but ultra-beautiful bohemian style celebrations. This is still very much a popular theme and look right now.
Thematically think outdoor ceremonies, fairy-lit tipis, photos in woodland areas and stunning beamed barn venues and flower-filled meadows! ‘boho chic’ is on the rise and the boho bridal wedding dress trend isn’t dwindling any time soon! Some of the above wedding venues really lend themselves to this style of wedding, am sure if you’ve started your research and you’re looking to enjoy a boho, relaxed style wedding then you’ll quickly see which wedding spaces will work for your theme. So in terms of the dress, if it’s a relaxed boho bridal vibe that you want to achieve - what do you need to look for? Well, bohemian-inspired dresses are usually made in relaxed fabrics that offer movement and softness. Tulle is the top choice, often combined with lace, embroidered appliques and floral textural features or patterns that echo the outdoors. Avoid stiff and shiny fabrics such as satin, taffeta or mikado and swerve the strikingly plain gowns - think detail and think texture. If when you start trying on dresses you find that tulle and lace are too fussy then look for a chiffon based gown as an option, because when combined with a just a touch of lace or tulle a boho look can still be achieved.
Shape wise; aim to try on dresses with fuller skirts (circular cut) or full a-line skirts that can be scooped up and thrown around to party in! When selecting dresses to try on, bear in mind that a boho wedding dress usually evokes a sense of whimsical wonder plus movement is important and overall the dress will feel romantic and free.
In terms of pulling your finished look together through accessories, hair styling, flowers and jewellery; avoid matching everything too flawlessly. Collaboration and a sense of togetherness are important but without perfection! Hair needs to be softly styled and flower crowns and hair vines are really popular.
Finally, whether you opt for vows barefoot in the sunshine or devoted I do’s in a walled garden remember there are no rules in planning your wedding and creating your bridal look. Instagram and Pinterest is a great source of inspiration but it’s your time to shine, do it your way and take the opportunity to express your beautiful bridal individuality.
Good luck with your wedding planning, on selecting your gorgeous venue and for shopping for your amazing look. Ping us a message or get in touch if you need any help at all with any aspect of your wedding, we’ll help and advise in any way that we can. Love from Abi & the team xx