Designing Your Dream Dress

How on earth do you get started with designing your own wedding dress with Sarah Foy Couture? For some brides-to-be they never even considered having a dress made. For others, they just couldn’t imagine finding their dream dress in a shop. So today I am going give you the run down on how it works. The first few simple steps I have for designing your dress 

Step 1- Start dreaming 

The sky is the limit with designing your own dress so don’t hold back. Let your imagination run wild – there will be plenty of time later to rain yourself back in. But for now, think big

Think colour, think separates, think outside the box. Look at your wardrobe, what style and shapes do you like to wear. How does this help? If you can get a feel for what necklines, bodice shapes and general looks you like on yourself, they can be translated into a wedding dress style. Or simply give you a feel of what you know looks great on you.

Start asking yourself questions like how do I want to feel on the day? Regal, elegant or maybe you want to feel relaxed and stylish.

Step Two- Consultation

Honestly, this is a chat, a sit done with me (or zoom currently) to chat all about your wedding. I ask a bucket load of questions to get a real feel for your day, your personality and style. It gives you an opportunity to get to know me. Because here is the deal - The relation between a designer and a bride is a very personal one. You need to know and feel they have a clear idea of what you need and want. That you can trust them with your vision.

Don’t panic if you have no idea of what you are looking for or only have ideas for elements of your dress. It’s my job to help you get clear on what you want and what will get you the vision you have in your head.

Step 3- Sketches

After chatting with you and getting to know you and your wedding. I set about gathering ideas. I play around with rough sketches and what I can only describe a doodle, flesh out ideas. I always want to have a dress that is balanced and that works well 365 degrees around. So, making sure that features and elements of the dress you want to include work well together and still gives the overall look you are after

Then I sit down and put together four designs that really work for your wedding dress. Variations of particular features you are looking for. This helps to give you a feel for the options you have with your design. 

Step 4- Your Exclusive Designs 

Your exclusive designs are delivered by post so you will have a lovely sketches in your hand to dream over. When you have had time to look over and digest the designs. We work together to discuss what you love and what didn’t work for you. Mix and matching between the four designs till we get the outline idea of what we want to create for you.

We start to explore deeper into the design with fabric swatches and creating embellishment samples that we may like to work with.

To this day – 15 years on I still adore this process. Yes, you can design your dress and I am here to guide you and make sure it’s the best possible design for you for your wedding day. 

Tell me what your big worries are about getting your dress made. What problems are you having with the vison you have for your wedding day?

Want to book a virtual chat with me? Email info@sarahfoycouture.com

A Hero's Wedding dream Photographer

It is the final day of A heroes Wedding Dream competition and who better to talk to today then the lady behind it all. Not only did she rally us all together, she worked incredible hard to get the website up and the competition under way. Today we chat to one lucky frontline works photographer Aoife O’Sullivan.

I’ve been a photographer in one guise or another since graduating from Art College back in 2009 (this is despite my final degree being in sculpture!) . Photography had been a hobby of mine for many years (can’t believe I’m old enough for it to have started out in the dark room!) and when I graduated I moved abroad to San Francisco for a year and landed my first job as a photographer. I haven’t looked back since!

I know it may sounds cheesy but I really do thank my lucky stars every day that I get to do photography as my job, and even more than that, the fact I get to capture weddings – often one of the most important days in people’s lives. I ADORE weddings, they are full of so much happiness and love and I walk way from every single one on a total high. I am there alongside the couple and their families for every single important moment of their day and it really is such an honour.

Covid 19 has hit the whole wedding industry so badly. We have seen many broken hearts and indeed had our own hearts broken many times too. What I can’t get over however is the selflessness, the compassion, and the hope that all my couples and my peers in the industry are showing during this time. I have been very overwhelmed by it all at times and along with the heart ache my heart has soared with pride and happiness. The number of wonderful vendors coming board our A Hero’s Wedding Dream Competition has been a real highlight for me. What started off as a small idea in my head has now grown in to the most amazing giveaway that has far exceeded my wildest dreams. I simply can not wait till we choose and tell our one lucky and deserving winner that they have won. It will be a thank you and recognition from us that they so so deserve . I feel like a huge portion of the country have ridden out Covid -19 in our homes protected by a bubble...but yet there have SO MANY selfless people going out to work and facing it every day. They have been battling to keep us safe, keep us alive & keep us in comfort and this competition really is about saying thank you from the bottom of our hearts to those incredible people who have been working on the frontline throughout.

