The most beautiful crisp wedding.
Read moreMrs Hopkins - The Ultimate Augusta Jones Bride
The Ultimate Augusta Jones Bride - Emma Hopkins.
Read moreWhen Your Best Friend is the Bride...
The most wonderful winter wedding.
Read moreBeauty, Personified.
The most beautiful set of images captured by Jess Petrie.
Read more*** Jenny Packham Launch Event at FDB ***
On Thursday the 16th November we toasted the arrival of Jenny Packham to our collection of bridal designers.
Read moreAugusta Jones - An Unrivaled Luxury Boutique Bridal Brand.
The excitement at FDB HQ is building for us to get our hands on the latest Augusta Jones collection... so much so that I had to write a blog post - Enjoy!
My love affair with Augusta Jones started when I was hunting for my own wedding dress. The timeless elegance, coupled with the most sumptuous fabrics and the way their dresses shape the figure are in my eyes just perfection. And I was delighted to find out that their latest collection is a continuation of this with a spellbinding twist.
The 2018 range has the signature Augusta Jones laces that have become synonymous with the brand but also has a huge focus on versatility. Overskirts & lace tops have been featured heavily to give brides a completely different look going into their evening reception. A personal favourite of mine is the statement floral applique overskirt.
Augusta Jones also encourage brides to make design changes to ensure that they have a dress that meets all of their needs - afterall, we all have our own body hangups! Making a design change to your dress can be daunting but armed with our sketch books, photoshop and a pot of pins, we ensure that you get the most accurate view of your dress before you commit to the order.
From the 26th - 30th of October we are delighted to host their 2018 collection trunk show. But 'what is a trunk show' I hear you say?! Well, I'd imagine that this is a term was coined by our american friends, but put simply it is where the designer sends in a large selection of key gowns from their most recent collection for you to indulge yourself in over the weekend. And as an added bonus, any orders placed during the event receive 10% discount.
The weekend promises to be the ultimate in unrivaled bridal indulgence from the best in luxury designer gowns to a warm welcome and an ice cold drink.
As always we will be operating by private appointment only so booking is essential.
*Only limited appointments still available.
If you have any special requests - please do not hesitate to get in touch so we can ensure that your prefered gown is ready for you to try on the trunk show weekend.
Julia x
Bridal - Year One - Review
An insight into my first year in bridal.
Read moreSALE *** Frances Day Bridal *** SALE
The event that so many of you have been waiting for for such a long time now is finally here - The Frances Day Bridal End of Season Sample Sale!
Read more*** FDB REAL BRIDE *** The new Mrs Lowe *** The Pixie Princess ***
Back in April on a crisp spring day, we started our whirlwind journey to boho bridal gorgeousness with Miss Rachel Webster. We were set with the brief that she was on a wedding planning mission and that the big day was the 2nd July... This year! Safe in the knowledge that we work with the most flexible and supportive bridal brands we accepted this challenge.
Every time Rachel stepped foot into the Frances Day boutique, she had this unknown power to put a smile on everyone's faces with her 'no nonsense' yet girly personality. Rachel - if you are reading this I hope you are not too horrified that I have used the word 'girly' to describe you - but you did have probably the most admiration for every bridal gown in the shop that I have ever seen! Girly in the non traditional sense.
Rachel finally set her heart on the epically beautiful bohemian 'Elise' by Augusta Jones. And to give her bridal look the rock chic edge she chose 'Sarah' by I Am Florence as her bridal shoe.
Now pop the kettle on, put your feet up and have a read of how Rachel did things her way on the day she married Sam at Hazel Gap Barn. This is a very special one folks - Enjoy!
Julia x
Name: Rachel Webster
Wedding Date: 2nd July 2017
Venue: Tell us a little about your venue and why you chose it?
We wanted a magical woodland theme wedding but the UK doesn’t have many of those venues to offer. Hazel Gap was brand new, hadn’t been finished and we were looking for something available within 3 months of starting our search as it was a short engagement. It wasn’t finished but it was rustic and old and had real natural charm (and lots of fairy lights) so we took a small chance. The reviews for all their other venues were amazing and we liked that everything was under one roof so we could have ceremony, drinks and reception without any fuss. It also backs onto woodland so it was as close as possible to what we wanted and close to my family in the area.
Special details and memories from your wedding day? Any surprises?
I couldn’t believe how excited yet calm I was when it came to the ceremony and the aisle! I had been worrying for weeks about it but on the day I couldn’t wait to get down it and see the room and the people and my man! I am probably a rare breed of bride that said hi to people on my walk down… it really was the happiest day of my life so far. The ceremony room looked amazing thanks to my florist and it was more magical than we had even imagined!
Your shopping experience – did you go for a dress style that you had always lusted over or was your choice a complete surprise even to yourself?
