Category: In the Boutique

  • The History of Veils

    The History of Veils

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    So as we know, most brides wear a veil, but why?

    The veil was introduced as a wedding tradition when people “wrapped brides from head to toe to represent the delivery of a modest and untouched maiden” which was supposedly meant to ‘hide away from evil spirits who might want to thwart her happiness.” However, for those who do not believe in the evil spirits, it is believe that the veil is simply used as an accessory.

    Queen Victoria was the first modern monarch to marry in a veil, this was the moment that defined brides for centuries to come.

     

    History of Veils - 1920's
    1920’s

    1920 – Where dropped waist flapper gowns paired with short bob hairstyles were on trend, brides during the 1920s usually opted for a Juliet Cap to compliment their style. A Juliet Cap veil was often worn with long statement accessories that were edged with ornate beading and/or intricate lace.

     

    History of Veils - 1930's
    1930’s

    1930 – Although the Juliet Cap continued to be popular throughout the 1930’s, however, much more delicate. Wedding dress styles became sleeker and more fitted with less emphasis on heavy lace. In terms of veils, they became much daintier, less tulle, less embellishment and more refined.

     

    History of Veils - 1940's
    1940’s

    1940’s – During this period luxury fabric was much harder to source therefore making it difficult to produce high quality wedding gowns and veils, this was all due to the war. Women were often rushing to wed during this time and often didn’t have time to prepare and therefore choose their best dress and hat, however, if a bride was able to wear a veil, it was often shorter, this is where the birdcages became more popular as they attached a birdcage to their favourite hat.

     

    History of Veils - 1950's
    1950’s

    1950’s – After the war veils made a comeback and brides opted for a shorter style veil to ensure their waist was emphasized even more. The fashion at this time was women wearing large skirts and fitted bodices to enhance waists, therefore a full volume veil worn on the top of a brides head, was the style of this era!

     

    History of Veils - 1960's
    1960’s

    1960’s – Beehives, unique and unusual! The bigger the hairstyle the better, and often veils had to balance out this statement look secured high on the brides head.

     

    History of Veils - 1970's
    1970’s

    1970’s – By this time, veils had completely disappeared and hats were now the new trend, boho style was very popular and hats helped bride create this look.

     

    History of Veils - 1980's
    1980’s

    1980’s – Frills and large frocks were the rage at this time, puff sleeves, dramatic skirts and triple layered veils, the bigger the better!

     

    History of Veils - 1990's
    1990’s

    1990’s – Similar to the 1980s style of wedding gowns, however veils became less dramatic and more delicate and feminine, usually brides opted for a shoulder length veil at this time to compliment their puff sleeved wedding gown.

     

    History of Veils - 2000's
    2000’s

    2000’s – Styles became more sleek, streamlined and contrasted the recent popular 80s look, fitted dresses became popular and soft veils were now all the trend.

     

    History of Veils - 2010's
    2010’s

    2010’s onwards – Unique, personalised wedding gowns are the most recent trend, every bride wants to be different and usually, accessories are a way brides can really personalise their wedding day look! A range of veils are popular, but most brides are opting for long, cathedral length veils, dramatic to compliment their gown! However, lots of brides opt for a very simple veil, that doesn’t take away from their detailed wedding gown.

    Pictures sourced from https://www.brittenweddings.com/blogs/news/72445635-veils-through-the-decades

    The Modern Veil

    Today women are empowered more than ever, with so many more options than women would have had years ago to create their own personal look and feel confident enough to do so. Many veil trends stem from celebrity styles, royalty, personal wealth and budget limitations. However, with today’s trends brides do not feel bound to follow ‘trends’ Veil prices range from £130 but our most expensive veil is £1400 – obviously this style of veil is extremely dramatic, with lots of delicate details and acts more as a cape than a veil!

    What Length Veils can I get?

    54” – This is the shortest style veil available, you can have this style in both single or double tier and the veil will finish at shoulder length. Brides will usually opt for this style if they want something very simple that doesn’t take away from any detailing on the dress, such as back detail they wish to show off.

