HayleyJ Bespoke Wedding Dresses

National Wedding Show

2008-02-02T10:27:00.000Z

Once again we will be exhibiting at the National Wedding Show at the NEC Birmingham http://nationalweddingshow.co.uk from the 14th to the 16th March. If you are planning a wedding it's a great place to visit as there are hundreds of exhibitors offering everything from wedding favours through to Gospel choirs www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk/top-tips/entertainment/and honeymoon destinations. www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk/top-tips/honeymoons/

You need to spend several hours there as there is so much to see and make sure you wear flat shoes as there are several exhibition halls to cover! If you have some idea of the theme of your wedding then you can find lots of inspiration here with colours and designs in abundance. Throughout the day there are catwalk shows www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk/shows/birmingham/catwalk-shows/

and demonstration areas plus lots of refreshment zones including the champagne bar - always worth a visit! www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk/shows/birmingham/food-drink/

We always exhibit there and enjoy the chance to speak to lots of you and find out your ideas and themes and discuss how we can create your wedding dress. We show our gowns in the Designer Area of the hall and take the opportunity to showcase our collection www.hayleyj.co.uk/gallerymain.html and the new designs for the season. We have a changing room where you can try some of the gowns and find out what suits you. We can show you the range of silks we use and because we are Bridal couturiers we can design and create something specially for you - come and see us and discuss your ideas and we can make your dreams reality.

As the Show is always very busy, it's an idea to come along and do lots of research and then follow up your visit with a trip to see us and spend an hour or so in privacy and comfort trying on some more wedding gowns and refining your thoughts and ideas. We suggest you book an appointment for a consultation (call us on 01743 235140 or email on hayley@hayleyj.oco.uk)

and bring along family and friends if you wish. We will take you up to the Bridal showroom and sit and talk with you about your wedding - the date, the venue, the time of year and anything else that might have a bearing on your gown. You may wish to incorporate a particular theme in your gown - perhaps some Celtic embroidery or a seasonal motif - perhaps some snowflakes if you're marrying in Winter. You may like the thought of some beadwork and embroidery and we have lots of samples we can show you. Whatever it is you have in mind we can help you with.

We do hope we will see you at the Show. At present we do not have the confirmed number of our stand but will post this on the site as soon as we know.

Why Choose Hayley J?

2008-02-01T14:25:00.000Z

We are now getting extremely busy with enquiries and consultations for 2008 and beyond. Customers come to us for a number of reasons - they may have had a personal recommendation from family or friends or they may have seen us at The National Wedding Show. They may know us because they live locally or they may have found us from the internet and website searches.

In choosing your wedding gown, one of the most important considerations is cost. Weddings can be expensive and as this is likely to be one of the biggest purchases you've ever made on clothing, you need to be sure that you are buying from someone reputable who will make you the gown of your dreams but also work within your budget.

As we are Bridal couturiers we specialise in creating one off designs which are unique to you and are made to measure. With our very talented team here in Shrewsbury we make wonderful gowns which often incorporate stunning beadwork and emboidery and all our gowns are made in silks varying from soft, fluid chiffons to sumptous duchesse satins and dupions. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and naturally you want to look stunning.

Because of the pressures of wedding expenses, it can be tempting therefore to want to cut costs perhaps, by looking for cheaper alternatives and buy your gown from sources such as internet sites. These can appear to be a wonderful bargain, but you have to weigh up the savings in price against the potential problems. These gowns are mass produced in the Far East specificaly for the internet market and are made to sizes which may not accurately reflect UK sizing. The quality and type of fabric used may not be of a good standard and the workmanship may also be lacking in expertise. It can also be difficult to see the gown from just a small photograph.

Once you have bought a gown from such a source, you might receive it and find that you have a number of problems to contend with, and that also you don't have a lot of time to put them right. You might need to have alterations done for sizing and may be disappointed with the quality and appearance of the gown. Unfortunately last year we saw an increase in customers who had done this and found that their dress was a disaster and completely unwearable. It can be extremely difficult to have problems rectified if the manufacturer is thousands of miles away. We have had customers who needed us to start from scratch and we have made them a completely new wedding gown often with limited time. This is hardly ideal for a Bride as she will be feeling very upset and stressed and worried about getting her dress in time for her wedding.