Honestly my dreams for the future are simple...I just want to get back to doing what I love. I was already eternally grateful for the job I got to do and having to take this forced break from it has given my time to reflect and realise if anything that I appreciate it all the more. How many people can say they get to spend their work days at wedding capturing people’s memories? It’s a job I will never take for granted and really all I want is to go back doing it again and to embrace every love filled, tear filled and gratitude filled second.

Thank you Aoife for sharing with us. Check out and send some love to Aoife O’Sullivan Photography

www.aosphoto.com

instagram @aoifeosphoto

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

A hero's Wedding Dream Hair

I love designing dresses, but as I always say to my brides you need to think about the whole look. A dress can look beautiful but if you have everything right - the hair, the makeup it can be spectacular. Today I have Hair Maven here to tell a snippet of their story.

I have been in the industry 25 years and love every aspect of hair. I have a loyal salon based clientele as well as being a wedding and editorial hair stylist. I get great joy out of the different aspects of my work and I have been feature in Irish and international publications.

It was Aoife Callaghan who gentle nudged me into the wedding industry and I have not looked back since. It is an honour to be part of a couples wedding day, meeting their families and friends. Helping a bride feel completely amazing on her big day is what I love about being involved in the wedding industry.

My signature look is laid back texture but i’m also a fan of Hollywood and super sleek looks. I want my brides to feel like the best version of themselves for their wedding day. So it is all about the journey from trial to wedding day building a friendship and understanding my bride - it is my favourite part of my job.

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing. Check out and send some love to Hair Maven on social

 www.hairmaven.ie

Instagram @hairmaven.ie 

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

Capturing A Hero's Wedding Dream on Film

The finally count down is here. A full wedding for a lucky frontline worker. Gifted to them by the best of the best of Irish wedding suppliers. Capturing the day, the memories, the feel of your day is a talent indeed. Vowart are just the guys to bring your day to life time and time again. They tell us their story, their dreams and how they are dealing with Covid -19.

We were always creative, in love with art, music, cinema. Tom on the top of being a music
photographer, played many years in a band, co-started photojournalism agency Uspecto.
Photographed, designed and co-wrote a book, Atlantic Tabor. Nadia studied the history of art, visited every gallery and museum in Europe, is deeply in love with ancient greek culture.
After many non-wedding related but also fun video projects, we decided to film our first
wedding. We loved it, and here we are! 

We feel that a couple's love is one of the most extraordinary things in the whole world and that a wedding should reflect the uniqueness of that love. 

Whether it's an elopement in the Wicklow Mountains, an intimate wedding on a Cliffs of Moher where no one has been married before, or a cozy backyard ceremony that ends with your favourite people dancing until sunrise, we are always drawn to the raw love stories of couples whose day is genuinely their own.

Like for anyone else from the wedding industry business-wise, it's hard right now, but we are staying positive. The most important thing is to make the whole process of rescheduling/postponing super easy for our couples. At the moment, we probably know our 2021 calendar by heart. But the feedback we are receiving is fantastic, and we can't wait to meet all of our couples next season.

Our big dream is to keep doing what we love, in the years to come be still full of passion and creativity!

Thank you, Tom and Nadia for sharing. Check out and send some love to Vowart on social

www.vowart.ie

Instagram @vowart_wedding_Films

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

A Hero's Wedding Celebrant

We are heading into the final week of the Hero’s Wedding Dream competition. Last chance ladies and gents. We are a group of wedding suppliers gifting a wedding to one lucky frontline worker. Pop over to www.aherosweddingdream.com and tell us your story.

Today I am introducing you to your celebrant. Clara Malone runs Coastal Ceremonies with Orla Cronin.  They are based in Co. Clare with the Wild Atlantic Way on their doorstep.  They both trained with the Irish Institute of Celebrants and are members of the Irish Ethical Celebrant Society.

I really believe that there are paths, some seen and some hidden, that lead us to where we are meant to be, and mine was always leading up to be a celebrant.  I had just had my two kids, finished a fifteen year career in HR and moved to Co. Clare and thought, “what next”.  I had attended a celebrant led wedding and my cousin turned to me and said “you would be great as a celebrant” so that sparked something in me. I was doing a bit of research in to it but nothing was jumping out until I saw an interview in the Irish Times by Louise Bruton who wrote about training to be a celebrant with the Irish Institute of Celebrants in Dublin.  I hadn’t even finished the article before I rang them and left a message.  They called back and before I could even think about it I had enrolled.   The six month training course was an invaluable start to my career as I learned not only the ins and outs of being a celebrant, but also storytelling, ceremony traditions and cultures, ceremony enhancements and crucially the business side.  

