Easy going January - Our month in pictures

Having eased myself into the first few weeks of the New Year I had time to step back think review and plan the future for Sarah Foy Couture. Lots of fun projects ahead including new collections of my new accessories line and a new dress line. I loved working on the blog in 2017 and want to give brides to be more and more. So watch this space as I start answering all those questions about your dress.

Dreaming and planning my next collaboration with Butterfly Photography.

Here is a collection of pictures that sum up January 2018 in the studio

  1. Instagram love from @elishaclarkephotography of our bride Sarah's grey simmer dress
  2. Our stunning bride @aislingmkeenan still dreaming of her wedding dress
  3. Pattern work begins on our new projects 
  4. Finishing touches to our summer 2018 brides begin
  5. Excitement as new fabrics start arriving in the studio
  6. Teaming up with the ladies in One Fab Day to give away a custom made accessory for a luck bride
  7. Colour hits the studio - 2018 brides rocking strong colour gowns
  8. Dramatic custom made cape for our December bride 

Creatives at work - Butterfly Photography

It is a delight to work with this months creative. I have been so lucky to have collaborated with Ashling on editorial photoshoots over the years and her work is incredible. Everyone of her images capture something special, a mood, a feeling, it is captivating. So today I introduce to you Butterfly Photography and their beautiful work.

Who is your bride?

The immediate thing that springs to mind is self-assured. Our brides tend to have an amazing network of lifelong friends, who they have had life adventures with, and travelled and lived with.  Along the way, these friends have provided an incredibly loving and supportive system in which each of these ladies have grown up to be confident, happy and so much fun. They bring you into this wonderful dynamic with open arms, and their men are so obviously in love with these fierce and fabulous women.  We’ve been lucky enough to be invited back by the ladies of these friendship groups to document each of their celebrations and it really is a joy to see them time and time again.

When do you feel most inspired?

Oooohh! When we’re in front of love. Gosh, I can’t tell you how excited I get when a couple realise that they JUST GOT MARRIED. When they realise that all their planning has paid off, and they just dive into enjoying the moment and the day that’s in it. It’s when they’re laughing away to each other, or pulling into an embrace when I’m dancing around them, clicking away, with an ear-to-ear grin.  It’s why I’m in this business – the love and connections we witness at weddings. Whether that be between a couple, a father and daughter, a grandfather and grandson, or a couple and their pooch - Hopeless romantic here.

How do you feel meeting a new bride to be?

Nervous as hell. I’ve always been shy and I’m definitely not a natural salesperson, but after a few minutes I relax and can’t wait to hear about all the wedding plans, how they met, and how the dress hunting is coming along. 

What do you like to hear from a bride?

If a couple is getting married in a stunning location (Wicklow Mountains, Ring of Kerry, near a beach – you get the idea) and they’re up for adventuring for an hour, I am in HEAVEN. We LOVE exploring the gorgeous countryside with our couples.

We also love to hear them say they’re not fussed about group photos. We always insist on the immediate family photos and one with grandparents, but apart from that we advise our couples to enjoy the drinks reception while we run around capturing candids and impromptu group shots. Trying to organise a long list of big group shots can be a nightmare and mean the couple is stood waiting for an hour while people are sent off to find those guests who are gone to the bar/bathroom/hotel room. Not fun for the newlyweds.

www.butterflyphotography.ie

How did you find your calling? 

Both myself and Dan trained as architects (it’s how we met – at uni), but I fell out of love with the profession after about 3 years, and didn’t know what else to do.  It wasn’t until after our own wedding that I fell in love with this whole industry.  So I stole Dan’s camera, took a couple of night classes in the local college, devoured a few books, found a few couples who took a chance on me, and I haven’t looked back since.  Best decision I ever made!

 

Thank you Ashling for sharing your passion for photography. It shines through in all your work. 

Check out more of  Butterfly photography

www.butterflyphotography.ie

hello@butterflyphotography.ie

Or hit them with some love over on

Instagram @weddingsbybutterfly

Facebook @Butterflyphotographic

Twitter @ButterflyUKEire

Timeless pieces, handcrafted with passion.

