Harper's Bazaar Feature.
Our London bridal stylist spoke with the lovely Ella Alexander from Harper's Bazaar, to share the subtle signs that brides make when they've found 'The One', contributing to an insightful article for brides to be on Harper's Bazaar Bridal.
“Pop culture would have us believe that you only know when you’ve found the perfect wedding dress if you burst into tears. Countless films and TV shows tell us that anything less than a big display of emotion indicates that you should carry on the search. This gives us unrealistic expectations of what we should be aiming to feel, but, as any skilled bridal designer or expert will confirm, it’s often the quieter signs brides make when they’ve found the dress they want to marry in that carry real weight. A mix of non-verbal acts and tells give us away; a subtle language between the bride and the designer. You might not know you’ve found the perfect wedding dress yet, but the expert standing next to you in the boutique probably already has a clear idea”
The shoulder drop
“More often than not, a bride's body language relaxes, their shoulders drop and they start moving around in the dress – we’ve seen some women practise a dance move,” says Amelia Tompkins of Love Story London. "She will place her hands in more relaxed positions if she likes the dress, rather than covering it. All of this is a display of confidence in what she’s wearing.”
Read the full interview with our Love Story London Studio Manager, Amelia Tompkins
Are there any tangible signs brides-to-be make when shopping for their wedding dress that show they’ve found the right one?
As a bridal stylist, it becomes very apparent in an appointment through body language. This can be something instant and more obvious, like the bride bursts into tears, and this does happen. However, more often than not, a bride's body language relaxes, their shoulders drop, they start moving around in the dress (practicing a dance move sometimes). Not wanting to get out of the dress is another clue they are not looking at 'what's next to try on', and also a beaming smile from ear to ear indicates the search is over.
To what extent is there a shared language among wedding dress experts that helps you to understand what a bride is thinking without her verbalising it?
Bridal stylists can tell what the bride is thinking in each dress from the bride's facial reactions. We can also read a bride's body language in each dress. An example is a bride will come out more confident and place her hands in more relaxed positions if she is liking the dress rather than covering the dress. The bride also will stare at herself in the mirror and she will want to style the dress with a veil, jewellery etc to see the full picture. If the bride doesn't love the dress she will tend to want to get out of it quicker and into another dress.
Are there any commonalities in behaviours or reactions when a bride is really in love with a dress?
When a bride is really in love with a dress she tends to not want to get out of it and will stay in it the longest without realising! Sometimes brides will say 'I think this is the one' when they've found their dress. They will also want to walk around in it and look at themselves up close in the mirror and at all angles.
Can you tell straight away when a bride has found something that she loves - how?
The bride's smile is the main giveaway she has found something she loves. Also her confidence when she walks out in the dress and how she is holding herself in it is very important. If the bride is in love with a dress she may ask the options to make minor adjustments to the style e.g adding a sleeve or lowering the neckline to make the dress exactly what she envisioned to be able to say 'this is the one'.
- Love Story London Studio Manager, Amelia Tompkins
CREDITS
Editor: Ella Alexander
Publisher: Harpers Bazaar
Publisher: Bazaar Brides
Bridal stylist: Amelia Tompkins
Photographer: Sophia Veres