So, just before I graduated I heard that a friend whom I hadn’t seen in years was also training as a celebrant and due to graduate a month after me.  She too, had just moved to Ennis with 2 kids and was living around the corner from me (literally).  So many coincidences so it was meant to me.  Orla and I now work together and love what we do.  I love telling stories, I love meeting people and I love family celebrations so therefore I really have my dream job.  To be a part of someone’s special day and helping couple’s create lasting memories is an honour and to see couples saying “I do” at the end of the ceremony is literally the “icing on the cake”.

We are also incredibly lucky to live so close to the sea.  We spend a lot of our time officiating ceremonies in the Cliffs of Moher, or Loop Head and in castles, ancient ruins and even lake side gardens.  We also get to work in the most incredible venues like Hotel Doolin and Dromoland Castle, and alongside some of the best wedding suppliers.  The relationship with each couple doesn’t start on the day of the wedding but many months before so I am so invested by the time the wedding day comes around that it is quite emotional watching the couple say “I do” to each other.  I also love staying in touch with couples afterwards and hearing about all the milestones they celebrate, like welcoming a new baby or renewing their vows. As I said, it’s my “dream job”.

 This is such an unprecedented time and my heart goes out to all of the couple’s who have had to cancel or re-schedule their weddings.  I know from planning my own wedding how much time and effort goes in to planning your big day so it’s heart-breaking to see the stress couples are going through.  We have been in regular touch with our couples since the start of the pandemic and luckily we have been available to accommodate any couples who re-scheduled their wedding to later in the year and next year.  Unfortunately some have had to cancel their wedding but when they begin to make future plans we are hopeful we can work together again.  I wrote a blog to hopefully give couples ideas about how to mark their original wedding date while in lockdown and also how to celebrate their weddings bearing in mind the new restrictions which will be in place regarding numbers and so on.  It’s on our website here https://coastalceremonies.ie/ceremony-options-during-covid-19/   

What is so lovely to see (and not surprising) is how amazing all of the wedding suppliers are being. Everyone has rallied around and are doing their best to accommodate every couple who have had to change their plans while also managing the unexpected business impact.

At the moment, my biggest dream is be to back on the Cliffs of Moher (or anywhere on the coast of Clare) witnessing another love story unfold.  Dreams do come true .



Thank you, Clara for sharing. Check out and send some love to Coastal Ceremonies on social

www.coastalceremonies.ie

Instagram @coastalceremonies

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

A Hero's Wedding Styled By Amber

As a creative business it is hard to find time to create - I know that sounds crazy , I am only realising in this lockdown how little time I have given myself to really create - to let my mind wander, to dream and see what develops. At about week three all of a sudden ideas , projects and collections have started to pop into my head. I may have stayed up for hours watching macrame videos on Pinterest - obsessed. I’m excited again about creating and a lesson learned to take more time out for this part of my brain.

This brings me to Styled by Amber - I have a little design crush on this lady and her work. Between now and the competition deadline on the 31st May I am going to introduce you to the team behind the scenes. A small snippet of their story, their big dreams and how they are dealing with the covid-19. 

Photo by Christina Brosnan

I’ve worked as an interior designer for over 12 years and have always been obsessed by the little details that give a space soul and personality. It’s those little touches that add magic and character. As a child I was always drawn to ‘fancy pages’ and unique little trinkets and have amassed an ever-growing collection of unique décor, props, vintage and antique finds that I use now for my events. I’ve always loved being the host, throwing parties and get-togethers for friends and family and I believe in going all-out for these happy occasions because, why not?! After styling my own wedding five years ago which I absolutely LOVED, I did the styling for some family members and friends and then previous interior design clients approached me about styling their wedding and it took off from there. I love the design process and capturing my clients’ vision for their big day, helping them refine their mood board to suit their venue, the time of year and how they want their day to feel – as this to me is most important. I want the love and romance of the occasion to be celebrated and enhanced by a beautifully styled setting that the couple and their loved ones can enjoy and remember for years to come. 

Photo by Christina Brosnan

Most of my couples have postponed until next year due to the COVID-19 crisis which has been a hard decision for some of them who live abroad as so much planning as gone into their big day already. It is upsetting and disappointing for any couple having to reschedule or put other things in life on hold but on the whole I think people are being positive and hopeful and realise that it is necessary for the safety of everyone attending including themselves. I have reassured all my couples that their new date will be even more magical with all of this behind us and everyone will be only dying for a right old knees up by the time the wedding comes around!

