WEDDING MAKERS

The dream dress

WeddingBells' gowns have featured in many I DO bridal fashion shoots. And Marquita kemper has been making brides' dreams come true for 25 years. So, here she shares her inspirations and some wise ways to find the perfect dress.

In 1997, when Marquita was finishing her A levels, her mother had had a costume jewellery shop for several years and was branching out into bridal wear and accessories. Marquita was more than happy to join her.At that time brides almost always had their dresses made, either by their dressmaker or a member of their family; some even made their own.

They started with just 12 dresses and success grew quickly. Brides began to discover alternatives styles to the one they’d always thought of as their dream dress and Marquita was too busy to be surprised by the rapid rise in sales.

When choosing today’s stock Marquita’s top priorities are the local market, and the choice of fabrics and styles.

There are certain examples if both which suit our climate, local tastes and culture better than others. Structure is of the essence, a well structured dress will always look absolutely fabulous.

Happy as the occasion is, shopping for a wedding dress can be stressful and Marquita is all too aware of this. She advises brides not to set their hearts on a dress just because it looks perfect on Pinterest and social media without considering whether it would suit them, or their personality, or the fact that most of these gowns are haute couture and cost a fortune. In reality they should be prepared to be adventurous and try on several styles because only then will the dress that’s really meant for them appear.

The fewer people a bride brings to help her choose her dress the better, three or four maximum seems to work. Too many different opinions will just be confusing for her. With all the will in the world, people will choose a dress that they like, but which may not be right for the bride. She should ask someone who can be trusted to understand she is looking for her dress, not theirs.

Family counts, mothers of course. But the most important thing is somebody who really knows her and will respect her ultimate decision. It’s not unknown for a bride to return on her own to change a dress she bought because she was trying to please too many of the people around her.

Is it so important to follow tradition with a white dress? It very much depends on the individual. What suits you, your personality, if you are very bubbly and adventurous you might go for a very unusual colour dress. If you’re a more conservative type you’re not going to venture out from what is the norm, what’s expected.

While fashions come and go, fabrics like satin, tulle and lace are always popular and styles which are perennial favourites are classic ones; including the very simple ‘royal look’ you might say. This is fortunate because it means a bride can always choose a dress she knows will never be out of fashion.

Our climate and the amazing number of wonderful wedding settings and venues throughout our islands give brides a certainty that their day can be magnificent. Marquita’s role in all this is a very special one, a mix of hard work, joy, tears and laughter. But it’s one she clearly loves. The happiest part of her WeddingBells experience she says is making brides happy.