    72” – This length veil is know as our ‘fingertip veil’, where, like the name, it finishes at your fingertips (when your arms are straight by your side). Brides will usually opt for this veil if their dress detailing begins below the waist, so that the veil gives them a hint of detail to their dress if the top half is plain.

    108” – This is the first, floor length veil available, your veil will finish just as your train starts, right at the hem of your dress. This is one of our most popular length veils, brides will usually choose a very soft, simply veil for this length, so that the veil is adding the ‘bridal feel’ they wish to have, but not taking any detail away from the dress.

    126” – This is our medium length floor length veil, this length is usually paired with lace edged detailing or sparkle detailing scattered throughout. The bride who opts for this veil will often want a little more detail adding to their bridal look and will look for a veil to achieve this.

    144” – This is the longest standard-length veil available, so a bride will opt for this as the most dramatic option. Often brides will match up lace to their dress or, will have a completely plain dress and a very dramatic veil so that they feel they have 2 different wedding day looks, one with and one without their veil.

    If brides want a longer veil than a 144”, some of our designers offer a personalised service where we can measure exactly how much length you would like adding. This service is often used when a dress train is longer than standard and a bride wants her veil to finish at the end of the train or even after their train.

    We hope this helps you understand why brides traditionally wear a veil with their wedding gown and how you can style a veil with your wedding dress and still create a unique, personal, modern bridal look!

    Lots of love,
    TDR Bridal Birmingham Xxxx

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  • What to Expect on your First Appointment at TDR Bridal

    What to Expect on your First Appointment at TDR Bridal

    Congratulations…You’re Engaged! How exciting!!

    This is where the real fun begins, and we are SO excited to be part of this very special journey.

    Once you have decided to book your appointment at TDR Bridal Birmingham to find your perfect wedding dress, there may be a few questions you may have in mind, and we’re help to help!

    I’ve booked my appointment, what now?

    Once you have booked your First Appointment with TDR Bridal Birmingham you will receive an email notification with a link to our very own Private Client Portal where you can view all our dresses with their prices and you can favourite the ones that you love, so that your stylist can see the dresses you are loving before your appointment. This will help prepare you in becoming familiar with the styles we have and start giving you an idea of what style you may like! However, it is important to note that if you don’t know what style you like, this is fine!!! Most brides will not know what style they love until they begin trying and until your stylist can begin to guide you through this very new journey… and that is ok. Our advice is to be open-minded!

    What to Expect on your First Appointment at TDR Bridal

    Who to bring?

    When shopping for your wedding dress is it really important to bring those with you that will help you make the important decision of choosing your dress. Often, you can feel as though you don’t want to ‘leave anybody out’ and we completely get this, this is a new journey for you and you want to make sure everyone is involved BUT, it is so important to remember that this is YOUR day, YOUR dress and you must choose the dress that feels right for YOU and YOU only. When bringing an entourage of people, often there can be an overwhelming amount of opinions and it can be really difficult to stay focused and be in touch with your feelings, so it is our advice to think very wisely about who you choose to bring with you.

    However, we do offer an ‘open door policy’ here at TDR which means you can visit us as many times as you like to try on your dress, so you are more than welcome to bring your friends, family, bridesmaids etc. to TDR Bridal Birmingham to show off your gorgeous dress, once you have chosen!

    Let’s Talk Underwear

    There is no set rule to underwear, but our recommendation is nude, seamless underwear. You can opt for a strapless bra, however, this is usually not required when trying dresses on as most bridal gowns will already have a built-in bra.

    Your Only Limit is Your Mind

    Set a budget – don’t hide this!

    Every single bride has a budget and no matter what this is, it’s still very important to set this, so that you have something to stick to. Your stylist will want you to communicate this budget with them so that when they are choosing gowns for you, they can be respectful of your budget, the last thing we want to do is pick a gown out of your price range.

    Just to give you an idea of pricing, our dress prices start at around £800 and go up to £3500 with the average price of our dresses are £1500-£1800. Alterations are always a separate charge on top of the price of your dress, so always allow for this within your budget!