I’ve just rebranded my logo and am happy to be adding furniture and prop hire to my services in the coming months.  Mostly I am so excited to get back to styling beautiful weddings and shoots and being creative!

Thank you, Amber for sharing. Check out and send some love to Styled by Amber on social

www.styledbyamber.com 

Instagram @styledbyamber_com

 The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

A Hero's Wedding Florist Dream

It is all Tinas fault , hahah!. It was the lovely Tina at The Wild Bunch that contacted me back in April about this exciting new project to bring a team of wedding suppler’s together to create a dream wedding for one lucky frontline work . It was an immediate yes for me , so a big thank you to The Wild Bunch for joining us here today.Between now and the competition deadline on the 31st May I am going to introduce you to the team behind the scenes. A small snippet of their story, their big dreams and how they are dealing with the covid-19. 

Photography by Paula O’Hara

We never set out to be florists! 14 years ago we’d just bought our home in Kilkenny; a little old stone farmhouse that everyone advised us to knock down and replace with “something decent” (we didn’t.) It came with an acre of land, and being slight hippies, we were determined to do something useful with it. We’d both been working in horticulture in various guises for some time and when I came across a magazine article about a small flower grower in England, it made perfect sense. That winter we ploughed up the whole garden and got planting.   

We started by selling at farmers’ markets; mixed bunches and lots and lots of sweet peas. Then, through the market in that first year, we booked our first wedding. 

That wedding was a baptism of fire but we were instantly hooked and have been ever since. I truly love weddings, all the emotion and the excitement. I love the creativity and spontaneity, the way every wedding is different and designed around so many factors; the couple, the season, the location. I love meeting couples, hearing their plans and their stories… and absolutely cherish seeing them again on the day. I love flowers but could never work with them without the “people” part.

In the first few years there were almost no other grower-florists in Ireland. There was none of the community or support that there is today for newcomers, and we really had to find our own way. On the other hand I suppose we were fairly unique at the time in what we offered; home grown natural, seasonal flowers; and we were surprised by how quickly things took off. We certainly had to learn on our feet in those early years but I think that has stood to us; we've learned to carve our own niche, which is so important in an industry that changes all the time.

Photography by Ivan Patarcic, Niall Scully, Alice Ahn and Louise Scott

Our hearts have gone out to all the couples that have had their plans affected by covid 19, some having been forced to change dates two or three times in the ever-unfolding crisis. We’re keeping in touch with all our couples and doing the very very best we can to accommodate new dates. Then we’re working with them to adapt their plans and their original style and aesthetic where necessary. For example, they might find themselves planning for a different season, or changing from an outdoor to an indoor ceremony, and we’re really enjoying finding ways to make things work.

Mind you we’ve found that some couples haven’t the time or the will to start over, and we get that completely. The Hero’s Wedding Dream Competition has been an eye-opener in this respect; from stories of cancelled weddings, to frontline workers on 12 hour shifts and partners struggling to work from home while caring for family. For lots of couples we’re just working quietly away in the background as much as we can, making sure that everything comes together when their big day finally comes. 

I have to say though that creatively we’ve been really enjoying the shut down! We’ve a garden full of flowers and for the first time in years we’ve been free to just enjoy them, to really see them again. And to play around with them, without any restrictions or limitations. Much-needed food for the soul. I’m currently waiting for the first big flush of roses so I can turn our front porch into something fit for a Vegas wedding chapel. Our neighbours barely bat an eyelid these days. 

Photography by The Lous

This is a tricky one! This time last year I might have had a list. To work more with “big” wedding planners. To design big weddings. Possible world domination? But like many other people, shutdown has taught me a lot about what’s important; about family, about community and simply about our shared humanity. I've come to realise how very lucky we are with our little garden and our business.   

I want to continue to be able to get to know the couples we work with. I want to be there on the day feeling like I’m part of the family (yep I’m sad.) I want to continue to do weddings where we stay true to our aesthetic of seasonal, natural design.  I want a clear head to be able to walk around the garden and see all the creative possibilities. I don’t ever want to lose sight of those things that make this job so rewarding and so much fun. So strangely enough, the big dream was there all along, we just never spotted it before now.  

