Wedding Style Tips

Wedding Style Tips 2019

Each year fashion trends change but there are basic guidelines we can all use no matter what the season.  Here are some tips I use to help my wedding clients. I hope you find something useful for your special occasion!

Know your Style:-

Do you know what style dress suits your shape?  Classic shift dress, structured, a-line etc.. 

Many ladies like a little sleeve or maybe a jacket over the dress.  

We all love a flattering neckline that sits well.  

Consider the length of your dress, don't go too short, knee length or a little below is perfect.

Always buy the right size and be comfortable in your outfit. 

Colour is Key:-

What colours suit you?  Soft pastels or bold tones such as cerise, royal or yellow?. Don't be afraid to go bold.

Yes it is okay to wear White or Ivory for Mother of the Bride but use a nice accent in your outfit or accessories.  You can add soft golds and the hat design can transform this look for you to get the balance right.

Here, Mother of the Bride Michelle is wearing a bespoke Hat I designed in beige and cream to tone in with her accessories.  

The perfect Hat:-

Your hat is your finishing touch, your crowning glory for your overall look.  Your hat can bring your complete outfit together in a style that suits you perfectly.

Anna wearing a bespoke dyed to match hat I designed for her daughters wedding.

Wedding guest Michelle wearing this dyed to match structured headpiece with a rose gold accent to pick up her accessory colour. 

Have your hat designed to complement your outfit and in a style that suits you.  Wearing the perfectly dyed hat for your outfit always looks stunning. 

Do you like veiling?  some ladies love the idea of wearing veiling, just be careful not to cover your face and try it on to see if it suits you. I often incorporate veiling into my designs without using it over your eyes. 

We all love flowers but finding the balance with your outfit is key.

Lace and pearls give a beautiful finish to this hat.

For a more striking look, adding volume but it is still a very elegant light hat.

  

I hope you enjoyed my tips and thank you for reading my blog. If you need help with your wedding millinery contact my studio Suzie Mahony Designs info@suziemahonydesigns.ie. 

Suzie x

Wedding Styling with Suzie Mahony Designs

Wedding Styling and Millinery with Suzie Mahony Designs

Styling ladies for their family weddings is something I have enjoyed throughout my Millinery career. It should be an enjoyable experience for your son or daughters wedding, but all too often we see the cracks of stress creeping in!!  And the search for that outfit goes on!!

I keep things simple,  the bottom line for me is a lady wants to look her absolute best on that day so its my job to bring it all together with the hat design and styling through the accessories that can transform the look.

Suzie Mahony Designs creates bespoke hats for a number of occasion boutiques each season.  This process gives me a great insight into the trends and colours featuring for weddings each year.

I have put together a little sample of my styling with a selection of outfits from Isobel Boutique Adare.  This boutique has been renovated into the most amazing occasion 5 Star boutique, a real gem in the heart of the beautiful Adare Village, Co Limerick.

Blues / Silvers

Slate Blue is a lovely soft rich blue tone and works perfectly with bright silver or ivory tones.  This is a two piece dress and jacket combination from Isobel Boutique.  This outfit has a beautiful finish with lots of seam detail.  

I paired it with 2 different types of hats.  An orchid and silk headpiece and the larger saucer hat trimmed with silvery ivory.  A simple silver clutch finishes the look. The selection of Suzie Mahony occasion bags are available online to browse.

 Nude Pink / Black 

Probably one of the most popular tones this year, nude pink.  Here the nude pink is overlayed with black silk, and a separate wrap.   I have shown here a hat which I have designed overlayed with black lace and pearl trim,  also the plain pink hat trimmed with a lovely splash of feather which works perfectly with the black detail on the dress.  Either bag options would work here, the pink pearl or a classic black clutch.  

Yellow / Grey Wedding Guest:-

This yellow and grey is a great 'guest' look for the wedding.  It is a very vibrant zesty yellow tone but when it is combined with the soft grey/silver it works very well.  The overall look is very fresh and seasonal.  

