THE PERSONAL TOUCH

Make your big day stand out from the crowd with handmade details

Bespoke details and handmade decorative touches can make all the difference to the look of your wedding. Not only a great way to reflect your own personal style, but your local area too. What’s more, there’s a wealth of talent in the region, covering everything from the stationery to the dress.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

❤ If you’re struggling to find your dream wedding dress, having one made could be the perfect solution. If you love the sleeves from one style, the skirt from another and the neckline from a hot-off-the-catwalk creation, why not combine the lot in a design created just for you? You can be sure of the perfect fit too!

❤ Macramé has been all over weddings for the last year or more and looks set to be sticking around in 2022, great for wall hangings, beautiful backdrops, pew ends, table plans and a whole host of imaginative décor. ❤ Set the tone with bespoke jewellery. Say ‘yes’ with an engagement ring like no other, include your birthstone or have a sentimental family piece reinvented for your something old and something new. ❤ With sustainability high on the big-day agenda, upcycled, reinvented and eco-friendly, green products will continue to be in demand, covering everything from the stationery to recycled props to suit your wedding theme. ❤ Hand-painted details add that extra special touch and can be included, not just in the stationery, but a variety of different ways, think rock-chick leather bridal jacket or even the shoes!

Image: www.facebook.com/neilseniorphotography Venue: www.waxhambarnweddings.com THE ONE AND ONLY

Creator of beautiful bridalwear Tiffany Crosson-Smith of Norfolk-based Tatty’s Original says, “Having a bespoke wedding dress allows you to create exactly what you want.” A handmade dress can take anywhere from three to 12 months to create depending on your design. Although going bespoke requires extra commitment with multiple fittings to attend, it allows you to see your dress taking shape and make any changes during the design process. It also gives you the opportunity to get to know your dressmaker and ask their professional opinions. By working closely together you’ll be able to realise your vision and have a one-ofa-kind gown made to fit you perfectly. www.tattysoriginal.co.uk

SPELL IT OUT

Handmade signage is a great way to personalise your day. Suffolk Style offers quirky metal signs including ‘Bride & Groom’ hanging designs that can be customised with different words and sprayed to suit your big day. For a shabby chic, vintage vibe, they look great tied with linen as ceremony chair backs too. Designed and made in their Suffolk studio, personalised ‘Married’ wedding signs are also available, perfect for the top table or by the cake and to take home afterwards as a lasting memento. www.suffolkstyle.co.uk

THE FINISHING TOUCH

Nowadays, the wedding cake is one of the stars of the show, with its own decorated table and theme. Why not add to the wow-factor with your own dedicated handmade topper? Becky Coverdale of Cambridgeshire-based Becky’s Cake Bakes creates unique figurines from your photos so you can top the tiers with a likeness of you and your other half. You can even include your cat, dog or other pets too. www.beckyscakebakes.co.uk

Beatrice floral design with white and blue hydrangeas twinned with foliage and eucalyptus.

Louisa ivory pocketfold with elegant pink inserts as a simple but effective way to tie in the wedding colours. THE WRITE STUFF

The stationery gives your guests their first glimpse of the wedding theme or colour scheme, so it pays to get it right. Norfolk-based Tops Designs specialises in the design and printing of wedding invitations and table stationery. As well as bespoke lines tailored to your requirements, pre-designed options are also available so all you have to do is choose which one, the colours and wording. www.topsdesigns.co.uk

Fomex table plan with greenery to match bride and groom’s rustic foliage wedding theme.

THE PERFECT MATCH

Norfolk-based illustrator Kimberley Hooley of KGH Illustrates set up the business after designing all the stationery for her own big day. Her style features watercolour illustrations inspired by nature across a range of products including cards, wrapping paper, stickers and more. www.kghillustrates.co.uk

This custom design complemented the couple’s pink and navy theme and features a blossom tree painting. A honeymoon fund poem was included along with an illustrated map to the venue on their details card.

A hand-bound guest book was made to match, complete with window revealing an original hand-painted illustration, the couple’s names and wedding date. ONE-OFFS

For something truly original check out Aimee Paints Illustration for custom illustrations and wedding stationery. Aimee works from a little studio in Suffolk on a purely commission-only basis to keep her designs unique and totally personal. www.aimeepaints.com