  Thank you, Tina, for sharing. Check out and send some love to The Wild Bunch on social

www.thewildbunch.ie

Instagram @wild_bunch_flowers

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

 Keep dreaming

Sarah

Hero's Wedding Dream Team

Not long now ladies and gents, the final entries for the hero’s wedding dream must be in by 31st May. We are gifting a lucky frontline worker a wedding. The venue, the dress, hair ,makes up, singer, llamas –yes you heard right wedding llamas. Want to know more about the suppliers involved . Between now and the competition deadline. I am going to introduce you to the team behind the scenes. A small snippet of their story, their big dreams and how they are dealing with the covid-19. Today I have Catherine from Nails by Cathy

“My career started when I was in college doing special effects makeup for tv and film. Obviously like any student I needed a part time job so I decided to do a nail course to make extra money. It turned out I was pretty good and I loved the effect nails had on people’s self esteem, they would literally walk in one person and leave a fresher more confident version of themselves and that was the reason and I ended up choosing to stay in the beauty industry.”

“Its knowing you can make the impossible a reality. I have done clients who’s bodies have abused by illness and medications where they believed I had my work cut out for me but I love nothing more than proving them different. Which I have for so many women, throughout the years. I have had clients burst into tears of joy with the results so there really is no question where my passion is. Also if you ask any nail addict, there is really nothing like being told your nails are gorgeous!! It’s a complement that people can accept without any down play or excuse.” 

“Through the the COVID 19 crisis there is not a lot I can do for my clients only good home care advice. I am however preparing to return to work with protection screens and new sanitation measures in place “

“In my future, as well as looking after my loyal clients, I would love to promote myself as a nail consultant, offer the full bridal experience and be the go to person for bridal nails in the country. Also, I would like to do more session work such as ad campaigns and editorial work.”

Thank you, Catherine, for sharing. Check out and send some love to Catherine on social

Instagram @nails_by_Cathy

 The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

 Keep dreaming

Sarah

Hero's Wedding Stationary Dream

Into week ten we go. It is hard to believe that we are in May, summer has arrived and no weddings are happening. No rails packed with dresses for final pressing, no exciting final fittings with our brides. I miss my brides. However, my involvement with hero’s wedding dream has me very excited. One lucky couple from the front-line community will win a wedding. Gifted to them by the most amazing suppliers in the industry.

 Between now and the competition deadline on the 31st May, I am going to introduce you to the team behind the scenes. A small snippet of their story, their big dreams and how they are dealing with the covid-19. 

Today, I’m introducing you to another member of the dream team Deirdre from Last Colour Down

“Last Colour Down has been more of a gradual process over a number of years to be honest. I officially set up the company in January 2020, but I had been dabbling with wedding stationery for a number of years before this. I’ve always been interested in print design. Even when I was working as a graphic designer in the digital space, I free-lanced on the side doing print work for small businesses, brands and of course, wedding stationery. Not to be clichéd, but it finally feels like I’ve found my calling! In an increasingly digital world, I find the physicality of working with paper to be therapeutic, it really makes you slow down and appreciate the process. I love working with traditional methods and incorporating contemporary designs. If you like minimalist modern design and are looking for something non-traditional, I’m your gal.”

As my job with couples is such a collaborative process, open communication is so important at the best of times, but is especially during this pandemic. Maintaining this line of communication has been my goal since this all began. I have started a blog, which has been on my to-do list forever! I’ll be sharing helpful tips for couples in relation to COVID-19 and their wedding stationery, guides on printing, help with wording your invitations and just general inspiration. On a more practical level, I am working on a range of ‘Change the Date’ cards, both digital and printed, that will be available soon!

The big dream for Last Colour Down would be to have a dedicated workspace, with a studio/showroom upstairs and a gorgeous retail store below, which would sell the most amazing stationery imaginable. While I love working from home, my tiny desk can’t cope with much! I would also love to explore more specialty printing and how these methods can be used in more contemporary ways. I want to push the boundaries of what makes a traditional wedding invitation. If any couples out there are looking to try something new and different, please get in touch!

Thank you Deirdre, for sharing. Check out and send some love to Last Colour Down on social

www.lastcolourdown.com

Instagram @lastcolourdown

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

 Keep dreaming

Sarah

A Hero's Wedding Dream

A hero’s wedding dream, how good does that sound? An opportunity for the Irish wedding industry to give back and say thank you to a front-line worker. I am lucky to be involved in this competition and I even had the opportunity to chat on 2fm this week telling Tracy Clifford about this amazing collaboration. Yes, I did have to hide in my car from my kids to do so -the most peaceful 10mins of my week.

