When you're a little girl and you're planning your future wedding with your prince in your
little pink diary, the dress is always the part you spend the longest drawing. You've had the
vision from when you were 5, and now your day has finally come! Wouldn't it be amazing to
be wearing that dream dress? Well, it's definitely possible with Ailsa's help. We've found the
lady who can make your dreams come true!
Ailsa Munro designs bespoke wedding dresses for you. Her career started off from a degree
in fashion in Edinburgh, from there she worked with the well established bespoke
designers, William Chambers and Joyce Young.
As to when and why she started her business, it all began when she was maid of honor for her
sister's wedding, after too many disappointments and faulty wedding dresses, she decided to set up shop 6 months ago, to save anyone else the same hassle they went through trying to find
the perfect dress. Her business is now blooming and we are falling in love with her designs.
As a welcome to new brides-to- be, Ailsa is offering our clients an exclusive 10% discount!
So if you're currently on your search for that perfect dress, have a look at a few of her pieces!





TOP FIVE TIPS FOR BUYING BESPOKE - by Ailsa Munro www.ailsamunrodressmaker.com
1. Get inspired
Unlike walking into a shop and picking something out, with bespoke you have a real
opportunity to be involved in the design of your dress. Get inspired by wedding magazines
and Pinterest, start collecting images and see if there's a common theme - maybe they all
have sleek skirts or use a lot of lace.
Remember that inspiration can come from anywhere and you have the chance to be very
personal - maybe you could include details from your mum's dress or from what you wore on your first date? Think about your favourite thing to wear and why you love it.
2. Consider what you want to be able to do in the dress
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life - you do not want to be
uncomfortable. If being able to run up the church steps, dance, or cycle away on a tandem is
important to you, make sure you're picking a dress you can move in.
This also applies to choosing your undergarments and shoes. It might be a good idea to skip
the tightly laced corset and killer heels and opt for Spanx and shoes you can comfortably
walk down the aisle in- remember that it's a wedding day and you're likely to spend more than 12 hours in your outfit.
3. Chose your designer carefully
It is important to find a designer who you like personally and whose style suits your vision
for your wedding day. You will have quite a few appointments with this person, and spend a
fair amount of time together in the run up to your special day. Look at their previous work
online, and definitely meet them before committing. Once you've found someone you want
to work with, trust them. It can be a challenging process waiting to see your dress finished,
be patient and trust that you chose this person for a reason.
4. Leave plenty of time
Ask your designer what the turnaround for their dresses typically is. From most bridal
boutiques the order time is about 6 months. With dressmakers it can be shorter, but too
close to the wedding they may charge a rush fee. It's also not unusual to be charged a little
extra if you lose or gain a lot of weight in the run up to the wedding; since the dress is being
made specifically to fit you it can cause a lot of extra work. Remember to go to fittings in the
underwear and heels you plan on wearing on the day, as they can also have an effect on
your posture and body shape.
5. Take one kind, trustworthy friend
In your first meeting with a designer you should be getting a sense of what they do, what
you want, and maybe trying on a few samples. It is likely that you will walk away with a
pretty clear idea of what dress you will end up with. The temptation is therefore to bring
along all your bridesmaids, sisters and mum. This will mean that rather than focussing on
what you want for your day and from your dress, you are worried about their opinions and
them getting bored. There are plenty of fittings which your bridesmaids can come to, and
the final fit (where you pick up your dress) is the most fun one for them to attend. Leave
them at home and bring only your kindest, most trustworthy friend.