    Sizing

    Please don’t worry about sample sizing, we are an inclusive bridal shop and ensure our sample sizes range from size 8 to size 32, with over 80 dresses Size 18 and above, so we really do have every style from sleeved to low-back to long train wedding dresses to fitted to princess ball gowns, all in a wide variety of sizes. You must also remember that these samples are just for you to try on, not the actual dress you buy. The process for sizing is that we will measure you and order your dress to your nearest size, we have dress clamps, pins and panels to ensure we can fit you into our sample as best as possible so you can visualize your dress!

    Your First Appointment at TDR Bridal Birmingham

    Who will help me?

    We have over 400 gowns in store and it can feel extremely overwhelming when you first begin, some brides either relish in the opportunity to have so many dresses to try on, however, there are other brides that will feel quite daunted by this and not know where to start, but this is what your stylist is there for! Again, we know this is a new experience for our brides so this is why our advice is to let your stylist guide you. Start by choosing the dresses that stand out to you, try different styles (even just to rule certain styles out) and then, by this stage, your stylist will have begun understanding your style preferences, needs and how to dress your body and you will be amazed at how easy this process becomes.

    What if I don’t know what I like?

    If you are a bride that has scrolled the internet to try and find your perfect style but still hasn’t got an idea of what style to go for, how to fit your style in with your venue, what shape will suit your body etc. THIS IS NORMAL! It is absolutely fine to feel this way, sometimes this is often better. Sometimes brides can get fixated on a certain style of dress and when they try this style on, it may not particularly suit them and they struggle with this concept, so, our advice is to always be open minded, be open to trying new styles and be open to taking advice from your stylist.

    Throw Kindness Around Like Confetti

    Will I buy on my first appointment?

    Yes! It is 100% completely normal to find your dress on your first appointment, we have well-trained, experienced stylists that know exactly how to guide you through the process of finding your gown during your appointment time. Do not be scared by this thought! The fact we have over 400 gowns in store is a huge bonus to our brides, as it means we are like 5 shops in 1! We have carefully selected gowns in store, in all sizes, styles and themes, there is literally a dress for every single brides. This is why we are THE best wedding dress shop in Birmingham!

    You are wonderfully designed

    Lastly BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY! You can expect to HAVE FUN!!!

    We are all about celebrating EVERY SINGLE BRIDE! We are here to celebrate every single step. TDR Bridal is a place where you can feel confident, learn to express yourself and be supported by a team of ladies who simply love what they do. Take a look at our reviews, see what our brides say, it’s not just a dress, it’s the biggest day of your life and we are here to celebrate every single moment with you! We don’t just sell a dress, we provide an unforgettable service, we cherish life moments, we care, we pay attention to every detail and we take care of everything, right the way through your journey from Miss to Mrs.

    We hope this has helped answer your queries and questions about your first appointment with us at TDR, but most importantly we hope you are excited! Of course, as always, please drop us a message, email or call if you have anything more to ask us and we look forward to welcoming you into store very soon!!

    Lots of love
    TDR Bridal Birmingham xxx

  • 14% off all Bridal Gowns at TDR Bridal

    14% off all Bridal Gowns at TDR Bridal

    Be Our Valentine!

    14% off all Bridal Gowns at TDR Bridal Birmingham on your first visit!

    Hello lovely ladies.

    To celebrate the day of LOVE we are launching our 2022 Valentine’s Promotion!
    Save 14% off all bridal gowns purchased on your first appointment between Monday 14th Feb and Friday 18th Feb.

    £2225 -14%

    £1915

    £1485 -14%

    £1280

    £1239 -14%

    £1065

    £1140 -14%

    £980

    £1497 -14%

    £1290

    £1350 -14%

    £1160

    £2445 -14%

    £2100

    £2220 -14%

    £1910

    £1620 -14%

    £1399

    There are still appointments available so BOOK yours NOW!

    Terms and conditions: Discount only applies for your FIRST appointment with TDR. You must be happy for your images to be used in our marketing or on our social media (don’t worry, we won’t show you in your dress until after the big day!).