It is, therefore, worth thinking long and hard about where you buy your gown. We do our utmost to create the most wonderful dress for you and will always try to accomodate your budget but still offer you the very best personal service. We listen to all your thoughts and ideas for your gown and give you plenty of time to come up to the Bridal showroom and try some of the dresses from our collection. We will provide you with fabric swatches, make your veil for you, show you all our beautiful tiaras and jewellery and find the perfect shoes to complement your gown. You can expect to have several fittings on your dress to ensure the perfect fit and we can assure you of our attention to detail at all times. Before you start to search the internet or elsewhere why not come and see us - we would be delighted to see you.

Happy New Year

2008-01-10T09:42:00.000Z

First of all, we would like to take the opportunity to wish all our friends and customers a very Happy New Year and hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday.

We are now looking ahead to the challenges of 2008 and the chance to review our business last year and build on those successes. We are getting lots of enquiries from Brides and Mothers of the Bride for gowns and outfits for Weddings this year and next. If you are planning your wedding and would like to book a consultation then please do call us and we can book an appointment for you with Hayley. There is no obligation to go forward with your gown following the consultation but we would be delighted to see you in our lovely showroom and have the opportunity to talk to you and get to know you. Our diary will start to get very busy soon and we will be in full swing once again.

As well as all our weddings, we also expect to see customers soon looking for Prom dresses for the coming season. Our new stock of Prom and Evening gowns will begin arriving from the end of January although we do carry eveningwear all year round. We are seeing lots of brights such as lime green, burnt orange and pinks coming through in some of our designs and we always carry a large range of styles to suit everybody's figure. We can also of course make something to order and then you will have a dress that is truly unique to you.

Once again we will be exhibiting at the National Wedding Show www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk at the NEC Birmingham from March 14th-16th and would love to see you there. This is a wonderful show to visit if you are planning a wedding as there is everything you might need under one roof. It's always very busy with a great buzzing atmosphere and lots of wonderful stands to visit. Our stand number within the Show has yet to be confirmed, but once we know this we will post it on the blog.

Here at Hayley J we pride ourselves on customer service and attention to detail and our aim is to make choosing your wedding gown a truly wonderful experience from start to finish. We hope to see you soon.

Christmas

2007-12-12T11:12:00.000Z

November was a very busy month for us as there were several events that we took part in. On the 5th November Halls Fine Art Auctioneers at Frankwell in Shrewsbury held an evening of Dazzle and Sparkle at the preview of their Christmas Jewellery and Fine Art Sale. The event was a fundraiser for Hope House Children's Hospice in Oswestry and we were delighted to be invited to take part. We showed gowns from our eveningwear collections together with some of the jewellery that was going to be auctioned. It was a complete sell-out and the evening began with champagne and canapes which was then followed by the Fashion Show. It was a great success and we were thrilled to know that £1,000 was raised for this most deserving of local charities.

On the 15th November, Hayley was guest speaker at a Ladies Lunch at the new Football Stadium which was also to fundraise for Hope House. Around 180 ladies came and enjoyed a delicious lunch and then enjoyed a wonderful hour of anecdotes and stories from Hayley's 23 years in the business. Showing some of the gowns from our archives and describing the process of making a bespoke wedding gown from start to finish gave the audience some idea of what her life and work involves. It was a most enjoyable and interesting afternoon and again raised some much needed funds for Hope House.

Last and by no means least, we showed more of our evening gowns at a Fashion Show held in conjunction with Fabricius Green, bespoke jewellers on the High Street in Shrewsbury to highlight their Winter Collection. This was held at the Albright Hussey Hotel to specially invited guests who had a lovely evening.

We are now having lots of enquiries for evening gowns for Christmas Balls and parties and also are taking bookings for weddings for 2008 and 2009. We will be closing for the Christmas season from 22nd December until 3rd January but if we can help you with anything then please do get in touch with us - we would be delighted to hear from you.

Sample Sale

2007-09-12T13:56:00.000Z

After our very busy Bridal season and Summer Proms and Parties, we start to look forward to the next year and thinking about the designs that we will have in the Hayley J collection. We reflect on all designs that Hayley created and the themes, silhouettes and fabrics that our Brides chose over the year. Hayley will then decide what we will have in our collection for the next season and it happens that some of the samples do not fit into the new collection. If this is the case, we have a sample sale and Brides can come and see these designs and purchase them at a very advantageous price. These gowns have been used in the showroom for Brides to try and some gowns have also been used for Fashion shows on occasions.