I have been very lucky to have inherited some beautiful jewellry from my great grand mother - a seamstress and my own much loved nana. Two simple rings, beautifully crafted pieces that I cherish dearly. I have come to see them as part of my history, something to pass to my daughter that will tell her a story, connecting her with these amazing women.

Captured by Paul from Moat Hill Photography 

Somewhere in those first hazy months of new mother hood a spark of an idea came. I dreamt of designing a collection of very special pieces. Garments that would become heirlooms. Irish designed and crafted, that would be worn again and again. Wearing them would bring back memories of a special day, a moment in time to be cherished.

This spark grew into my first accessories collection. I have designed accessories for my brides over the years but this gave me the opportunity to explore new ideas and create something to treasure. These statement pieces are designed to complete a brides wedding look whether to highlight their dress or add the finishing detail. But also to be worn again and again.

So it may have taken longer then expected - thank you baby Niamh for keeping me busy. But 2 years later I finally launched the first of my accessory collections. Each piece will be made to order through our online shop, hand crafted with passion and loved well past the wedding day.

Amazing picture of our Super Star Cape by Johanna King Photography 

Smock Alley

What better way to spend a November Monday morning in Dublin then in the beautiful Smock Alley Theatre. This was the scene for a day long creative shoot with the best of the best wedding suppliers in Ireland last week.

Starting nice and early at EF Studios for hair and makeup transformation. Super talented early birds Emma Farrell and a Michelle O’Halloran whipped model Katelyn into shape for the day ahead. But the star of the show was Sean Emma's beau!

Frog Prince Events supplied the beautiful flowers and table wear. 

Paul from Moat Hill Photography capturing every bit of light through those spectacular stain glass windows of Smock Alleys Banquet Room.

Jen and Jay from Cupcakes and Counting helping us out as well as delivering the stunning wedding cake 

Karen from The Parlour Press designed the most beautiful wedding stationary to add the finishing touch to our bridal shoot 

Want to check out more behind the scenes from the day here are The Dream Teams instagram handles  

Wedding Gowns @sfoycouture. 

photography @moathillphotography

Forals and events @frogprinceevents

Venue @smockalleytheatre

Hair @moh_hairdesign

Make up @efcstudios

cake @cupcakesandcounting

stationary @parlourpressweddings

model @primamodels @katelyncass

 

More to come next week on what we where photographing on this shoot- exciting news!

Travelling With The Dress

Bright blue skies, golden beaches and beautiful scenic views. There are a list of reasons why we love a wedding abroad - weather being number one on that list. So if you are dreaming of your french chateau wedding or a cosy winter adventure I have put together what you need to know for transporting your dress.

Photo by Butterfly Photography

Ask the designer

You can transport your dress two ways. A bridal garment bag which would usually be provided to you when you pick your dress up. I always scellotape the hanging loops of the dress to the hanger if I know a bride is traveling, this stops the dress from falling off. Be sure the hanger is strong and that the garment bag has a loop at the bottom. This way the bag can fold in half to make it easier to move around.

Your second option would be to pack the dress into a carry on suitcase. This works for simpler styles. Line the suit case with a bed sheet or tissue paper. Then fold the dress hem first into the case. Ideally you want to pack your carry on with anything you can’t replace for the wedding - dress, shoes, underwear.

When you arrive at your destination find a place to hang your dress up high. Take the train out of the bag. Most dresses will crease a little and simply need to hang for 24hours and they will drop out. You can let steam at your dress say from a shower or bath for any stubborn creases.

Plan ahead a little if you feel the dress will need a press before the big day. Ask your wedding planner or hotel to recommendation a dry cleaners and arrange to have it steamed on arrival

Ask the wedding planner

Rosie from weddingplanner.ie has kindly past on her advice for traveling with your dress. Having planned over 200 weddings abroad in over 20 countries is she most definitely an expert.

-Check with your airline about carrying your dress onboard as hand luggage. 
-Don't pack it in as checked in luggage in case your bag gets lost.
-Check with your hotel if they have a steaming service to get any creases out when you arrive or can they recommend a dry cleaners that can do it. 
-If you are having a Catholic Church wedding, keep in mind they can be stricter abroad about attire. So no bare shoulders or low backs or cleavage showing for the bride, bridesmaids and guests. A veil can sometimes do or get your dress maker to make a light bolero which can be removed after the ceremony

Ask the airlines

The policy for airlines change all the time and I often find that I need to email them every summer to get the most up to date information for my brides. So this is relevant for 2017 but I would double check before booking your flight and again before traveling.