    See you soon lovely ladies!
    Lots of love
    TDR Bridal Birmingham
    Xxxx

  • Best time to order my wedding dress

    Best time to order my wedding dress

    Knowing when to shop for your wedding dress can be confusing at best. Here’s some handy tips to help you understand what your options are. Hope it helps

    Hey there lovely lady! Wondering when is the best time to start looking for your Wedding Dress?

    So, there’s no set “rule” to this, every bride is different. It ultimately depends on you and your individual circumstances. We know that many of our brides have had to postpone wedding dates, or, take the first date available at their wedding venues, so we know its tight, we get it! There is a number of things that are really essential if you are at this stage:

    Best time to order a wedding dress

    TDR Designers

    Our relationship with our designers is SO important. Although our designers have certain standard delivery dates, there are a few, reputable designers, who have a ‘rush cut’ option when ordering, which means your dress will be delivered sooner than ‘standard’.

    Alternatively, some of our designers also carry stock of particular gowns in particular sizes, which means they can be shipped straight out to us – sometimes this means you may have to go up a size or two in order to receive your gown in time but do not panic, this is what our onsite seamstresses are here for, they will be able to alter your dress down to your size.

    Best time to order a wedding dress

    Seamstresses

    It is with upmost importance that when searching for your wedding dress, you must do you research to ensure the shop you choose has experienced seamstresses (specifically experienced with wedding dresses).

    We have worked with our seamstresses now for over 10 years, they work independently (which means we take no commission from them or have ‘set alteration fees’ which some other shops may have) but they work on-site, which means they are easily accessible, just like us. This also means that we know for certain, that they can alter your dress in 24-48 hours if needs be! Which for you, is peace of mind that if delivery dates are tight, no matter what, we will get you fitted to perfection in time for you to walk down the aisle.

    Let’s Talk Timescales

    24 – 30 Months Before Wedding Date

    • You might want to be super organised like some of our brides and shop 24-30 months in advance- this gives you longer to plan, organise & budget well for your wedding.

    12 – 18 Months Before Wedding Date

    • You might want to shop 12 – 18 months in advance- the majority of our brides do this as it still gives us plenty of time for your wedding dress to arrive and for all your fittings to be done.

    6 – 12 Months Before Wedding Date

    • You might only have 6 – 12 months because you got a great deal on a shorter lead time with your venue. This is no problem for us at all. We will still have plenty of time to have your dress made & delivered to us plus we have the added benefit of 4 onsite seamstresses so you’re guaranteed to have your dress fitted perfectly in time for your special day.

    1 – 6 Months Before Wedding Date

    • You might have 1 – 6 months, don’t worry! We can help you! Lots of our Designers hold stock and we are able to “live pick” that stock so that you can have the dress you want in the size that you need. Again, our amazing onsite Seamstresses will get you Aisle ready in no time!

    Whatever your timeframe, we’ll always do our very best to make sure you have THE most amazing time with us and that your journey from Miss to Mrs will be full of lots of happiness and memories for you to treasure.

    Some say you need to visit lots of different shops to find the perfect dress, our brides say you don’t. That’s because we’ve got over 400 individual styles to suit every shape, size & style and budget plus an unrivalled service too!

    When you buy from us you get to meet over 1400 other brides who have bought from us, all of which, will sing our praises and support you too on your journey. It’s totally unique, there’s nowhere else like It.

    We really would love to meet you, we really would love YOU to be the next TDR Bride; And we promise you, you’ll have the best time, and we will care for you and look out for you, every single step of the way, You’re In Safe Hands

     

    Lots of love

    TDR Bridal xxxxx

  • How to be a brilliant boho bride

    How to be a brilliant boho bride

    If you’re a laid back couple who like things to be natural yet suitably chic, chances are you will choose a boho vibe for your big day. Here’s how…

    Even before you start planning your wedding, you know what your bridal vibe will be. You don’t divert your style direction just because you’re getting married. If flowing linens, swishy skirts and overflowing florals are your thing, then a boho bride you will make. In fact floral focals are a boho brides thing, and this is what makes it one of our favourite wedding styles at TDR… We love a greenery installation, fairy lights and of course a beautiful boho gown – we have many different pretty styles to choose from, including X, Y and Z.