I was quite open-minded about the dress, I love clothes, always struggle to make decisions and just wanted something that suited the woodland theme and suited me. Julia was amazing and I tried on quite a few that were lovely but it was the gorgeous, layered, silk chiffon skirt of my Augusta Jones Elise that sealed the deal. I could wear that skirt every day and feel pretty!
Bridal party style; Tell us who wore what in your bride tribe (& groom’s gang for that matter!)
As it was a Summer wedding I wanted my girls in something light and pretty and a little woodlandy if possible however wanted them to be able to maybe wear again. I went for Coast dresses in pale pink with lace applique top, chiffon skirt and hidden , comfy waist. The men were all squeezed into 3 piece Navy suits.
Wedding Party Vibe: What inspired your wedding celebration? Did you have a common theme running throughout the day?
Relaxed and woodland. Sam (hubby) always calls me his pixie princess (haha) and we both love the outdoors and anything made from natural materials, especially wood. We wanted an informal, chilled and welcoming vibe for the day and this was what we focused on when we tried to keep things simple. All our decorations were ivy, eucalyptus, roses, wood and candles. Food at Hazel Gap is BBQ style meat (we had Sirloins that you carve at the table) so it means guests interact and get involved and if you like it enough there is more than enough for a second helping.
Any special suppliers that you used who stood out for you? ie. Photographer / caterer / florist?
All of our suppliers were absolutely incredible!! We planned our wedding in less than 3 months and we were so lucky the people we wanted were available to do this and were so flexible in order to create what we wanted on the day and on the run up as well. I will list all of them as it was their flexibility and passion that made everything come together so perfectly in the end.
However - Debbie Yates – Flower Consultant – Debbie went above and beyond and created the most magical, beautiful environment for us. Her vision and creativity took our breath away on the day and we cannot thank you enough as we didn’t have a huge flower budget but we couldn’t have asked for more! Thank you.
Key suppliers;
Photography - Samantha Hook – did a post-wedding shoot in the woods and really listened to create the photos we wanted.
Flowers & Flower crown - Debbie Yates the Floral Consultant - 07960786899
Videographer - Jennie – Unique Visuals Videography
Make Up - Amy Wilkinson – Make up
Hair - Gemma Stevenson – Gems Hair Design
Cake - The Sweet Stuff - Natasha was so excited for us, the cake still tastes amazing!
Am I allowed to mention Julia at Frances Day for probably being more excited than me about my wedding and my dress? You were fab, thank you!!
Jesus Peiro - METROPOLIS - 2018 Collection
Another new designer at Frances Day Bridal - we are starting to spoil you... or just ourselves as we do get to stare at them all day long! Spanish bridal giant Jesus Peiro will launch in the boutique in September and we just can't wait!
To celebrate the launch of their 2018 'Metropolis' collection, Jesus Peiro have teamed up with Luxe Bride, a new platform to help brides find the right dress & boutique for them. I was asked to fill out a little questionnaire for their blog so thought I would share with you below.
Enjoy pouring yourselves over these gorgeous gowns - I personally will be trying them all on!
Julia x
My favourite gown from the Jesus Peiro 2018 'Metropolis' collection is...
8007 (& 8060 & 8064)...
Tell us all about the dress. What is it made from, describe the neckline/sleeves/fit, what did you like about it, what made you add it to your collection... etc:
So call me greedy but I need 3 favourites! Starting with 8007, the classic 'wedding dress' for that entrance in the church, for that first look, for that 'wow' moment - this has got to be the dress! The strong structured bodice juxtaposed with the casual pocket feature is synonymous to the Jesus Peiro handwriting.
On arrival at the (imaginary) marquee and following the formalities of the photographs, it will be time for outfit change number 1. The engineered lace on the figure hugging silhouette makes 8060 the perfect dress to easily and oh so stylishly move around your guests with a glass of fizz in one hand and a new husband on the other. This dress is just divine. I have never seen a lace like it and again just love the Jesus Peiro edge it has.
Finally after all of the eating, speeches and giggles, it is time to hit the dance floor - but not before our final outfit change. Queue 8064. Flirtyily sexy and relaxed enough to dance the night away to the wee small hours. The playful shoulder detail coupled with those statement dramatic ruffles are to die for.
How would you style this dress?
8007 - A pair of I Am Florence 'Sindy' Shoes.
- Satin bound double tier waist length veil (I am fully obsessed with waist length veils at current... Less is more (sometimes...)
Hair - UP and clean.
Earrings & necklace - keep it simple. A small diamond or pearl drop.
8060 - A dress change also needs a shoe change and for this gown I would go for I am Florence 'Molly' in Silver to give it a little modern glam edge.
Hair - needs to be more tousled... is that even a word?! Think loose, wavy but still UP.
Wrist adornment - a clean Cartier love lock bangle.
And finally 8064 - Shoes is a no brainer - I am Florence 'Willow'.
Hair is now - down but still chic. It is so important to keep the chic look.
The Jesus Peiro 2018 collection will be available at Frances Day Bridal from September. Give us a call if you would like to book your private appointment.