Getting inside a bride’s mind (From The Northern Echo)

Getting inside a bride’s mind

4:44pm Wednesday 18th January 2012 in Echo Woman

Making a bride’s dream come true is all in a day’s work for a North-East wedding dress designer as she embarks on the long journey towards her client’s big day. Rachel Meek reports.

THE paper may be blank, but the bride-to-be has probably been living and reliving the moment since she was a child. Few days can be as important as the one where she pledges her undying love to her betrothed and the necessity to look her best is a given, not just to wow the groom, but friends, family and the soon-to-be in-laws.

Give all this, the pressure on the dress designer can be as great as that on the bride.

For Hartlepool dress designer Jennifer Collinson, releasing the bride’s inner-creativity is essential if she is to succeed in her task. “What the bride wants is pivotal to the success of the day,” says the Cleveland College of Art and Design graduate.

“This is the starting block for the whole process. It is a big responsibility and it has to be right, so I always take time to get to know my clients and listen to them so I can find out what their needs are.”

Jennifer, of Jennifer Jane Couture, gained invaluable experience working in a wedding dress boutique as a student and is now using all her skills to develop her own business.

“When I first meet a client, I spend about an hour asking questions about them so I can start to build up a picture of their lifestyle,” she says.

“It is very important to put them at ease and for them to feel comfortable.

It can be a very stressful time and I see my job as taking that away so they can enjoy the experience.”

Simple questions, such as where a client prefers to shop, can give Jennifer a good idea of their individual style, as can what they do in their spare time. Are they reserved or outgoing, for instance, factors which can directly influence the style of the dress.

Designing a stunning creation for the big day is a voyage of discovery for both Jennifer and the bride and the approach comprises six key stages.

After the initial consultation has revealed the client’s personality, style and needs, it is on to practicalities.

Stage two considers fabrics and the first drafts of the design. Stage three looks at design ideas and the wide selection of styles. Next up are detailed drawings of the bespoke dress while stage five is when the client sees the final design. Lastly, and the one most likely to get the bride in a flutter, is the fitting.

No two clients are the same, says Jennifer, whether that is physically, in terms of body shape and skin tone, or personality. It’s the differences that shape the final product and every dress is special.

“I have one client, Rianne Cray, who works in a police control room and is a very busy mum of 18-monthold twins,” says Jennifer. “I had to come up with a design that would be practical, as well as looking good, as Rianne would be holding her twins during the day. We decided to limit the trimmings on the dress and instead included the detail in the fabric.

We also opted for lace and chiffon on top of a heavier weight fabric which would hold its shape well.”

Budget is also a key consideration.

To meet requirements and avoid disappointment, it is one of the first issues to be addressed.

For Rianne it was an essential conversation to have early on in the process. She says: “Having the twins means price has been a big factor from the beginning. Jennifer has stuck to it brilliantly.

“I found the whole consultation process excellent because somehow she has managed to get into my mind to discover exactly what I want. I just don’t have the time to be looking every weekend in different shops for the perfect dress; this is a big worry off my mind.”

Jennifer also has to be prepared for the unexpected. “Because we plan the design long before the fitting, it is important to remember circumstances may change. A client may either gain weight or lose weight, which is why I always keep in regular contact.”

Another luxury of using a wedding dress designer is being able to look at a selection of dress designs from the comfort of home. Rianne says: “It’s been great to look at possible designs on paper and to come up with the final one. From day one, I have felt in control and that I was really being listened too.”

As the blank sheet of paper takes form and is given a life of its own, Jennifer reflects on how her time at CCAD has helped her live her dream.

“I always wanted to run my own business. Being on the course helped me realise the opportunities out there and how to use the skills I learned at college to achieve what clients want. There is no better feeling than seeing a bride watching her wedding day creation literally coming to life.”

• For further details on Jennifer’s designs please email jennifer@jennifer-jane-couture.co.uk.