Before any of you think about DIY-ing your wedding styling, stationery, details and the like ask your self these questions.
Are you a designer Are you more than a bit talented? Do you have vision? Are you completely literate in the UK craft industry (oxymoron there!)? Do you have an understanding partner that will make flowers for you? Are you very determined? Precise? Exacting? Patience of a saint? Have you got the time – no really – a lot of time? If you answer yes to these questions you are probably Dawn. To create a the styling details for your wedding is a true labour of love and the truth of the timescale – more than a year!
As a girl with no fine motor skills, I can barely thread a needle, and no craft talent, when I upcycled a dresser I had to shower in white spirit, Dawn’s achievements are more than remarkable. The list of items Dawn made is staggering
In the end I made:
Most of the flowers (the wooden roses and the odd petrol coloured ones were bought and stuck on wire)
The Bouquets
The Buttonholes
The Stationery (signs, menus, instructions, name cards, sweet flags) (plus all the invites)
The Flower Balls on the posts (I didn’t get one of those back, they had names written in them and everything)
I carved initials in 2 pumpkins
All the hot chocolate mix favours
Cake Toppers, that sat in front of the cake
The beards in the prop box
Spray painted plastic woodland animals ( I thought the kids would like these, but they didn’t get a look in, my aunties took most of them. Who knew plastic animals could be so popular!)
Click through to the gallery to be inspired, astounded and amazed at the attention to detail and the pumpkins. We do love some squash and gourd action at Miss Bush.
The affinity with Miss Bush brides and barns continues. Barn architecture gives scale and drama but the oak makes it feel warm and relaxed.
I love lace worn in barns. It is such a traditional British fabric and works perfectly in the setting. Dawn’s dress is ivory corded lace, appliqued over pale point d’esprit tulle. That is ‘net with spots on’ for you fabric Philistines. Dawn’s dress hides a little secret. It is Maggie Sottero, so while the appearance is relaxed there is their world-class corsettry concealed at its depths.
Dawn also commissioned the brilliant in-house team at Miss Bush to make an illusion neckline top to go over the dress. Seasonal and sensational it looks perfect for autumn & modest for the ceremony.
Apparently the dress coped well with some serious dancing to Paramore and the Foo Fighters. Now that sounds like my idea of a wedding disco…
The greatest reward for a bride that has worked so hard to make the details so perfect for her guests must be receiving the love back from them. In Dawn’s words
The actual wedding felt so amazing, my friend Lydia had told me how she had never felt anything like it on her day, being surrounded by such warmth and happiness, and she was right.
So much did the guests love the details that when Dawn & Rob offered the guests the chance to take mementos there must have been a stampede. Off went the books, pumpkins, flowers and decorated jam jars with battery candles and they now sit in the homes of family and friends to be cherished for ever.
Huge thanks to Dawn & Rob for sharing their photos of what is a truly remarkable wedding. Keep that list of craft projects in your mind as you browse though the gallery and be amazed.
View the full gallery
Credits
Please click through to UK Handmade to get further craft inspiration, meet possible artists and suppliers and read Dawn’s reviews.
Photography: DK Photography
The Dress: Presca Marie by Maggie Sottero at Miss Bush Bridalwear
Emma xxx
Emma Meek, MD of Miss Bush Bridalwear
Miss Bush Bridalwear is Surrey’s leading designer bridal shop
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