Graphics by Last Colour Down

Between now and the competition deadline on the 31st May I am going to introduce you to the team behind the scenes. A small snippet of their story, their big dreams and how they are dealing with the covid-19. First up, Clara Hutchinson your wedding singer. Telling us her story. 

“As far back as I can remember I always loved to sing. I sang at school shows, ceremonies and local competitions. As soon as I finished school, singing was all I wanted to do. I studied music and then went on to travel all over the world singing and playing piano with Piano Club International-a dream job."

“I started performing at weddings of friends and family and from there my business grew as people enjoyed my performances. I adore my job and feel so lucky to do what I love every day! Singing is my passion and I feel so grateful to bring this passion to the couples that trust me with their wedding music. Music is such an emotive part of the wedding ceremony and I take such pride in bringing their story to life through music.” 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been so difficult for couples getting married. I have been in contact with all couples to assist in re-scheduling and helping in any way I can.”

“My big dream is to continue doing what I love and continuing building my business. Singing with an orchestra again would be cool too”

Thank you, Clara, for sharing. Check out and send some love to Clara on social 

https://www.clarahutchinson.com 

https://www.instagram.com/singer_clara_hutchinson/?hl=en

 The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

Stronger Together

Hello from sunny Wexford. What a strange few days for us all.

I spent the last couple of days reaching out to my current brides and checking in with them with a plan for finishing their designs and what the plans are if this continues into April. I will be keeping in touch with everyone every week with updates and plans.

My new home for the next few weeks

For all the brides and couples that had to cancel their wedding. I am so sorry this is happening to you. I know how big this is for you all and I have no doubt that when your wedding does happen it will be a celebration like no other. I know self- isolation is so important to get us through this but I see you guys and know how hard it is to cancel.

Thinking over the weekend of how I can help brides, I’m going to get out of my comfort zone this week and get on Instagram (@sfoycouture) to answer questions from both brides who have had to cancel and for clients that are in the planning stage. Message me any questions you have about anything wedding dress related and I will do my best to answer them.

I am also setting up Facetime consultations for brides that would like to talk about their wedding dress. That maybe a bride that is just starting to look for their dress for the end of the year or 2021. There will be limited slots for this everyday as both my husband and I are working from home with two crazies to entertain. 

You will need to email me at info@sarahfoycouture.com to book a slot. What you will need for this is to send me a couple of images of what you have in mind for your dress, a little description of the type of wedding you are planning. You can also send me your Pinterest board to look over. I will help you narrow down the style you are looking for and get clear on what you want for your wedding dress.

 So, if you have questions email me I am working between nap times, beach walks and dance parties with my babies. 

 Chat soon and stay safe

 Sarah

A year in pictures

For me pictures speak volumes - I’m a visual girl so what better way to sum up my year.  

Wishing you all a wonderful 2019  

Christmas Wishes

Wishing you Love

Wishing you peace

Wishing you a Merry Christmas 

Image by Butterfly Photography and flowers by Wild Bunch

To all of our brides and brides to be wishing you a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones.

Creatives We Love - Noeleen At EF Creative Studios

Make up is another big decision to be made for the big day. You need someone that knows their stuff, that can create your imagined look, but that also compliments your natural features. You just need to take a look at todays creative Noeleen Cunningham’s Instagram feed to see that you would be in safe hands. Today she shares with us her inspiration and work.

Who is your bride?

I think I'll have to say Megan Markle. Since I did Megan's make up 3 years ago, I get a lot of requests for her look. What is not to love about a timeless, elegant and natural look. But truthfully, it's a really difficult question to answer as every bride is unique. I think that's what I love most about bridal makeup, the character and personality of each bride, our partnership to create a look that helps them feel amazing. This is our ethos at EF Creative Studios, tailor making looks that capture a bride's true personality. I also love being involved in one of the most important moments of their lives.

When do you feel most creative?

As a deaf make up artist living in a world without sound, my whole life revolves around my visual sense. Nature, the changes in seasons and the colours of the earth have always inspired me when it comes to creating mood boards. I love bringing this inspiration into my work, I have created signature bridal looks which we will be launching soon.

How do you feel meeting a new bride to be?

At the trial, I always feel a little nervous as I am keen to give my brides exactly what they are looking for. On the big day, I always feel calm and relaxed as myself and my bride know the look we are going for and I just need to ensure that she has the best day ever. The bridal trial is crucial for me, as I can't hear the sound of the bride's voice over the phone I rely on seeing them in person to get a sense of who they really are, allowing me to harness their natural beauty. I love it when brides bring photos or inspiration with them, it is so exciting to watch the spark in their eyes as they describe the look they want.

