Polly – Beautiful beadwork on the bodice of Shanna’s new collection have been handcrafted by artisans in a process that takes up to 60 hours of intricate craftmanship

Still on the hunt for the ‘one’? Well let me introduce you to the fabulous Shanna Melville Bridal Couture. Designed and made in London, these enchanting gowns are simply beautiful. I love the personal service bride’s receive with the designer herself, set in the stunning Wimbledon Village bridal boutique. Not to mention the hand woven fabrics and detailed embellishments. Shanna’s dresses are bespoke and take up to 6 months to create. Now that truly is something very special.

I am super excited to be speaking to designer Shanna Melville herself today.

Grace – Ornate beadwork around the torso and a low v-neck flatters the décolletage in this vintage art-deco inspired design

Hi Shanna, could you firstly tell WWW readers a little bit about you?

I’ve been designing couture bridal gowns for over 12 years. All of my creations are bespoke and can take up to six months to create. Each and every one of my dresses are handmade in the workshop of my Wimbledon Village boutique by a small but highly skilled team of artisans and seamstresses. It can take up to 60 hours to make some of the delicate and very complex beadwork on some of this current season’s collection. It’s a labour of love, but good design is often akin to slow design – something that is beautifully handcrafted is usually worth waiting for!

I carry out all the creative consultations and fittings, and I’m generally involved in every step of the process – from planning and design to the finished creation. A wedding dress is one of the biggest and most important purchases a woman will make in her lifetime, so I work very closely with all my clients to ensure that their vision and dream of the perfect dress becomes a touchable, wearable reality.

Chloe – Shanna’s ‘Chloe’ dress fuses lustrous, free-flowing fabric with intricate design that elevates ‘bo-ho chic’ to almost regal heights

What do you love/dislike about your job?

I actually love everything about my work. It’s a privilege to be entrusted with the big job of creating a bride’s dream dress. I have a lot of fun designing new collections and love working with beautiful fabrics and embellishments. The long hours can be hard, but for me this is a really rewarding profession.

Chloe

How did you get into the wedding industry?

I originally studied fashion design at college but it was really only after my own engagement and ensuing hunt for the perfect wedding dress did I discover my true passion and eye for design in bridal couture. I then cut my teeth in this industry and refined my art by working with two established wedding designers before setting up my own boutique in Wimbledon Village in 2007.

Chloe

What do you aim to achieve for your brides?

It’s simple really; I aim to design and create the perfect dress for each of my clients. What I strive for is to fashion a gown that flatters the figure and enhances her natural beauty like no other garment will. Throughout this journey, I want to them to have an enjoyable experience too. Marriage is a rite of passage and the dress is not just a symbol of this life-changing event, it’s also very expressive of an individual’s taste, style and identity. My job is to interpret this into something that is both beautiful and wearable.

Peony – Swathes of luxurious Italian printed silk organza is very on-trend this season

What style is your work?

I love experimenting with a wide variety of shapes and styles, so there isn’t one signature look per se. But my collections do err on the side of a romantic aesthetic. These tend to be quite classical in style and incredibly feminine dresses that don’t date. I’m highly particular about the fabrics I use too – I will only ever work with the best fabrics where the quality generally speaks for itself. These will be spun or woven with very luxurious threads and capture intricate details. My favourite fabric at the moment is Italian printed silk organza and it features quite prominently in my current collection. It’s a stunning fabric that’s very tactile, feels great against the skin and seems to take on a life of its own when worn with its lightness and free flowing movement.

Peony

Could you tell us some information about your packages/prices?

Bespoke dresses and designs start from £2,200

Peony

Do you have any tips for brides to Help Them find the perfect wedding dress?

My advice for brides is to keep an open mind when shopping for the wedding dress. Quite often it’s the dress you don’t expect to look good in that is the dress you’ll fall in love with. And, most importantly, have fun. Yes, it’s a serious purchase but an opportunity to try on many beautiful dresses – one of which will make you look and feel utterly gorgeous.

Audrey – A structured hand-beaded bodice gives this dress a neat, feminine silhouette

How can we get in touch with you?

You can view my collections online at www.shannamelville.co.uk or come in to my boutique for a consultation (by appointment only) at 14 High Street, Wimbledon Village, London, SW19 5DX, tel: 020 8946 8446

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE |

Styling | Bergorf and Green

Cakes | Cakes by Robin

Hair | Gwen Brits-Beenz

Make up | Tiffany Cartwright

Photography | Rohan Clinnick

Rose – The most arresting feature of the ‘Rose’ dress is its sweeping low backline framed by delicate French lace

Oh my! So so dreamy and romantic. I really am in bridal heaven. Don’t forget to pop by the Shanna Melville website to see even more of her designs. Book an appointment quick sharp girls 🙂 XOXO Lou

Grace

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