DAYTIME WEDDINGS
For a daytime wedding, tea dresses do most of the work. They're easy to move in, forgiving through a long reception, and light enough for a garden or countryside setting without looking underdressed for the ceremony itself. If the wedding has a slightly more relaxed, garden-party feel, a shirt dress works just as well and tends to photograph beautifully against an outdoor backdrop, smart enough for the ceremony, comfortable enough that you're not adjusting it all afternoon.
Both styles take a jacket or wrap well for a cooler start to the day, and both come off easily if the marquee heats up later. If you're invited to more than one wedding this season, and most guests are, these are also the pieces that get the most wear afterwards: garden parties, christenings, summer lunches, not filed away after one outing.
Black Tie & Evening Weddings
Black tie on a wedding invitation means the same thing it means anywhere else: floor length, more formal fabric, more considered detail. Our gowns are built for exactly this brief, with enough structure to feel appropriately dressed for an evening reception without tipping into bridal territory. If you want something with more personality or a less conventional cut, our Couture Collection is worth a look, made to order with more distinctive fabric and detail than you'll typically find in our Ready To Wear Collection.
Sleeves are worth mentioning here specifically, since they're one of the most common questions we get for black tie weddings. A long or three-quarter sleeve reads as more formal, not less, and solves the problem of an evening venue that's colder than expected without needing to carry a separate wrap.
DESTINATION & SUMMER WEDDINGS
Destination weddings are really a climate brief in disguise. Lightweight, breathable fabrics that don't crease in a suitcase matter more than following a strict formality code, particularly for a wedding taking place somewhere considerably warmer than home. This is where our tea dresses and structured cloqué styles cross over neatly with wedding guest dressing: pieces designed for heat and that don't crease in your suitcase efficiently.
If you're attending several destination weddings in a season, it's also worth checking our Sale, since these tend to be pieces you'll want on hand for more than one trip without needing a completely new outfit each time.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We would recommend a long midi or ankle length dress, or you could opt for a chic velvet tailored suit. Our sublime Brizo full length velvet dress in navy blue would look divine with a headpiece with birdcage vail would look truly magical. Add sparkle with one of our chic brooches or lift with our pearl earrings.
A fabulous dress with lots of movement for reeling would be recommended. A pop of sumptuous jewel colour would work magically against the tartans! We would recommend the Holland dress in fuchsia or violet. We would recommend a beautiful sheepskin wrap or velvet wrap for warmth. And a beautiful head band.
A fabulous dress with lots of movement for reeling would be recommended. A pop of sumptuous jewel colour would work magically against the tartans! We would recommend the Holland dress in fuchsia or violet. We would recommend a beautiful sheepskin wrap or velvet wrap for warmth. And a beautiful head band.
Avoid white, ivory and cream, including pale prints or trims that could read as bridal from a distance. Beyond colour, it's worth avoiding anything too casual for the stated dress code. A day wedding invitation with no dress code specified generally still means smart, considered dressing rather than anything you'd wear to brunch.
Black tie calls for a floor length gown in a formal fabric, with more structure and polish than a day dress. Sleeves are entirely appropriate, and a long or three-quarter sleeve is often a practical choice for a cooler evening venue. Colour is more flexible than at a day wedding, dark and jewel tones both work well, provided white and ivory are avoided.
Absolutely. We have an in-house tailoring and specialist alterations service, which means we can alter a piece of our ready-to-wear collection. Alternatively we offer a Made to Measure service. From our initial consultation in store, or over video if you are based overseas. We can cut a pattern to your measurements and produce a beautiful garment or look, as if you would have a wedding dress made. We produce a calico toile and guide you through to completion. This process can take from 4-12 weeks, depending on the level of involvement that you or your chosen look requires. We are specialists in this field and produce garments up to a UK Size 22, US size 26