Rowan joy Real Brides October 2016 - Lauren, Alison, Hannah and Lauren.

Lauren had initially come to see me to try on the Bloom 2 piece for her wedding, she loved it and decided to wear it for the evening and commissioned a bespoke ballet length dress for the day. Lauren chose a classic shape with a sweetheart neckline and nipped in waist with a v neckline on the front and back. A fabulous sequinned lace was chosen for the dress which created a really fun, modern look. The bloom co-ords were kept as the original with the top made slightly more tailored to suit Lauren's shape. I love that Lauren went for the 2 different looks for the day and night and that she will get lots of use from her Bloom pieces after the wedding.

Photography P J Phillips photography

Lauren chose the Ella dress from the made to measure range for her wedding dress. The shape of the dress was kept as the original but Lauren chose a beaded lace with gold thread for the details on the shoulders and back which looked fab with the ivory of the dress. I love how gorgeous and relaxed Lauren looks in the dress.

Photography Jen Owens

Hannah was the second of my lovely American brides in 2016 and got married at the glorious Crear on the west coast of Scotland. She found me after looking at previous brides of mine who had been married at Crear and being inspired by one of their dress styles. She chose a fifties style dress with a 3/4 sleeve made from a blush pink silk and ivory lace layered over the top. I never got to meet Hannah whilst making her dress so it was lovely to get the photos through and see her looking so gorgeous in her dress.

Photos Crear weddings

Alison was the first of my gorgeous, bold brides in red and my gosh it is worth being brave brides because it looks incredible. Alison loved the Chloe dress style as soon as she tried it on and when she asked about the possibility of having it made in red, I was all in. I sourced a gorgeous beaded red lace to combine with the silk crepe and the style itself was kept as the original just with the addition of covered buttons to finish off the back. Alison chose some of my favourite suppliers to work with - the wonderful Di from Myrtle and Bracken to create her stunning flowers and the super Gillian from pin up hair to create her gorgeous relaxed up do which complements the dress perfectly.

Photography Jen Crook Photography

Florist: Di at Myrtle & Bracken

Hair: Gillian at Pin-Up Hair Glasgow

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Rowanjoy real brides September - Andrea and Sarah

So 2016 definitely blessed me with lots of brides who wanted colour for their wedding dresses and Andrea was one of those brides. From the start Andrea knew she wanted her dress to be silver and gold and to say I was excited was an understatement. Two different gold laces were combined on the bodice and appliquéd on to the gathered tulle skirt with the pieces trailing off as they went down the skirt. The skirt was a beautiful dark grey silk crepe with a silver tulle overlay which was gathered at waist to create volume. I try not to have favourites when it comes to dresses but I really did love Andrea's dress, so much so that is actually inspired the design for my new style the Blossom dress. How absolutely amazing does Andrea look, truly stunning. Also, how cute it Andrea's french bulldog!

Sarah chose the classic version of the Harlow dress for her wedding. She is actually the first bride to commission it exactly as I had designed so it was really fab for me to make it for her and I think she looks absolutely gorgeous in it.

Photography Vivvi Photography

Rowan x

Rowanjoy real bride August 2016 - Janice

Janice chose the Harlow dress from the made to measure collection for her wedding at the beautiful Crear on the west coast of Scotland. She loved the style when she came in to the studio to try it on but had also loved the champagne satin of the Cecelia dress so the decision was made to combine the 2. The champagne satin really shows off the embroidery and beading detail in the lace and gives the Harlow dress a different little twist. Janice looked utterly gorgeous in the dress and its so lovely to see a new take on the Harlow style.

Rowan x

Photography Wonderful and Strange

Rowanjoy real brides - July 2016 Annez, Kate and Gail

Annez chose a gorgeous column style dress with an open back for her wedding in sunny Gozo. Made in a lightweight silk and the most beautiful art deco style beaded lace and finished off with a beaded pearl and crystal beaded drop tie at the back, the dress just oozes relaxed glamour. Doesn't she look incredible and those blue skies, come back summer!!

Kate's dress was a gorgeous V neck style with a softly draped skirt in a heavy silk crepe. The waistband and neckline details were finished off with a beautiful corded and beaded lace which also was used for the sleeves. Kate styled her dress with the most fabulous flower crown and gorgeous loose waves and looks simply stunning.

Photographer Simon Lees

Separates are definitely becoming more popular for brides and Gail decided that it was right for her relaxed wedding day. She chose a beautiful sky blue silk to make a real statement for her skirt which was finished off with a button fastening. The skirt was combined with an ivory top and navy knitted cropped cardi Gail had bought and the whole look is perfect for a gorgeous laid-back vibe.

Photography Caro Weiss Photography

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RowanJoy Brides June - Gail and Sam

Gail was one of my brides who was heading to sunnier and warmer climes to get married and she wanted a dress to reflect the relaxed vibes for her day. The dress style was lovely and easy for her to wear, a fitted bodice with draped beaded lace overlay and lace detailing on the waist, silk georgette and crepe were layered to create her soft loose skirt. The dress was finished off with a pearl button fastening to mirror the pearl detail in the lace. Gail also commissioned me to design and make her bridesmaid and flower girl dresses which were made in gorgeous soft green silks with appliqués  lace detail to coordinate with the lace on Gail's dress. 

Being a designer herself with her sequin-tastic fashion label Isolated Heroes, Sam had some really interesting and unusual ideas for her wedding dress. Initial inspiration came from Givenchy Couture for the silhouette of the dress and a combination of 2 different beaded laces along with silk georgette and silk organza along with an extra sprinkling of ostrich feathers was used to create a dress with loads of texture and detail. I love the final look of Sam's dress and think it shows that when you choose a bespoke wedding dress you can really push the boundaries with your design and have something really unusual whilst still being bridal.

Rowanjoy Real Bespoke Brides May - Alison, Carrie and Jennie

3 Gorgeous brides for May all in bespoke dresses, all completely different.

Alison's dress was a gorgeous simple, classic shape where it was all about the design details on the bodice. The dress was made in a beautiful pearl coloured duchesse satin with a keyhole and button detail at the back but it was really all about the shoulder detail. Stunning beaded and diamante appliqués were added on the cap sleeve of the dress and just finished off the dress perfectly.

I also had the pleasure of making Alison's bridesmaid dresses, who all chose different designs in 2 gorgeous shades of teal. Don't they  all look beautiful.

Photography Lauren McGlynn Photography 

 Carrie was my gorgeous bride all the way over in America who discovered me through my etsy shop and ordered a completely bespoke gown. The inspiration for Carrie's dress came from the styles of the thirties and she chose a gorgeous panelled design with low back detail. A beaded ivory lace with silver details was layered over a champagne silk satin and the scalloped edge of the lace finished off the neckline and hem of the dress. Carrie also commissioned a juliet  cap veil which works perfectly with the style of the dress.

Photography Anna Rebecca Photography, Nashville

For Jennie's dress some cape action was the one big design feature she was looking for and some damn good cape sleeves she got. A delicate, gold embroidered tulle was used for the sleeves and was combined with fabric from her gran's wedding dress to make the bodice of the dress. Jennie accessorised her dress with the most amazing brightly coloured pompom headband. I think Jennie looks utterly fab and completely comfortable in her dress, surely a dress you can do Kate Bush arm wafting in can only be a good thing.

Photography The Curries

Rowan x