Zoe Brakes Costume Designer: I'm getting Married in the morning ding dong the bells are going to chime.....(THE dress)

I'm a designer, how could I not design my own dress. I love designing wedding dresses so if anything this was the easiest part for me. My university friend Heather was to make my dress, she is such a talented maker and close friend making the team work natural.

First port of call was inspirational images........

......This first image was the exact dress I would LOVE to wear

on my wedding day, the elegant flowing lace and romantic

low cut back.....it's stunning. This was the base for my design.

I love lace so this was a sure thing for me. Its so elegant and just has a summery feel to it.

*******************

Trying on wedding dresses was the most exciting part

and made the whole experience feel real!

I was able to see what suited me in shape and neckline and design my dress with this logic.

I knew my design already but could adapt it with the information gathered.

I love this neckline.

I love this mass of material in the train.

The gathered train is stunning.....

This experience taught me what really doesnt suit my body shape and what does.

It takes time to work this out as you can easily be dazzled by the stunning dresses.

But you have to think how comfortable you will be and confident; disguise your

worst features and enhance your best! Simple advice to looking effortlessly beautiful!

*****************

Dress design!!!!!

My rough sketches to show Heather what I had in mind.

****************

Lace Lace Lace

Shop til' we drop style sourcing for the best possible lace to compliment my design.

This first lace wasn't exactly what I had planned but was so delicate.......

I loved the floral patterns on this lace and it made it easy for Heather; my talented dress

maker, to rearrange the pattern to where it would look best on the dress.

This lace was stunning down the train but was a bit chunky for the delicate

neckline and against the bare skin. I did love the edging though.................

This lace was expensive but a lot more delicate on the skin and still as decorative....

***********************

Fittings

The different stages of the process made everything more real and more exciting.

It's funny I even felt like a princess in the toile!!!

Necklines needed adapting and some positioning, but my Heather has talent!!

Heather captured exactly what I wanted for the train,

(the green line marks the lace train.)

The dress taking shape in top fabric!!!!

Excited much!

Basic lace effect for the train.

Looking rough face and hair-wise but feeling like a princess!!

We're getting there......

After being so very indecisive over the lace they stopped doing my chosen expensive lace,despite it being a new design! So back to the drawing board. I was lacking in free time and budget to shop round London again, so Heather was left to her devices having to find something as close to my first choice as possible.She kept me posted the whole time........