Aerlingus

We do allow guests to carry wedding dresses on board dresses as cabin baggage. https://www.aerlingus.com/travel-information/baggage-information/special-items/
Please note we don’t have a specific area on board to stow these but we advise guests to speak a member of our cabin crew once they board the flight and they will assist as best they can.
Paula Donaghy, Consumer PR Specialist

Ryanair

If your wedding dress fits within our cabin baggage dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm and weighs up to 10kg you can take it into the cabin with you.
Please note that we do not have any storage facilities on board to hang or store your dress, it will be treated as cabin baggage and placed in our overhead lockers.
If your wedding dress does not fit within the cabin baggage dimensions, then you can check it in as part of your checked baggage allowance.
Alternatively, you can purchase an extra seat for the carriage of your wedding dress in the cabin.
To book an extra seat for your wedding dress:
  •   Go to www.ryanair.com and select 2 passengers when booking your flight.
  •   Don't forget to reserve the seats beside each other.
  •   The first seat should be booked in your name.
  •   The other seat should be ITEM SEAT as the Last Name and EXTRA as the First Name  
  •   The name EXTRA ITEM SEAT will then be displayed on the online boarding pass.
Adrienn
Ryanair Customer Service

Other Helpful Links

Traveling by boat

https://www.irishferries.com/ie-en/terms-and-conditions/#Luggage

Other airlines

https://www.britishairways.com/en-ie/information/baggage-essentials/packing-tips

http://www.etihad.com/en-ie/before-you-fly/baggage-information/allowances/

http://www.lufthansa.com/ie/en/Baggage-overview

 

I sign off dreaming of warmer weather. Share with us where are you planning your destination wedding? 

 

Bridal Muse

I am happy to be back in blog land - our summer silly season has passed and now I have the time to share again. Today I am introducing you to a stunning bridal muse. When Deirdre sent me on photos of her Spanish wedding I fell madly in love with her whole day and immediately asked her to share her thoughts on the day.

What is your best memory of your wedding day? 

I have lots of great memories of moments with my parents, with Will and with friends, but my biggest memory from the day is everyone smiling! At every moment, I remember being surrounded by smiles and an incredible feeling of love. Seeing all our friends and family having such a great time, celebrating with us, is a memory I will really cherish.

Our first dance ended up being quite impromptu and a surprise as the band had learnt the song for us but had kept that a surprise, and I loved the spontaneity of it. Our friends and family joined in singing with them- it was magical!

What is your advice to a bride to be? 

Don’t stress over small details. Prioritise what is most important to you both and once those things are organized, just consider anything else a bonus!

What was your biggest worry about getting your dress made?

The biggest worry about getting my dress made was not seeing it until it was finished! I had been to a number of bridal boutiques and tried on lots of dresses, but none that I absolutely loved. So when I decided to get my dress made, there was also the worry that I would feel the same indifference to the dress when it was finished. However, from the first meeting with Sarah my mind was put at ease as she seemed to understand immediately-and probably before I properly did! - what it was I was looking for.

My mother and I left that first appointment with full confidence in our decision, and I’m glad to say at the final fitting it all come together better than I had imagined!

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

My granny was a dress maker so it was quite a nostalgic experience for all my family. My parents came up with me for each appointment, my dad going for a stroll on Bull Island while my mother, myself and Sarah discussed and picked material, styles and colours. Being so involved in the process was really special and having input at every stage meant that there were no worries about the fit of the dress, or something not being quite right. Seeing it all come together at the end was really exciting, and it felt really special to have been so involved and seeing the progress as it went from sketch to dress! It was a really personal experience to share with my parents that we wouldn’t have had otherwise, and felt like a special way to remember my granny too.

 

Beautiful sentiments Deirdre, it is so important to enjoy the wedding process , creating memories and moments that will stay with you always. Thank you so much for share your day with us. 

