Wedding designers offer top tips for brides to be

2008 is set to be a year of celebration for Devon wedding gown designers Feathers of Isca as they enjoy 25 successful years of designing truly bespoke dresses.

Feathers of Isca was launched in Exeter 25 years ago and are renowned for their stunning designs which are all bespoke and individually created for each bride. Each dress is designed and made by hand at the Devon design studio and wedding salon.

The company owners, Lesley and Corinne, have an ethical business structure and always maintain a strong belief in fair prices for good workmanship, and encourage individuality for each and every bride. Ever mindful of waste, off-cuts of silk are sold to patch workers, embroiderers and other craft workers, and the proceeds are donated to charity. To finish off the perfect gown, Feathers of Isca sources beautiful shoes and headdresses locally, and the veils are made in the UK.

This spring Feathers of Isca will celebrate their 25th anniversary and will shortly be extending their collection of organic silk dresses, it also hoped that more English silk will become available.

Feathers of Isca give their expert advice on choosing the perfect wedding gown:

1. Decide on your budget and try to stick to it.

2. Ask the experts what shape of dress will flatter your figure. Should you need further advice, ask one close friend (who knows you well) what sort of dress they feel, will suit your personality. (Be aware that if you ask 6 different people for advice, you will likely get 6 different answers).

3. Always keep in mind the venue of the ceremony - cathedral, castle, garden, sporting venue; all will have some sort of influence as to the appropriate dress.

4. Plan well ahead. Six months is a comfortable lead time to commission a wedding gown.

5. If you intend to loose weight, it is better to do so before the dress is commissioned. If you change shape drastically, the style of dress may not be the most flattering for your new figure.

6. When choosing bridesmaids’ dresses, choose a shape to flatter the individual. If your attendants are of differing sizes, it is unlikely that all of them will look good (or feel confident) in identical designs.

7. Likewise, if you have bridesmaids of differing ages, do not attempt to dress a child in a shape that flatters the adults, e.g. low necklines. Instead, rely on a colour to signify the group.

8. Winter weddings can be romantic, but will you want anything to keep you warm on a cold January morning? Think of wraps, shawls or jackets to complement your gown.

9. Choose a headdress to suit your gown. Don’t buy a tiara just because you like it, but treat it as you would a piece of jewellery to complement the style and colour of gown you buy.

10. When ordering your gown, remember to buy an acid free storage box - all good wedding salons will sell these. Without correct cleaning and storage, your precious gown will suffer the ravages of time.

Feathers of Isca, 1 New Bridge Street, Exeter EX4 3JW

Web: Feathersofisca.co.uk