Sarah Stephens and Helen Felstead are not just acquaintances; they are dear friends who approached me with an exciting proposition: to assist in the creation of an extraordinary reception wedding dress. At that time, Helen was working as a costume design assistant for the popular television show Strictly Come Dancing, which I believe played a significant role in shaping her design sensibilities. What I am absolutely certain about is that with my technical expertise and mentorship, she took on the challenge of designing her friend's silk mermaid style wedding dress.
The collaboration among the three of us was nothing short of magical, as we formed an incredible team dedicated to bringing Sarah's vision to life. I have always cherished the opportunity to collaborate with creative individuals, as it allows us to blend our ideas and skills to produce something truly unique with each project.
During the design process, we discovered these exquisite, delicate embroidered petals that would add a touch of elegance to the dress. The three of us dedicated ample time to thoughtfully decide on the placement of each petal, ensuring that every detail was perfect and aligned with the overall aesthetic we envisioned. This meticulous process required me to cut out each petal individually and sew them by hand, a task that was both labour-intensive and demanding. However, despite the craftiness and the tiring nature of the work, it was worth every minute spent, as we poured our passion and creativity into this stunning silk mermaid style wedding dress.
The wedding dress was crafted from silk charmeuse, with an overlay of soft silk chiffon to introduce a touch of flair and floatiness. I meticulously hand-embroidered petals onto the sheer chiffon. The dress also boasted a modern illusion sheer embroidered back, adorned with delightful cap sleeves, perfectly complementing the beach wedding theme in Brighton. Although the materials were luxurious, they lacked a certain sheen or glow, so I proposed, and was pleased when the ladies agreed, to incorporate Swarovski crystals in iridescent gold. The final design was not only visually breath-taking but also captured the light and airy essence of the seaside setting.
I absolutely adore the photographs from the wedding; they exude a freshness and youthful exuberance that perfectly captured the essence of the day. It was a joy to see how the dress came together and how it resonated with the couple's love story. Following this project, I was fortunate enough to collaborate with Helen once again on another magical wedding dress creation, further deepening our creative partnership and friendship.
Sarah and Dave celebrated their union on June 4, 2012, in the picturesque city of Brighton, surrounded by friends and family, marking a significant milestone in their lives together.