Share with us today those moments you are cherishing as you plan your wedding day.

The amazing headpiece is by http://tocadosletouquet.blogspot.com/

Photography by Graciela Vilagudin Photography

 

 

Magical Barn Photoshoot

I am dreaming of another shoot this week. So I though it would be a good time to share our Wexford photoshoot from earlier in the year. The beautiful Raven Wood Reserve as background and talented suppliers that love their work, what more could you ask for - sunshine maybe in January? 

The wonderfully talented Butterfly Photography captured such amazing images. Using the light to highlight our dresses and reflecting the mood of the day.

Transforming our model Natalia was Stacey from Making Faces Gorey using her magic make up brush to enhance Natalia's beauty. Cathriona from Headrush added subtle vintage waves to finish the look.

Back at our venue the super talented Sharon from Frog Prince Events was knee deep in florals. Creating a magical wonderland within Murphy’s Barn.

Jen from Cupcakes and Counting added one of her sculptural cakes to the mix

A stationary suit by Wedding Fusions added the final touch to our magical wedding photoshoot.

Want to know more about our inspiration and more images check out onefabday.com or our new gallery here.

The Dream Team

Photography www.butterflyphotography.ie

Dresses www.sarahfoycouture.com

Make-up www.making-faces.ie

Hair www.headrush.ie

Venue https://www.facebook.com/Murphys-Barn-246259425564016

Styling and flowers www.frogprince.ie

Cake www.cupcakesandcounting.com

Stationary www.weddingfusions.com

Model www.primamodels.ie

Creatives at work - Johanna King

Beautiful snap shots of family life, mothers feeding their children, grandparents playing with their grandchildren. This is how I got to know Johanna King - you have got to love Instagram for discovering the most wonderful, talented people. 

Capturing your wedding day is a must, but finding a photographer that can document your day is where the real find is. Johanna King is that photographer and she is today's Creative at Work. 

Who is your bride?

It is difficult to pinpoint what bring my brides together. What I can say for sure is that my brides (and my grooms) realised how important photography was for their wedding day. They are looking for a photographer to capture all the candid moments that make their day so unique. Whether they've spent 1 or 20 years together, my couples are crazy about each other and will appreciate a discreet & friendly photographer they can relax with during the portraits (and sneak in a few hugs and kisses). Family and friends are definitely important to them and they want to spend as much time as possible with their guests on their big day!

 When do you feel most inspired?

I feel most inspired when I am not on the computer - when I put my mind to rest. It's probably because of all the stimulations we get from all the (great) blogs, emails and social media. Our mind is like... running around in circle. So when I spend one-to-one time with my daughter, go for a walk, do a bit of gardening, read a book (novel), sit outside with my husband and a cup of coffee or go for a drink with friends, that's when I feel the most inspired.

It probably sounds obvious but I feel most creative when I am taking photographs, whether it is a wedding, a portrait session for families or my own life. Every event is different and I need to keep a fresh eye, keep exploring as well as rely on my experience in order to create the best photographs possible. For me, a great image is one that will bring emotions to the viewer.

Finally, I find that meeting passionate like minded individuals also fuels creativity.

How do you feel meeting a new bride to be?

Meeting a bride-to-be / couple (or chatting on the phone for the first time) is exciting but I always have a bit of a knot in my stomach right before hand. Although I was never shy, I am the type of person who becomes as red as a tomato when she has to raise her hand to ask a question in public. It usually only lasts for a few seconds and then I really enjoy getting to know them.

I like to talk about their story and their vision for their big day and if they are struggling with any of the planning details (in case I can help!). This first conversation or meeting is very important to see if we are the right fit.

What do you like to hear from a bride? The best question they could ask you?

As I said above, I like to hear about their vision for their big day, what is really important to them, what they are most excited about.

Them asking my availabilities before confirming their venue would be the best compliment I could receive. Having couples who really connect with my work and "get" me is very rewarding and it makes for a great relationship, both professional and personal.

When a couple says that they want someone to capture their day in a documentary way with a lot of candid photos of their guests and family, I know that we are most likely a good fit for each other. If they add that they're also planning to do a first look before the ceremony and allocate a relaxed hour for couple portraits afterwards and I'm in heaven.