We have now had a chance to review this year's gowns and we are now taking some of the styles out to sell in a sample sale.

We also have some Bridal shoes that we will be selling at reduced prices so if you are interested in coming to view the gowns available, then please call us to make an appointment and we will be delighted to see you.

Evening Appointments by Arrangement

2007-09-05T14:05:00.000Z

In recognition of the fact that we all lead busy lives and it can be very difficult for brides to come and see us during the day, we are able to offer some evening appointments by arrangement. Many of us work full-time and may also have family and other committments that make it hard to fit into the traditional 9-5 that many shops open. By coming to see us at an evening appointment, you can bring all your attendants and then why not make something of the evening by getting together for drinks and supper afterwards. It also means that you have time in calm and peaceful surroundings to discuss all your thoughts and ideas with Hayley for your wedding. If this is something that you would like to take advantage of, then please contact us to make an appointment.

Wedding Planning

2007-09-01T14:49:00.000Z

After many requests from customers we are now pleased to offer Wedding Planning and Arranging by Hayley J. Organising a wedding can be a very exciting time and naturally most couples want things arranged to their very specific requirements. However, it can also be something of a daunting prospect and many of us lead very busy lives and find it difficult to fit everything in. Perhaps you feel that you need some experienced help with just some aspects of your wedding plans or you may even decide that you would like to hand everything over to someone who will take all the pressure and stress of arranging things off your shoulders.

Our aim is for you to make all the decisions and for us to do all the work!

Following an initial free consultation with the bride and groom, we will then source items and suppliers and obtain quotes and will submit these to you for you for discussion and approval. Hayley has many connections within the bridal business and is able to suggest many different themes and ideas for your wedding. Whether you need a Gospel choir or even a Hawaiian bar we can help. She will help you choose colour schemes and themes and arrange meetings with yourselves and suppliers and can be present if you wish her to be. Ensuring everything happens on schedule and in budget will be our priority and Hayley can be in attendance on your wedding day to make sure everything happens smoothly.

If you would like further information then do contact us in the first instance to arrange an informal discussion. Also to remind you we are exhibiting at the National Wedding Show at the NEC in Birmingham from the 12th to the 14th October on stand F23.We look forward to seeing you!

Looking ahead to 2008

2007-07-19T15:03:00.000Z

We are now well and truly into our busiest Bridal months and have seen lots of our beautiful brides come for their last fittings and then take their stunning gowns for their Wedding Day. Many of our brides are kind enough to come and see us after the wedding and bring their photograph albums for us to see. It is always lovely for us to see the pictures of them looking so happy on their special day.

Here in Shrewsbury we have a number of businesses who feature on a website www.thebestof.co.uk. The site aims to promote just that - the best in Shrewsbury and we are very happy to be associated with that. Customers now have the facility to leave feedback on any of the businesses that they have visited, and we have just had our first review which we are absolutely thrilled about. Please do check it out.

As well as thinking about the rest of this year, we are also thinking ahead to 2008. We already have a number of brides who have booked their gown with us and we have started to arrange fabric samples and take measurements so that we can begin work on their designs. It is always an exciting time seeing sketches take shape, first into cotton mock-ups of the dress, and then see the bride try her actual gown on for the first time. It can be quite an emotional moment and we always have plenty of tissues on hand!

Autumn sees us looking at our designs and deciding what was succesful and where we can take the collection forward. We take the opportunity to look at themes and trends for the coming seasons and plan new gowns to include in our repertoire - of course being couturiers these designs are used as inspirations for our clients. We have noticed with veils this coming year that the Spanish mantilla is proving to be a key look. We are able to obtain some wonderful designs which are very flattering. It would also appear that cleaner, sharper lines are more evident, and it may be a case of less is more.

As well as looking to make new showroom samples, we also take the opportunity to remove some styles from the collection which we decide we won't take forward. These can be purchased at an extremely favourable price and we also have some eveningwear which we discount at half -price. It is worth coming into the showroom and asking to see what is available.