    How to be a brilliant boho bride

    When we think of boho, we think celestial, earthy…

    Succulents, gypsophila and great boughs of wisteria. Let’s face it, you don’t get much more earthy than something that grows from the soil! But when we think beyond the florals, we think of the sky, and specifically a starry, starry night. Lighting features like starcloth drapes as backdrops and twinkling lights criss crossing the venue’s ceiling, candles in all the nooks and crannies – different shapes and sizes but nothing uniform or measured. Scatterings of everything, everywhere, just like they were meant to be! Your venue will know what works best and all you have to do is bring it (it being the magic boho brush!).

    Boho Wedding Style

    A mystical indie, ethereal feel is enhanced with the contrast of jewel tones like emerald, amethyst, crystals and quartz. Bridesmaid dresses, flowers or scattered across tables. Subtle touches like the men’s ties, buttonholes, socks, or how about a gem curtain instead of a flower arch, or as a backdrop for those all important insta photos that use your wedding hashtag? Turquoise a current favourite, and as a colour it’s considered to clear negative energy and bring prosperity.

    Or how about a flower crown? Boho weddings are all about effortless style; simple chic and graceful details. Your hair would be styled in a cute chignon or a loose, soft updo. These looks topped with a flower crown – as extra as you dare! – would be boho perfection, with a cherry on top!

    Outdoor ceremonies = boho bliss

    Your ceremony furniture should blend in with the landscape and there should be floral and fauna at every angle. Incorporate the venue’s natural features. Soft furnishings scattered around and plain wood chairs are the thing. Flowers should be organic, or local, and styled informally – cascading and /wild/ rather than formal and structured. Go grand, but keep it sweet!

    Succulents make perfect favours and table centres, and exude the perfect bohemian vibe. Available in all shapes and sizes, these perennials have come back into favour, having been super popular in the 70s and 80s so they tick the retro box, too.

    Outdoor weddings are great for the Boho Bride

    You can’t beat a tipi for the perfect relaxed wedding

    A wedding we went to recently was in a giant tipi in the middle of a field, with a firepit in the middle and joined-up trestle tables with no seating plan, or formality… The sides were open to the stars, the bride wore wellies and a change of dress from lacy, drapy X DESIGNER to slinky, sultry Y DESIGNER for a Kate Moss-esque evening look. It was the dream!

    When it comes to stationery, you are spoilt for choice. Mix a pastel palette with geometric shapes, bunting and rustic flowers… Sarah Wants and ABCD Weddings do some amazing boho-inspired designs. Cakes likewise.

    Boho Bridal style at TDR Bridal Birmingham

    Mis-matched decorations can add to the boho feel. Don’t get carried away so that your wedding resembles a jumble sale, though. We suggest jam jars for the hand picked flowers as table centres, or arrangements of unmatching chairs, assorted plates and dishes, but not everything, all at once. And always stick to your colour palette for best results.

    Fresh blooms everywhere, drapes of fabric, flowy, pretty lace dress, twinkling lights and candles… Bohemian brilliance!

  • How to Stay Body Positive Whilst Planning Your Wedding

    How to Stay Body Positive Whilst Planning Your Wedding

    Inevitably, with the repeated phrase “All Eyes on You”, and “This is the Most Important Day of Your Life”, brides are feeling enormous amounts of pressure and often, find it hard to remain body positive. The wedding industry tend to magnify any insecurities, from weight, to skin complexion, even make it questionable as to whether you should wear your glasses on your wedding day!

    As a bride to be, groom, member of the wedding party or even wedding guest, the pressure to look a particular way, in-fact, to look ‘perfect’ is irrefutable. For the bride particularly, there is a phenomenon that you must look your best, this paired with the tremendous amounts of planning, can lead to brides feel overwhelmed and unable to enjoy this experience of a lifetime.