How did you find your calling?

I have always been an amateur photographer but never really saw it as a potential career.

However, in 2013, I just wasn't fulfilled by my current job any more and I decided to take the plunge and offer my services as a photographer. I now wish I did it a lot earlier, but there is a time for everything. After 6 years working behind a computer, I really enjoy getting to meet so many new people. Weddings are so special. They are like a separate world where everyone is happy and smiling and it's hard not to feel happy too!

It is a lot of work building a new business from scratch and I had to learn so much about marketing, social media, workflow etc. But I get to wake up excited about the day ahead every day and I am very grateful for that.

Thank you Johanna for sharing your inspiration and giving us a glance at the lady behind the camera.  Check out Johanna's website for advice and inspiration for your wedding photography.

www.johannakingphotography.com

info@johannakingphotography.com

Love, love, love Johanna's Instagram account @johannakingphotography

Bridal Muse

Today I am sharing a very special Bridal Muse. My beautiful sister Karen, who a year ago married her soul mate. 

All of the pictures today are from the amazing Moat Hill Photography

There is no doubt that designing a dress for a bride is a big responsibility. So when your sister asks you to create her gown, you know you have to design something very special. When I design for my brides I believe that a dress should reflect their personality and style. Lucky for me I have known Karen for quiet some time! So today she is sharing her experiences and advice for your wedding day.

What is your best memory of your wedding day? 

I loved the entire day, I would do it again tomorrow and not change a thing about the day. Having travelled home to Ireland for our wedding I really enjoyed the wedding morning with my family and bridesmaids. I went for an early refreshing beach walk first thing with my sister and baby niece before the preparation began. It was so lovely and unforgettable.

My best memory is probably the ceremony, myself and Brian couldn’t stop smiling and giggling with each other. We had done a rehearsal the afternoon before to banish nerves which meant we got to enjoy the readings and music that we had personally chosen. It was our parish, our town where we both grew up and our people. It was just lovely pledging our love to each other surrounded by our favorite people from home and abroad on our turf.

What is your advice to a bride to be? 

Don’t let the planning take over your life in the run up, take time to have fun and don’t lose sight of why you are getting married and that it is about your future together and not the actual wedding day! We really wanted our day to reflect us as a couple but we also had a cut off point and decided if it’s not done by this date ….. it’s not important and not getting done. I would advise others to do the same as this meant we really enjoyed the days leading up to the wedding with the people we loved.

The biggest piece of advice I can give and that was given to me was to make time for you and your new hubby. The way we planned the day meant that we went for photographs (just the two of us) before we travelled to the venue for the official family ones. This gave us two hours together directly after we said “I Do” and it was amazing. We had so many laughs and moments of silliness before celebrating the night away with everyone else. On reflection, it helped that we loved our photographers and official driver (my favorite brother in law) which meant we just had the banter and soaked it all up.

Last piece of advice is to make sure you gel with the suppliers you book and that they get you and what you want. It’s so important, I’m sure it would have a massive impact on your day as you spend a lot of time with your photographers, your hair stylist and make up artist etc– trust your instinct on this.

What was your biggest worry about getting your dress made?

That I’d give my sister a nervous breakdown because I’m so indecisive, married with the fact that I don’t live in the same country as her.  Despite having grown up literally surrounded by Sarah Foy wedding dresses, I never really thought about what my own would look like. Luckily Sarah was paying attention over the years and had a better idea. She travelled over to me (any excuse for a get together) to try on assorted styles in the UK and we designed it from there. I was very lucky as I had 100% faith in her.

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

Probably, when we sourced the most amazing pink guipure lace. We had a vision of this almost impossible fabric, something very subtly but delicate and to be honest we didn’t think we would find it…Sarah rose to the challenge and sourced the most amazing fabric exceeding my expectations and we both fell in love with it. From there she took all the elements of different dresses I loved and made them work together. I ABSOLUTLEY loved it and still do! I felt so comfortable, happy and special in the dress that my sister had designed and handmade just for me, it’s an indescribable feeling. At the end of the evening it suddenly dawned on me that I’d have to take it off and never wear it again, it was such a devastating moment but luckily I had another fabulous Sarah Foy dress for the following day….I am one lucky sister.