 Navy / Ivory

This is one of those outfits that the hanger doesn't do it justice.  A plain dress underneath with this detailed coat, all from Isobel Boutique Adare.   A beautiful elegant finish on.  I opted for a veiled headpiece which I designed with dyed silk swirls to bring out the lovely rose tones in the coat.  I also added a pop of royal with the bag and this works very well with the coat detail.   This outfit can easily handle a larger hat design. 

This is only a sneak peak at the vast range of international labels and leading brands available at Isobel Boutique.

Thank you for reading my wedding styling blog.
Suzie x

Do you know your STYLE colours for SS17?

Keeping up to date with the latest seasonal fashion colour trends is all part of our retail shopping experience.  To help us with our planning Pantone has moved ahead and released the Top colours.  

Forecasting key colours for seasons ahead helps us all plan ahead for our own wardrobe necessities and also to get to grips with the colour tones coming into stores for 2017 Wedding Season.

I have recently enjoyed showcasing my hats with some beautiful new season style in these colours and wanted to share some style looks with you and show you the top colours on trend.

Sandra, Helen and Alona modelling SS17 at Isobel Boutique Adare
Hats designed by Suzie Mahony Designs available instore.

Niagara:

Leading the charge this year are Niagara which is a rich slate blue colour.

Sinead Tucker modelling Blue Lace Look Dress and Hat
from Isobel Boutique Adare

Primrose Yellow 

is a soft warm yellow.  This season we also have zest or lemon tones on leading labels.

Lapis Blue: 

Navy is traditionally a spring colour but here we have  Lapis Blue which adds much more vitality to a tone, gives it some energy and radiance. 

Hazlenut is the neutral tone of the season or the accent tone used in accessories.  It has a warm undertone and can easily be worn for all seasons.

Fashion from Isobel Boutique Adare with Hats from Suzie Mahony Designs

We are very familiar with Pink Yarrow having seen it in cosmetics ranges for a number of years and we also have seen rich magenta and cerise come back year after year for fashionable trends.

Pale Dogwood is similar to the lovely soft nude pinky tone we have seen over the past couple of years.  It works great as a block colour for a complete outfit like you see here on Mandy Maher wearing one of my SS17 Silk Hats at Suzie Mahony Designs.   Nude Pink is stunning when mixed with greys or nutmeg tones also.  It adds a lovely softness to an outfit or overall look.

Flame

We are definitely seeing more reds and corals this year on the shop floors for occasion wear.  These colours are brilliant for the Irish skin tone.  They are warm and rich.   

Fashion Below from Olivia Danielle Athlone.

Flame is red infused with orange and gives a wow factor.  Again you can't ignore when maintained as block colour styling but when accented with greens or other rich magenta's they also work well.    

Northwest Wedding Expo 20117

Northwest Wedding Expo 2017

The Northwest Wedding Expo 2017 was held in the Knocknarea Arena Sligo, over two days.  

I was invited to be part of this years event with my Suzie Mahony Designs 'Occasion Style & Millinery' Talks at the Show in seminars throughout both days.  I showcased my Millinery, Jewellery and Accessories at the event.   

Despite the cold weather outside, everyone received a lovely warm welcome on the Red Carpet to Expo 2017 photographed by Glenn Regan.  The Arena was jam packed with over 80 businesses over the weekend.  Ocean FM were present both days and it was lovely to be interviewed live on air. 

Exhibitors at Northwest Expo 2017

My Style and Millinery Talk covered all aspects of dressing and wearing hats for your family wedding.  Showing the ladies all the tips and ideas when styling your outfit and hat.  How to make it work for you. Practical style advice from my experience as a Milliner styling clients.  

I showed fashion from Olivia Danielle Boutique Athlone with various hat designs from my studio.  Olivia Danielle stock a vast range of occasion wear alongside smart casual key essentials and a shoe shop on the first floor. 

Our model for the weekend was Natasha Carty from Catwalk Modelling Agency.  Here she is wearing a full length red gown from Olivia Danielle. 

Donal Hackett was on hand taking fabulous images.  For all the latest images and news from the event check out Myweddingstore.