    Therefore, we have created this blog to support and guide our brides through the wedding planning process, helping them remain positive throughout, particularly when it comes to their body image!

    1. Remember your Feelings

    We are no strangers to lacking body confidence and although easier said than done, it is important to remember that all that truly matters, is how you FEEL. During the wedding planning process, brides tend to forget the real reason you are getting married, forgetting how in love and happy you and your fiancé are, and remembering to not focus solely on your appearance.

    2. Surround Yourself with Support

    After being in the wedding industry for 14 years now, we have seen first hand how comments from a brides loved ones can lead to the bride feeling an enormous amount of pressure to look a particular way. Therefore, surrounding yourself with supportive, people who will help you remain positive and allow you to learn to begin loving yourself, is absolutely essential.

    3. Forget the Number

    Particularly when it comes to your wedding dress, please forget the number and do not become obsessed with what SIZE is written on the label. Bridal gowns are NOT RETAIL SIZES, they do not reflect your true size and often, you will size up 2/3 even 4 sizes, so it is important to remember the sizes mean nothing, they are simply just a number. Your wedding gown is the most self-expressive garment you will ever wear and it means so much more than simply the label on the inside.

    “Skinny isn’t the goal. Happiness is.”

    4. Online Advertising Images are Not Real

    As you may have noticed, the wedding industry can be bombarded with images online of brides that are not real. However, repeated exposure to this imagery, you begin to feel immense amounts of pressure. So, forget scrolling through Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook to COMPARE, use these platforms as inspiration only.

    5. Talk to Other Brides

    You aren’t the only one! You are not alone! We can promise you every single bride has felt this pressure at some point, look to them for support and guidance throughout this journey. We have a private group for our TDR brides where they chat most days about all things weddings, we support and guide eachother, which helps you get through the highs and the lows of planning your wedding.

    The most important thing to remember is to make sure YOU and your partner are happy, because that is all that truly matters.

    Good luck with the rest of your wedding planning!
    Lots of love
    TDR Bridal Xxxx

  • The Power of The Wedding Flower

    The Power of The Wedding Flower

    Wedding bouquets have been a common wedding tradition for years. But did you know the real reason brides carry a bouquet on their wedding day?!

    Many brides believe a wedding bouquet tradition stems (pardon the pun!) from the beauty of flowers, that helps compliment her wedding gown on the most important days of her life. Although bridal bouquets have become a prevalent part of the bride’s outfit, many brides do not know the real reason they wear this on their wedding day; besides romance and visual beauty there is a deeper reason for why brides carry a wedding bouquet.

    Traditional Wedding Bouquets - The Power of The Wedding Flower

    Tradition

    This tradition goes back to the 15th century when people didn’t bathe very often. The most common time to get married was June, with brides having their yearly (yes yearly!!!!) bath in May (Eeeks!). This meant that brides often didn’t smell the best on their special day.

    Additionally, wedding dresses would be shared amongst siblings as a tradition and often many families had 9 or more siblings, all sharing the same dress, so by the time this gown was passed down generations it was far from fresh, crisp and clean like wedding gowns today.

    Therefore, wedding bouquets were introduced!

    Wedding bouquets were used to hide the smell of body odour on their wedding day! Who would have thought that this reason has caused such a big tradition for brides right through to the 21st century!

    The Modern Wedding Bouquet

    Modern Wedding Flowers

    Flowers signify new beginnings, fidelity and the hope of fertility, which is why they were so symbolic for a bride on her wedding day. Forgetting wedding traditions, wedding bouquets, for the modern bride, now symbolise beauty using colours, fragrances and shape. They are now a bride’s common accessory that adds to her overall appearance on their wedding day. Modern brides use a variety of different flowers depending on personal style, taste and personality.

    Here are a few modern-day wedding bouquets that we just adore..

     

    Lots of love
    TDR Bridal Xxxx

  • Are Wedding Dress Alterations Worth It?

    Are Wedding Dress Alterations Worth It?