Thank you Karen for sharing your memories of the day. It was certainly a day I will always remember. It is an honour to be your sister and personal designer!

The Dream Team

Photographer - www.mhphoto.ie

Venue - www.rathsallagh.com

Hair - www.michelleohalloran.com

Make up - Helen Henry 0876167607

Dress - www.sarahfoycouture.com

 

 

 

Holiday Inspiration

It was a week of daydreaming of my holidays and catching up on work. The blue skies and warm weather becoming a distant memory. Looking through my pictures I may have been a little obsessed with Portuguese tiles.

We are back on Monday with a very personal Bridal Muse and a dress that I love deeply

Ask The Designer - The Final Fitting

April always marks the beginning of our busy wedding season. A time when sketches and patterns become wedding dresses. When our brides start to have their final fittings and we get super busy in studio pressing and finishing our gowns.

So what are final fittings all about? What can you expect from yours? and what should you be doing to get the most out of these fittings?

I love to see the whole look for the day. So I encourage our brides to bring everything for the final fitting- Jewlery, underwear, veil and headpiece. To do your hair and make up similar to how you want it to look on the day or even better arrange your trial for the same day. This is a great opportunity for you to see how everything looks together. I would even try out your nail polish!

Plan your transportation and storage - at your final fitting you will be arranging to pick up your gown so a little forward planning will be needed. Will you be storing the dress at home? Do you have a safe place to store the dress away from prying eyes? How will you transport it home? If you are heading aboard, have you checked with your airline about carrying the dress on board? What options have you for storing and pressing when you arrive at your venue?

All along you have had someone help you into your dress and may not have taken note of how it was done. Bring along a bridesmaid or friend to the final fitting so they can see how the dress should go on. Is there any catches to keep your underwear in place. Is there an option to tie up your train ? Are there elements to your dress that need to be attached separately?

And finally double check everything . Are you comfortable in the dress? Can you walk easily or does the hem need adjusting ? Can you see your underwear ? Are you 100% happy with how you look and feel in the dress?

I hope this helps you plan your very important final fittings. If you have a question for Ask the Designer be sure to drop me an email

Creatives at work

Cake please! Today we dive into the world of Suzanne from CocoaMoiselle.

Tara Ahern Photography

Who is your bride?

There is no straight forward answer to that question! However, having met hundreds of gorgeous brides over the past 4 years in business, whether it is a boho celebration or an upmarket, lavish wedding, I can definitely tell you that brides who come to CocoaMoiselle are looking for something unique and special. My brides tend to have a keen eye for design and detail, know what they want and have great ideas for their cake. They are stylish ladies,  planning fabulous weddings!

When do you feel most inspired?

I am inspired by everything and anything. A lot of the venues I deliver to have beautiful decorative details everywhere, from the floors to the ceilings!  The Irish countryside is also a sight to behold,and I am lucky to travel through a lot of beautiful places when I am delivering my wedding cakes.

Old buildings and old books, ruined castles, fabric, cutlery, patterns, sculpture and pottery, any kind of art, nature, trees, flowers and poetry, I love it all and appreciate all the beauty in the world. I will often stop for lunch after a delivery in a picturesque spot and take it all in before I go back into work. I'll also stop off at any castles or ruins that catch my eye. One of the perks of the job :)

I love when all baking, filling and covering is done at the bakery. It is time to decorate! I usually stick on a cd and work away on my cake,  decorating and adding details until the cake is finished to perfection.

How do I feel meeting a new bride?

This isn't such a straightforward answer either!  I usually just meet my bride once, at our consultation in the showroom. So we have an hour to get to know each other and go through the design of the cake and of course , taste the cakes.

I am always glad to meet new brides as I know there is a new chance for me to create another beautiful cake.

Sometimes , if my bride lives abroad, We don't get to meet at all, but we do all the planning and design by email. I have also had very cool, laid back brides just email me and order a cake directly from my website photos! Everyone's approach is different but it is always a positive experience for me.

What do I like to hear from a bride?