What do you like to hear from a bride?

I absolutely love it when I'm asked, ''can you do this?'' as they show me a photo or describe a look they want. I love the artistic licence this allows me. No look will be the exact same on two different people and no two people are the exact same so I have the opportunity to use their natural beauty and my makeup skills to create a look that will be unique to each bride.

How did you find your calling?

I have always been extremely creative and enjoyed working with people. Initially I worked in fashion design and child care before finding my true calling of being a makeup artist. I also enjoyed a brief stint of a modelling representing Monaghan in the Rose of Tralee in 2005. I soon realised that I preferred being the artist rather than the canvas. I moved into makeup because I loved the connection with people. I initially worked as a freelance hair and makeup artist, but joined the EF Creative Studios team a couple of years ago. It is so brilliant to be part of an amazing team of creative artists, we learn from each other and push each other to try new products and techniques and be the best artists we could possibly be.

Thank you Noeleen for sharing with us. Want to see more? Check out Noeleen’s instagram feed for your bridal make up inspiration - @noeleenmua or www.efcreativestudios.com

Our Summer In Pictures

I am back at the computer finally this week after a hectic summer season of creating one of dresses for our one of a kind brides. Finishing August off in style with the arrival of my new baby son Conor. So in between new born cuddles I have some new exciting posts coming this way. First up, my favourite pictures of the summer in studio. 

Eoin Kirwan Photography

It was a summer of accessories. Along with our custom made gowns we designed some of the most fun capes, veils, cover ups and our show stopper gold wedding dress. Creating our own embellishments is what makes us unique - it is also my favourite part of the whole process.

To finish of the summer as a finalist at the Wedding Journal Reader Awards and getting the hubby into a tux was an added bonus.

So whats to come in the following months? Well our summer brides are sending in their stunning images so watch this space for more bridal muse interviews and chats with our favourite wedding suppliers.

Ask the designer - what questions have you about choosing your dress? What can you not get your head around? I have a couple of ask the designer pieces coming up on the blog so drop me an email with your dilemma - info@sarahfoycouture.com

Finally, I will share one last picture of my little treasures as you can imagine this was my highlight of the summer

Our month in pictures - April

We are heading towards brighter, longer days and feeling the energy rising in the studio. New fresh designs along with exciting plans developing this month.

Shot! The amazing talented team from Waterlily Weddings caught this blue beauty at Markree Castle. Can't wait to see all the final pictures from this amazing shoot.

April saw a short much needed break in Royal Lemington Spa. Hanging out with my best girl and checking out the new Hotel De Vin opening today in Shakespeare home, Strafford.

Lots of hand finishing and embellishment this month. Truly my favourite part of creating our dresses. Along with new designs for photoshoots with the most talented wedding suppliers of Ireland in great locations such as Slane Castle and Markree Castle. Watch this space for the pictures to come.

Finally a great photo by Moat Hill Photography who kindly took part in our Creatives at Work series on the blog this month.

Our month in pictures - March

Snow days hit the studio this month again but spring is starting to appear day by day. The rails are at busting point in the studio which signals summer wedding season is on the way.

Creatives At Work

Every wedding ceremony I have been to, I have cried and a I’m not a terribly emotional person. But there is something so powerful, so raw about standing up with your soul mate. Talking openly of love and commitment surrounded by friends and family it is what a wedding is all about. So I am delighted to welcome Sandra a spiritualist to our creatives at work series with tips on making the ceremony personal and fun for your big day.

Who is your bride?

My brides are those brides who are 3 to 6 months away from their wedding date. This is the time that they can start to think about their ceremony and the finer detail of their wedding day. It is when all the big items such as the venue, the cake and the dress are selected, booked and secured, that they can start to think about the personalizing their actual wedding day.

It is at this time frame they can now start to think about what elements they wish to include in their ceremony that reflect them as a couple, what family members and friends will be involved in the ceremony and what they will say for their vows to each other.

And it is at this time they have so many questions that start with “What if… and How do I…”

My bride is that bride who wants to see their ceremony central to the celebrations of the day and want to bring ‘themselves’ to the ceremony to share with their guests a little bit about their love story.

My bride is the bride who says ‘I want the ceremony to be meaningful, personal and something we enjoy”

When do feel most inspired?