    Are Alterations Worth It?

    “You can splurge on a pricey dress, but if it’s not altered properly it won’t look any better than a gown that’s a tenth of the cost,” says Terry Hall, fashion director of New York City’s Kleinfeld Bridal.

    No matter what style gown you choose for your wedding day, the most IMPORTANT part of this, is the fit. Your wedding gown should fit perfectly. Not only should you look amazing, but you should also feel amazing in your wedding gown, ensuring for comfort throughout your entire wedding day.

    Here at TDR we have 3 skilled seamstresses who, between them, have over 60 years’ experience working within the bridal industry. We thought it would be useful for our brides to learn more about exactly why alterations are important for the final fit of their wedding gown.

    Wedding Dress Alterations

    Although we are bursting with knowledge about our wedding gowns, top tips for wedding dress shopping and how to know you have found the one, we needed a little help from our talented seamstresses for this blog. We have put together a few questions that our seamstresses: Lisa, Sati and Annie have kindly answered, that we know you will find helpful!

    Why is it important to have a specialist seamstress?

    Bridal alterations are like no other, wedding dresses are delicate and complex, so an experienced seamstress is essential, they must have a high level of skill and knowledge. Having your wedding gown altered comes with many complexities and is extremely labor-intensive, from hand sewn beadwork to hand picking the lace from your hem (without any detailing being lost). You as a bride must not worry about your alterations, this is the time for you to communicate effectively with the seamstress to achieve your desired look, but ultimately, put your trust in your seamstress.

    What is the difference between alterations and bridal alterations?

    The alterations will ensure for perfect fit meeting your specifications and most importantly, make you feel amazing. A well altered gown should support your bust, accentuate and compliment your body shape and be the perfect length, covering your shoes without you tripping over. A skilled, experienced, bridal seamstress will be able to dramatically change the complete look of a dress if required. Bridal seamstresses will be trained in how to make more extensive changes such as customisations like adding sleeves, extending or shortening the train, beadwork, changing buttons, adding a bustle and many many more!

    When should I start my Wedding Dress alterations?

    Alterations should ideally begin 6 weeks before your wedding date, however, seamstresses can alter your dress in less time, if necessary. Your final fit will be a week to 2 weeks before your wedding, which will ensure your dress fits you perfectly on your wedding day.

    How many fittings will I need?

    You will generally need minimum 2 fittings, one to be measured and pinned, the second to try your dress on for any adjustments. Depending on how many alterations your seamstress has had to make, will determine how many seamstress appointments you will need.

    Wedding Dress Alterations

    When should I stop losing weight?

    In terms of alterations, once you have been fitted you must try and maintain your weight, otherwise, you will need further alterations which ultimately, will cost you more.
    Please read our ‘Why Not to Loose Weight When Ordering Your Wedding Dress’ for more information about why you DO NOT NEED to loose weight for your wedding day!!!!

    What do I need to bring to my alteration’s appointment?

    • Your bridal shoes
    • Your wedding underwear (seamless and nude to avoid showing through the fabric)
    • Bra cups (if you do not have these your seamstresses will have these for you)

    Who should I bring to my fittings?

    Bringing limited people to your fittings is advised, only bring those with you that you know will help you achieve the best fit. Also bring with you someone you trust to give their honest opinion and someone that will be there on your wedding morning to dress you – please make sure they watch and learn from the seamstress exactly how to fit the dress perfectly e.g. Buttons, corsets or bustles.

    Wedding Dress Alterations

    Our Wedding Dress Alterations Top Tips

    If you want to completely change the style of your dress, this isn’t your dress. Talk to your stylists, take your time and don’t rush, you will find your perfect gown. The worst thing to do is rush into a decision and hope your seamstress can magically create your perfect gown, they are amazing, but there is only so much they can do!

    • Allow room in your budget for your alterations, they will cost extra on top of the price of your gown, but your seamstress will only charge for the alterations she completes, she does not charge a ‘set price’ for every bride.
    • You dress will always need altering, these dresses are not made to measure and therefore, alterations are important for the dress to fit perfectly.
    • Trust your seamstress, they have been doing this for YEARS, they are skilled, experienced and we trust them implicitly, so, you should too!