It is always music to my ears when my bride tells me she trusts my judgement and allows me to design the cake whatever way I think is best.  I love being given a design brief and working from that and allowing for last minute changes to be made as I work on the cake. I love all my cakes, but my favourites are most definitely the ones where I was given a design brief and a budget and let loose!

How did I find my calling?

I was either going to do Fine Art or Culinary Arts in college. I chose culinary arts as I had always loved cooking and saw myself with a career in hospitality. I worked in restaurants as a chef, then as a pastry chef , and developed a love for pastry, desserts and sugar! While living in Melbourne, I took some sugar craft courses and this quickly became an obsession. I haven't looked back since. I've worked in some great restaurants as Pastry Chef and trained in confectionery artsin Toronto . I absolutely love what I do. I've always been driven and wanted to work for myself. I am very lucky to be doing what I do for a living.

What a great insight into Suzanne's business and creative process. Check out all of CocoaMoiselle amazing work here

What questions do you have for your cake supplier, hit the comments below and we will do our best to answer them for you.

Ask The Designer

It is ask the designer time at SFoy HQ and this week it is all about time scale.

Image by Paul Kelly Photography

"How much time do you need to have a design made? I'm worried I haven't left enough time to pick my dress and feeling under pressure to make decisions now!" - This is the most commonly asked question and statement to pass through my inbox, so today we give you all the information on time scale and when best to get started

Every designer works differently and every bridal store will have their own order policy. However, I like to have 6 to 8 months to design and complete a gown. So how does this break down for you the bride? The first appointment with us is a simple chat to get to know you and the ideas you have in mind for your wedding, two weeks after that you will have received sketches from me detailing ideas for your wedding dress. When you have had time to look over them we have a follow up consultation to help finalise the details. This whole process can take between 4 to 6 weeks.

Next step is to custom make your pattern and create your mock up. We book you in to check size and fit. Allowing you to get a look at the style and shape. Now it's order time, we calculate how much fabric will be needed. Ordering in your beads and embellishment. When everything arrives we cut and make your dress. We will now see you every 3 to 4 weeks. At these fittings we will be concentrating on getting everything fitting beautifully, then we add the little details particularly embellishments .

At the final stages we help you to get the overall look, encouraging you to try out different hairstyles, nail polish, lipstick and of course a veil or head piece. Most brides have their final fitting about 2 weeks before pick up day. This fitting is usually just to double check that you are 100% happy.

Every bride, every dress, every day is different. We often do commissions 18 months in advance or in off peak season a dress can be completed sooner but the general rule we give our clients is 6 to 8 months.

Have you a question about your dress you need answered. Email me today and we will tackle it on our next Ask The Designer blog piece .

My Inspiration

 

Like a picture, a dress can speak a thousand words. Looking back through vintage Dior for inspiration this week

"Venus" dress, 1949 Christian Dior (French, 1905–1957) Grey silk net embroidered with feather-shaped opalescent sequins, rhinestones, simulated pearls, and paillettes

Pinterest Fun

I love Pinterest. It is heaven for a creative like me, composing mood boards and dreaming big. While I loved cutting and sticking old style mood boards this more high tech approach is spectacular and fun.

 

To be clear this is not a how to use Pinterest guide! This is a helping hand on how to find clarity when starting the search for your dream wedding dress. Pinterest is the ultimate tool to help you navigate you wedding dress hunt but it can get overwhelming when starting out. With so many options out there how does a bride-to-be begin?

Step one - Secret boards

You are starting this board purely to explore what you like and dislike. There will be plenty of time to add people you trust to it later. Keeping it closed at first will help to free your mind and worry only about what you like.

Step two - Pin, Pin, Pin

Explore Pinterest, start by pinning anything and everything. It could be just a simple detail on a sleeve or a back silhouette that you are drawn too. Try not to over think what you are pinning, the idea is to collect images, ideas to inspire your wedding dress shopping.

Step three - Follow

Now you need to get more specific. Narrow down and explore designers you like and have similar tastes. Find their boards on Pinterest or pin from their website

Below are some must follows for wedding inspiration to get you started.

Step four - Not just wedding dresses

Don't limit yourself to searching "wedding dresses". If for example you love deep v-necks -search through evening wear , day wear even lingerie you never know what may spark of an idea.

