Last summer I styled an editorial photoshoot very close to home – as many of you know, I live on the edge of the Lake District and within minutes’ walk of the beach. When lovely Sheryl from Oobaloos Photography suggested we do a photoshoot here, I just couldn’t say no. I’m a huge believer in letting your surroundings influence the style of your day, and my choice of suppliers to take part in the shoot was inspired by the wild beaches of south Cumbria – my favourite place in the world.

Modern blue styling ideas with calligraphy for an alternative beach wedding (42)

by Ailsa Munro Dressmaker, Cornwall

Advice on trying on wedding dresses, by Ailsa Munro on the English Wedding Blog (1)

It seems like it’s fairly common knowledge that wedding dresses “run small” compared to high street shops.

If shopping for the most important dress of your life wasn’t stressful enough, a lot of brides are then also faced with the horror of being squeezed into too small samples, pinned at the back with your bra showing, and having to show your bridesmaids and Mum while trying to imagine what it’ll look like in the right size.

As a dress designer, I wanted to explain why this is so common, and what you can do to avoid getting overwhelmed by it.

by Ailsa Munro Dressmaker

I feel like the wedding industry woke up on Monday morning and ever so slightly lost their shit. I’ve seen article after article from wedding blogs and magazines, frantically guessing what kind of dress Meghan Markle might wear when she marries Prince Harry next spring. Scanning her instagram for her general fashion sense, what she’s worn as a bridesmaid, what she’s worn when she’s with Harry. Honestly it’s coming across a little nutty, at this point, you guys.

Do you find wedding planning can be overwhelming sometimes? You’re not alone if you find you have a million questions to ask, about every aspect of your wedding. Organising a wedding isn’t something any of us do every day, it’s all new territory and a little crazy at times. I read so many questions from couples – do we need this? how does this work? and so often, why does this cost so much? It’s fine to ask! We have a lot of the answers here in our Advice archives.

bespoke wedding dress price discussion with Ailsa Munro (1)

Planning your wedding is exciting, daunting, adventurous and overwhelming… a bit of a rollercoaster at times, full of thrills and dramas – and a little help can go a long way! Get sensibly inspired – it’s a thing! – today with these simple, down-to-earth and super useful tips from our friends at Launcells Barton in Cornwall.

Cornwall wedding venue Launcells Barton Travers & Brown Photography (46)
{All images by lovely Travers & Brown}

1. Create a day to suit you both, and make it personal

Forget anything you’ve read or heard about the ‘ideal’ wedding, and start from scratch with your own ideas. Ultimately, this is going to be the Best Day Ever for both of you, so having a wedding that reflects your style and tastes is the most important thing.