    We hope this blog has helped. You are going to look beautiful!
    Lots of love
    The TDR Girls Xxx

  • 0% Finance on Wedding Dresses

    0% Finance on Wedding Dresses

    We now have 0% finance to help you purchase your wedding dress and spread the cost into monthly instalments.  Budgeting for a wedding can be a daunting task so we have the perfect solution to help you buy your wedding dress.

    With just a small 10% deposit and monthly payment you can choose to spread over, 3, 6, 9 or 12 months you can secure your perfect wedding dress here at our West Midlands bridal boutique. There are no admin fees or any hidden costs with our Finance option which is great because you know exactly how much you are paying right from the off.

    The credit application is done online and you have an answer, usually within minutes, it’s so easy!  We’re all about flexibility and this zero finance option gives you great flexibility!  Its easier than Klarna!

    You don’t need to make the decision on Finance until you have chosen your wedding dress with us, then one of our Trained Stylists will talk you through the very easy and quick Finance option. There are just a few online details needed and the decision comes back really quickly so you can walk away with your perfect dream wedding dress on the day!

    This amazing 0% finance option has given brides extra flexibility on their budget so you really can have the dress of dreams and feel comfortable knowing that you can afford each monthly payment without any worry.

    0% Finance on Wedding Dresses, up to 12 months interest free at TDR Bridal.

    It also enables brides to buy earlier and so have a much wider choice of wedding dress, as there is only a 10% deposit needed rather than the usual 50% requested by many bridal shops in Birmingham and the Midlands.

    We are very proud to be given this facility to help our TDR Brides and we are the only Bridal shop in the West Midlands who can offer this, demonstrating our highly regarded, Award winning,  position in the Industry.

    Just book your appointment online, we would love to meet you!

    Lots of Love
    Team TDR xxx

  • TDR Love Boho Bridal Style!

    TDR Love Boho Bridal Style!

    Specialising in EVERY bridal style, but we really do have a thing for Boho bridal style!
    Keep scrolling for some Boho Inspo…

    Bell sleeves, plunging neckline, definitely a less is more style… we love!

    Boho bridal style st TDR Bridal Birmingham

    Floaty A-line GOALS! We think this is the perfect boho style and LOVE the split skirt, perfect to show off those gorgeous shoes!

    Floaty A-line GOALS!

    We think this is the perfect boho style and LOVE the split skirt, perfect to show off those gorgeous shoes!

    Let’s talk shoes…

    I don’t think we could be more in love if we tried!

    Boho Wedding Bridal Shoes


    Boho Wedding

    Wild flower bouquets and flower crowns…

    does it get more dreamy than this 🤍 Adore this look! 📸 @dearestlovephotography

    What’s not to love about these gorgeous colour?!  Boho style gown, paired with the most incredible wild flower bouquet, whimsical flower crown and vibrant colours! Now THIS is what you call a boho wedding!!

    Boho Wedding Boho Wedding


    Some of our favourite boho style gowns!

    ALL STYLES IN STORE NOW!

    BOOK NOW!


    Soft Glam Boho Wedding Style

    Soft Glam 💋💄

    A timeless choice of glam that softly defines features and a subtle glow.

    The perfect accessory to make your wedding day photos stand out and another way to incorporate your gorgeous boho colours to your wedding day 🤩

    Boho Flower Arch

    Flower Arch

    The perfect accessory to make your wedding day photos stand out and another way to incorporate your gorgeous boho colours to your wedding day 🤩


    This gorgeous lace sleeved gown is the perfect boho look

    This gorgeous lace sleeved gown is in store now! The perfect boho look ✨


    We hope you love these boho styles, from whimsical, floaty gowns to bold and beautiful floral crowns, there are endless ways to create the perfect boho bridal look and there is nothing we love more than helping style you to perfection for your special day.

    BOOK NOW!

    Lots of love

    Team TDR xxxxx