Step five - Curate

After loosing yourself in Pinterest for a few days pinning anything you are drawn too. It's time to curate. Go back through your board. Are you seeing any patterns? For example are all your back details pictures low cut or are you captivated by beading ? As you start looking for your dress, narrowing down you style and silhouette keep curating your board. It will help you be clear on what you love.

Above all else enjoy exploring, let yourself be inspired by Pinterest and stay away from overwhelm. Pop over to my Pinterest page to see what inspires me. Have you found a must follow person on Pinterest, let us know in the comments below.

Creatives at work

It was back in 2016 at my first Glitter studio appearance that I meet the lovely Jen. Full of energy and creativity, I could not help but be captivated by Cupcakes and Counting. So this week we chat to Jen about how CupCakes and Counting came to be, about inspiration and the ideal bride. 

Who is your bride?

My bride is anyone who loves stunning floral display. I have a deep affection for flowers and beautiful botanicals these are the main inspiration for my wedding cakes. I love decorating our wedding cakes with handmade, delicate sugar sculptures. I like to recreate nature’s blooms and turn them into edible art. 

When do you feel most creative?

It’s when the brides (and grooms, sometimes) tell me about their love story. How they met, their favourite story about each other,  a memorable holiday together. All these contribute to how I design their wedding cake. This is when the boost of inspiration and creativity just flows freely and allows me to create wedding cakes that uniquely and specifically suit my couple.

How do you feel meeting a new bride to be?

I am always full of butterflies before I meet a new bride-to-be but I am very, very excited at the same time. I cannot help but imagine that I might be the one making their wedding cake. You see, it’s not just business for me. Given the opportunity to make their wedding cake, it is wonderful to think that you become part of their fairytale, of their romance, of their happy ever after.

What do you like to hear from a bride? 

Each bride is unique and may come up with questions that are relevant to her and not so for others.  What’s important for me is that they are able to tell me what they actually want i.e. how her wedding cake should look like. A bride well equipped with a set of questions during cake tasting/consultation is always a pleasure to work with.

How did you find your calling? 
Back in 2013, a very powerful typhoon had hit my husband’s hometown in the Philippines. The damage was so severe that the city was left with no power, no food, no clean water, and no proper shelter.  Our family survived the onslaught, however, the number of casualties raised to alarming heights. My husband and I decided to hold a bake sale to raise funds for our neighbours who got severely affected by the calamity. We sold cupcakes and we were able to send a considerable amount of monetary assistance to our neighbours who have been displaced and needing support. Our fundraising had finished but the orders didn’t. People were still asking for our cupcakes long after our bake sale ended. This is how Cupcakes and Counting was born.

Thank you do much to Jen and Jay for sharing their beginnings and photography's with us today. I can say that not only do their cakes look incredible they are delicious.

Check out www.cupcakesandcounting.com and their Instagram Account rocks

Share with us today your wedding cake questions

Sparkling Fun Weekend

We are in recovery mode in Sarah Foy Studio this week after an epic weekend at The Glitter Studio.

One Fab Day curated another wonderful wedding event for brides-to-be. Thoughtfully put together with magical installations and hand picked vendors. I love meeting new brides, chatting style and trends for 2017/2018. I have come away inspired again to create and to really bring the best designs and service to our new brides.

I also had a blast meeting up with vendors to see what they are creating. So inspiring to see Irish companies bring such amazing quality and creativity to the world. So here are some suppliers I think you need to check out and some great pictures of our weekend.

Keeping us supplied wth essential salted caramel cupcakes all weekend. Jen is a sculpture of cakes www.cupcakesandcounting.com

Not one but two amazing make-up artists rocked all weekend. Meeting new brides and styling our models for the fashion showcase - alannawallace@gmail.com and efcreativestudios.com

Hair styled beautifully by roller.ie and Claire Barry Hair.

Horetown House , Co.Wexford who convinced me to drink gin - lots of arm twisting went on there. 

Frog Prince for putting some serious style into the weekend.

Did you make it to The Glitter Studio? Would love to hear what you thought? If you didn't get a chance to chat to me, please drop us an email info@sarahfoycouture.com with any questions you may have.