We are also thinking about the styles we will take with us to the NEC in October for the National Wedding Show www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk. We will be exhibiting there from the 12th to the 14th and always have a very busy time there seeing lots of brides. It's a great show to go to if you are planning your wedding as there are hundreds of suppliers showing everything you could possibly need for your wedding. It's very busy with a great buzz and a fabulous place to get lots of inspiration. We hope to see you there!

Spring Summer Season

2007-06-01T13:24:00.000Z

It's been an extremely busy few weeks for us as the Prom and Ball season is fully underway. It's been wonderful seeing lots of lovely young ladies coming into the shop for their first evening gown. We have had some stunning gowns in fabulous colours - jewel brights, low-cut backs, beautiful beadwork and lace. It's a really happy and exciting time for us.

As well as the evening gowns, we are finishing lots of Spring and Summer Wedding Gowns. We've had many special days with our Brides and their families, coming in to try their gowns on for the first time. The trend so far this year has been for classic, beautifully cut gowns with stunning details in beading and embroidery. Many for our Brides have opted for matching organza shrugs or coats to complement their gowns.

Tiaras and jewellery have also been more formal and less contemporary in design - perhaps showing a return to more traditional styling. We recently became the only UK retailer of Ivory and Co tiaras and jewellery http://www.ivoryandcotiaras.co.uk. This has proved to be an extremely positive move for us, and their fabulous designs have sold almost as soon as they come into stock. Whether you're looking for something romantic and classic or simple and stylish, we have something to offer.

Bridesmaids colours have ranged from baby pastels to soft, subtle grapes and old golds. We also stock a range of Bridesmaids jewellery - simple solitaire and teardrop earrings and necklaces which make the perfect gift.

As well as having a busy diary for weddings this year, we are also taking a number of bookings for 2008. Some of these Brides came to see us at the National Wedding Show http://www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk in February and have come back and asked us to create their gowns. We will be there again later this year at the NEC Birmingham from 12th to the 14th October on Stand F23. Why not come and see us there?

The Bridal House of Chester

2007-04-20T13:46:00.000Z

Hayley J and The Bridal House of Chester

It’s been a very exciting week for us as we have now entered into a collaboration with the long established and respected Bridal House of Chester, situated at 66-68 Northgate Street, Chester. This prestigious Bridal shop is now under the new management of Margaret MacRury and they are now able to offer Brides the chance to have their gown created by Hayley J.

The last few weeks have been very busy for us as Hayley and our skilled team have designed and created some stunning gowns for Brides to see and try in the Chester showroom. For brides interested in having a gown by Hayley J, they can now make an appointment for a personal consultation with Hayley.

She can then discuss their thoughts and inspirations, and will then sketch ideas, taking into account the wedding date, the venue and any other considerations and arrive at the perfect gown for the client.

Hayley went to Chester on Tuesday this week with all the fabulous new gowns and met with Margaret and her staff. The local press were also there to photograph the new designs and to meet Hayley. It was a wonderful day and we hope it will prove to be a very fruitful relationship.

If you would like to see Hayley’s designs at The Bridal House and arrange a consultation, then either telephone for an appointment on 01244 340707 or pop in personally. We look forward to meeting you!

Prom and Summer Ball Season

We are now very busy in the shop selling some fabulous evening gowns for Summer Proms and Balls. We have some stunning gowns for you to try and if you have an event coming up this Summer we think you should come along and see us.

The trends this Summer are for brights in Turquoise, Emerald Greens and shades of Fuschia. We also have softer pinks and greens along with the more traditional black, silver and white. The gowns are embellished with beadwork and embroidery and really need to be seen to be appreciated. Stock is still arriving but selling fast – don’t delay if you have something special in your diary.

Choosing Your Flowers

2007-03-14T11:32:00.000Z

The influence of the wedding gown design on the use of flowers at the wedding is of paramount importance.

A modern wedding gown looks wonderful with tropical, oriental floral designs. The dress can be enhanced by simple, elegant flowers and angled foliage leaves. Minimalist chic always wins with this look, be it a simple bias cut column dress or a structured tube shape.

The romance of a full country style wedding with the soft lines of the bridal gown cry out for soft, natural flowers that are almost unstructured in design. Imagine walking through a garden and hand picking what you see, and then holding them in a hand tied formation - elegant and simple.

This look takes a florist years of training and knowledge to get it just right, but I am sure your florist will have all the skill to create the look.