 

Every possible service you need for your wedding was catered for at Expo 2017.  

From a whole host of Hotels including The Clayton Sligo, Kilronan Castle and Harvey's Point Hotel Donegal, there was something for everyone to plan their wedding day.

Bridal dresses from Lamelia Bridal Studio and Dinagh Modes.  The classic elegance and lace choices for 2017 are worth looking at.  

Lots of lovely ideas for Decor and Venue Dressing.  With so many choosing alternative venues it can be transformed to suit you on your wedding day with lots of candles, floral and other decorative elements.

I couldn't resist sampling at the cake stands.  Cakes from Kake Kreationz.

A Wedding Expo would not be complete without wedding singers and in Sligo we had Bernadine Casserly, Michelle Feeney and Stephanie McGarry Priorier to provide beautiful singing throughout the weekend.

 David McConville Orthodontics were on hand to achieve that perfect smile!!

We couldn't resist an opportunity to try the beautiful Wedding Cars. 

Congratulations to Con Durkin from Adams Menswear/FormalWear winning a prize for the Best Stand at the Expo 2017.

If you are walking down the aisle in 2017 you have plenty of options here to choose from.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Enjoy planning your wedding!! 

Suzie x

Suzie Mahony Designs feature on Ireland AM TV3

What better way to celebrate Mna na hEireann than being featured on Ireland AM alongside fabulous Designers and Milliners.  I am sharing with you all the details of my experience on Ireland AM TV3 with Celebrity Stylist Marietta Doran.

Its was fantastic to be invited to showcase Suzie Mahony Designs occasion style and hats.  I decided to keep my look classic and elegant so I started with the beautiful Chanel Style Suit from Olivia Danielles Athlone in Black with ivory trim and pearl detail.  I love this suit, it is so comfortable and easy to wear.

My hat I started with the hatblock which is one I designed myself last year and I love the shape.  I made my hat in black silk and then working with my own profile and style I trimmed the hat with black silk swirls, handcut black feathers to add some movement and I brought in an accent with ivory pearls all through the design.  The hat is secured with elastics and very flattering.  I loved wearing it.

The shoes are classic black patent from Clarks range.  I also added a leather black bag and gloves which I had purchased on holidays in the last few years.  Staples in any wardrobe and they just finished the look for me.

Of course I couldn't resist a little chat with the boys Mark Cagney and Aidan Cooney.

Behind the scenes we were pampered by Sharon D Hair & Makeup Artist,  you don't model on TV without a little help!!

Thank you for reading my blog.


Suzie x

Rooftop Wedding Garden Event at the Sheraton Athlone

Rooftop Wedding Garden Event at the Sheraton Athlone

The Sheraton Athlone launches the fabulous rooftop wedding garden by hosting a beautiful fashion and bridal show for upcoming brides and grooms.  This oasis of privacy is in full bloom and is an ideal setting for any wedding party.


The Rooftop Party showcased the Sheraton at its best with canapes, bubbles, samples of dishes created by Rory Gabriel Executive Head Chef.  Cocktails and craft beer options were also on hand with help for you to choose your drinks menu.  Guests were also treated to a peek inside the 2-floor Bridal Suite with views of the river Shannon.  It really is a stunning wedding venue.






The fashion show with Catwalk Modelling Agency featured the best of exclusive style and bridal wear to the Sheraton Athlone.

Featuring the latest looks for Mother of the Bride and Groom from Olivia Danielle Athlone.





Millinery from my Suzie Mahony Designs collection complemented the style from Olivia Danielle.

They stock a large range of perfect hats and headpieces for all the top fashion labels.








Evening dresses from the brand new Debs Room  Athlone.

The collection of elegant evening gowns offers lots of variety in style, with a huge range of colours.  Something for everyone.


Well worth a visit for your upcoming special event or debs.
















The Bridal section of the show was from Belladonna Galway, a stunning range of bridal dresses gracing the catwalk.





With the rooftop garden, the Sheraton offer a unique platform for weddings and a wonderful area for guests to enjoy a family wedding.


Delighted to be part of this unique show.

Suzie x