When I am listening to their story of how they met their partner and what attracted them to one another. I love “Love Stories” and I am inspired to find a way to weave that story throughout the whole ceremony.

How do you feel meeting a new bride to be?

I love the energy of meeting a new bride to be. It holds so much possibility and new ideas. I am energized by the whole process. I know there will be sweet moments, funny moments, tender moments and above all loving moments and I feel so privileged that I am a part of making those moments come together in a coordinated but relaxed way for them on their special day.

What are the best questions a bride could ask you?

There are two best questions they could ask me and a statement they could make to me

1. Can we make it really short to get that part (the ceremony) over and done with so I can get on and enjoy the rest of the day?

To which I answer “yes you can do that if you want but…how about we make your ceremony your “You Tube” wedding moment. You know those clips you have seen of other people’s weddings that made you say “awwwwwwwww” How about we work on the ceremony so your videographer/photographer has the content to give you your “You Tube” wedding moment?

2. What if I forget my vows, or what if I cry during the ceremony and what if I just am an emotional mess  and panic on the day

To which I reply “then you come to my Tick Tock Its Wedding O’Clock workshop” which is a face to face workshop (or get the online programme which will be ready soon) that takes all the worry out of those questions that start with ‘what if’ and “How do I”.  This will not only answer all your “what if” panic questions but it will also demonstrate the ‘How to ..” questions and give you answers to other questions you do not yet know to ask. Most importantly it all happens in a fun, relaxed and enjoyable environment.

3 The statement “I know my wedding day can’t be perfect, nothing is perfect” and I say to that “Actually you can and I as The Wedding Lady can help you make that happen.

I pay attention to detail without losing sight of bigger picture of your big day.

How did you find your calling? Get started in your industry?

I have always been called to work with people in a meaningful way that makes a difference in their lives. Being a member of the Spiritualist Union of Ireland opened the opportunity to become an officiant when they were granted the license to perform legally binding marriages under Spiritual Ceremonies back in 2010.  I came on board as a Solemnizer in August 2011.

Initially I thought the role just played to my strengths.  I have a background in event management, delivering training and project development and those skills came in handy for many elements of being a Solemnizer and consultant. Being confident to speak in public in front of large crowds also was a bonus too.

But then I found I connected with people in a very meaningful way in the role I played on their big day. I could make that part of their day (their ceremony) really special, meaningful and memorable for all of the right reasons.

The Wedding Lady

Thank you Sandra for sharing your insights on the big day and the all important ceremony. The connection we feel with brides and being part of such an important day is why we work in one of the most rewarding industry’s.

Check out more about The Wedding Lady

FaceBook – The Wedding Lady @theweddingladyie

(the Tick Tock It’s Wedding O’Clock group is in The Wedding Lady profile)

Twitter – The Wedding Lady@SandraLosty

Website - TheWeddingLady.ie

Our Month In Picture - February

As snow falls around the country we have come to the end of another month - it was a fast busy one for us here as we make are way towards spring.

Photographer  Aoife O'Sullivan
Makeup and hair @efcreativestudios
 

This is what went on in the studio this month

• The top pictures are our design in progress for our lovely client Caroline Grace Cassidy. Walking the red carpet of the IFTA'S in a spring yellow creation.
• February was website refresh time for me in studio. Lots of new images and plans for the website. Image of me at work by the super Johanna King Photography.
• Spending a wonderful sunny day at Horetown House snapping our new photoshoot with Butterfly Photography.
• A great interview with Michelle O'Halloran hairstylist graced the blog this month.
• Feather detail hitting the studio as we finish up our latest dresses.

Easy going January - Our month in pictures

Having eased myself into the first few weeks of the New Year I had time to step back think review and plan the future for Sarah Foy Couture. Lots of fun projects ahead including new collections of my new accessories line and a new dress line. I loved working on the blog in 2017 and want to give brides to be more and more. So watch this space as I start answering all those questions about your dress.

Dreaming and planning my next collaboration with Butterfly Photography.

Here is a collection of pictures that sum up January 2018 in the studio

1. Instagram love from @elishaclarkephotography of our bride Sarah's grey simmer dress
2. Our stunning bride @aislingmkeenan still dreaming of her wedding dress
3. Pattern work begins on our new projects 
4. Finishing touches to our summer 2018 brides begin
5. Excitement as new fabrics start arriving in the studio
6. Teaming up with the ladies in One Fab Day to give away a custom made accessory for a luck bride
7. Colour hits the studio - 2018 brides rocking strong colour gowns
8. Dramatic custom made cape for our December bride