Roses held in a hand tied posy always look fantastic – the simplest bouquet using one flowers and foliage is a real winner for most gowns – less is often more.

The scent of a bouquet is also important. The smell will conjure up memories for years to come. After you have used the bouquet, there are companies who will preserve it for you with special preservation techniques and dried flower arrangements under glass.

Whichever option you choose will ensure that your bouquet becomes a great visual memory.

Putting Your Dreams Into Reality

2007-03-14T11:26:00.000Z

Choosing your wedding gown will be one of the most important clothing decisions you’ll ever have to make.

When considering their dream bridal gown, most people become overwhelmed with the importance of the most memorable garment in their life. This awesome decision seems to cloud the normal train of thought.

When they enter a bridal shop they are faced by a wall of white and ivory, beading and embroidery. They cannot find their perfect gown on the rail , and preconceived ideas gained from trailing through endless glossy bridal magazines who show 6 foot tall models with a perfect bodies.

These images may well be airbrushed so are a million miles away from actual reality.

The wedding dress design dictates the choice of style, colour and details of everything else at the wedding including the bridesmaid’s dresses, flower designs and invitations.

You have to think carefully about what your wedding dress would look like as well as taking into account the immovable factors such as the date of the wedding, location, church, civil ceremony or tropical beach. All these factors are great influences.

A modern hotel may inspire clean, sleek lines in the design, with reflective beadwork mirroring the minimal interior or gardens outside. In contrast, a historic manor house or castle would have a totally different treatment in design. The grandeur of such buildings will overwhelm some gowns, so the key is detail and proportion.

To help focus the mind, it may be helpful to start a ‘look book’ – a scrapbook that contains all the ideas and inspirations that spring to mind. This could be photographs, swatches/scraps of fabric, colour swatches, beads, embroidery – anything in fact that appeals to you. Keep it with you and every time you see something make a note of it in the look book. You can then use these things to direct your thoughts as to what would suit your shape and the style you would like to have.

From these useful means I can design the dress of your dreams.

This understanding of the body, line and style, coupled with the location of your wedding will help us to arrive at the perfect wedding gown for you.

What Colour Should I Go For ?

2007-03-14T11:21:00.000Z

So many ladies that are to marry have a great worry about what colour their wedding gown should be.

The normal train of thought for a bride is for a white wedding dress, but this does not always flatter a lot of people’s skin types. White looks wonderful on a dark-skinned woman who’s features are lifted with the white fabric.

Whereas, a paler more English Rose complexion definitely needs the soft, natural tone of an ivory colour wedding gown as this enhances the face and warms the skin giving more of a radiant glow.

Many colours can be worn for your wedding day – there are no rules. Red is often worn in Indian weddings where the opulence of gold embroidery sets the skin off beautifully.

Golds are much softer tones and can make any bride feel glamourous. Silver and blue tones are wonderful for blondes, or pale skinned ladies looking for an alternative colour.

The dramatic colours in tartans and bold prints can look fantastic in the right wedding setting.

Colour as a detail on the bridal gown lifted from a bridesmaids dress makes a complete co-ordinated look and matching ties or cravats for the gentlemen add to the beautifully presented picture. The bridesmaids colours are so important, dictating the flowers and table settings at the wedding venue.

The Mother of the bride is also influenced by this colour theme – so that no clashes occur – and assuring a certain harmony for the wedding photographs.

Tips For Your Dress Fitting

2007-03-14T11:12:00.000Z

When having a fitting for your Wedding dress, it is very important to have the correct underwear right from the beginning. This helps to ensure the wedding dress is fitted correctly to you. A separate bra and pants will often give a better shape and foundation than an all-in-one bodysuit. We stock specially made bustiers in all sizes, but also have several links on the site to specialist lingerie shops.

Your shoes will also be needed for your dress fittings so that the length can be adjusted correctly, and it is a good idea to wear the shoes before your Wedding day to get used to them, and to rub the bottom of the soles with sandpaper to prevent you slipping on the day. A spare pair of tights is also useful to have on stand-by.

When choosing headwear. It is best to have a separate headdress and veil so that the veil can be removed leaving the headdress in place.

It is also very important to have hair and make-up trials before your Wedding date. If you can arrange this to be on the same day as your Wedding dress fitting, then it will enable you to see how everything looks together.